Isthmian League round-up | Enfield go top, Welling slip up and goalkeeper goals
We have new leaders in the Isthmian Premier, after another thrilling weekend of Step 3 action.
Enfield Town reclaimed top spot thanks to a convincing 3-0 win at home to Dulwich Hamlet.
Adam Thompson's first of the season set the Towners on their way, before second-half goals from substitute Nana Kyei and Jez Davies completed the job.
Enfield are now part of a three-way tie at the top, but crucially lead the way on goal difference having scored a league-high 28 goals in 10 matches.
Saturday's win saw them leapfrog Welling United, whose four-game winning run in the league came to an end at in-form Eastbourne Borough.
An excellent finish into the top corner from Josh Rees midway through the first half proved to be the difference at the Connect Management Stadium, helping Steve King's men move up into the play-off places as a result.
Also tied alongside Enfield and Welling at the top are Dartford, who overcome Wingate & Finchley 2-1.
Goals in either half from Ben Greenhalgh and Louie Atkins were enough for the Darts to claim their fifth league win in six.
Three points also went the way of another of the division's early pace-setters, Lewes, after they clinched a 2-1 victory at Cray Wanderers.
Tyler Cox broke the deadlock for the visitors inside the opening minutes, before Ade Yusuff levelled the scores before the half-hour.
The only other goal of the contest also came before half-time, Ryan Gondoh's long-range finish finding a way home to earn the Rooks three precious points on their travels after success league defeats away from home prior to Saturday.
A point below Lewes, fifth-placed Carshalton Athletic also remain within touching distance of the three league leaders, despite losing 1-0 at home to St Albans City.
The only goal came for the Saints midway through the second half as Darion Furlong turned home captain Alex Dyer's corner.
Another side victorious on the road this weekend were Ramsgate, who defeated Whitehawk 4-1.
Goals from Cameron James, Alfie Paxman and Callum Jones gave the Rams a 3-1 lead at the break, with Jones firing into the bottom corner shortly after half-time to net his second of the afternoon and make sure of the win.
In the day's other games, a Kola Salami brace helped Chatham Town move into the top half with a comfortable 3-0 win at home to Brentwood Town.
Jack Lyons was also on target early in the second half for Chatham as they earned their fifth league win of the campaign, climbing to 10th in a table.
Elsewhere, Leatherhead were beaten 2-1 at home by Cheshunt, whose mini-resurgence continues.
Substitute Jakai Bascoe-Fisher struck at the death for the visitors to earn them a third successive league win, at the expense of a Leatherhead side that have now won just one of their first five home league games.
The afternoon's only draw in the Isthmian Premier ended in remarkable fashion as Burgess Hill Town and Aveley shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw.
Ellis Bates' opener six minutes into the second half had Aveley on course for their first league win in five attempts.
But at the death, Hill goalkeeper Roco Rees stooped to head home a right-wing corner and earn his side a point.
Saturday's result leaves Burgess Hill 12th in the table and Aveley 15th, two points above the relegation zone.
The final two games of the round concerned sides struggling towards the foot of the table, both of which were won by the away side.
AFC Whyteleafe climbed out of the bottom four as goals from Corey Holder and Mannie Mensah secured a 2-1 win at Maldon & Tiptree, who lost their seventh successive league game.
Noel Leighton proved to be Three Bridges' hero at Stanway Rovers, meanwhile, as the striker scored a late hat-trick to down Stanway Rovers 3-1.
Those goals were enough for Jamie Crellin's side to claim just their second league win of the season, although they remain in the bottom four, one point from safety.
Results - Saturday 10 October
- Burgess Hill Town 1-1 Aveley
- Carshalton Athletic 0-1 St Albans City
- Chatham Town 3-0 Brentwood Town
- Cray Wanderers 1-2 Lewes
- Dartford 2-1 Wingate & Finchley
- Eastbourne Borough 1-0 Welling United
- Enfield Town 3-0 Dulwich Hamlet
- Leatherhead 1-2 Cheshunt
- Maldon & Tiptree 1-2 AFC Whyteleafe
- Stanway Rovers 1-3 Three Bridges
- Whitehawk 1-4 Ramsgate
Check out the latest fixtures and results from across the Isthmian North, Isthmian South Central and Isthmian South East.