Jammers smash Seasiders- and reduce the gap to one point

It’s only February, so it was too early to talk about Maldon and Tiptree v Felixstowe and Walton United as a title decider- but it certainly looked crucial. The Seasiders travelled to face their closest rivals with a four point lead at the top- but with the Jammers holding two games in hand they were very keen to head home with at least a point- or perhaps three.

The hosts went ahead just after the half hour, Terrell Egbri the scorer, and just before half time Freddie Sears made it two- before surely sealing (searing) victory by adding a third seven minutes after the break. Egbri made it four on fifty seven minutes, and the scoring stopped there- but it was quite enough, and it delighted most of the one thousand, three hundred and ninety four watching on. 

Maldon are now only one point behind their visitors- and have two games in hand. Felixstowe have been far and away the best side in the division on the road- but not this time. Image from Olly. 

Third place Waltham Abbey started the day only two points clear of sixth place Gorleston- and it just so happened that they were travelling to take on…sixth place Gorleston, in a green versus green battle. The Abbotts, who ended a three match winless run with victory at Lowestoft last weekend, must have liked the sea air, as they were ahead after only two minutes, Ellis Brown with the opening goal of our North afternoon. Kai Brown made it two-nil three minutes before half time, and it was a Brown one-two-three when Ellis made it three-nil twelve minutes into the second half. 

Gorleston finally got onto the scoresheet twenty minutes from time, Alby Matthews with that one, but the visitors held firmly on to the points. 

Bowers and Pitsea, in fourth, were on the road to bottom side Brantham Athletic. Bowers were in fine form, nine unbeaten, and looking for a fourth win in a row, whilst Athletic started the day twenty one points from safety. Bowers won their first meeting of the campaign by four goals to nil, and they went ahead in this one three minutes before half time, Jonathan Evans opening the scoring. The same player quickly added a second, and twenty one minutes from time Fotsing Wabo made it three. Still the visitors weren’t done, and the fourth arrived three minutes from time, Jamie Salmon with the strike. 

Wroxham, boosted by their win in Stanway in midweek, hosted Tilbury- and the Dockers struck both first and early, Jack Hayes putting them ahead on eight minutes. They struck again four minutes before half time, Dan Trendall with their second, and right at the end of the match scored again, three goals and three points as Kieron Jones rounded off victory. Tilbury climb to ninth. 

Redbridge, perhaps still wondering how they lost against Walthamstow last weekend, were hoping to rediscover the form that had brought three wins in a row prior to that defeat. The Motormen travelled to take on sixteenth place Mildenhall Town, and they scored the opening goal just before the hour, Darren Esuka delivering it. That turned out to be the only goal, and they climb to seventh. 

Cambridge City were five without a win, and indeed had only one win from nine- something they hoped to put right as they hosted a Witham Town side who had lost five in a row. City were soon in front, Freddie Hockey finding the net on eleven minutes, but Witham quickly levelled courtesy of Ziad Bakaar and then Sam Bantick put them ahead from the spot. What they had, they held- losing run over, and back in the top ten. 

Brightlingsea Regent, in thirteenth, travelled to take on the side one place and one point behind them, Walthamstow. The East Londoners got back to winning ways at Redbridge last weekend, and had been in decent form, whilst Regent had taken one point from their previous five matches, so perhaps it wasn’t a surprise when the home fans began to celebrate, Keano Robinson opening the scoring on eleven minutes. Those celebrations turned to shock when keeper David Hughes was dismissed on the half hour, and Michael Okafor quickly levelled for the visitors- who went ahead four minutes before half time, Jake Clowsley completing the turnaround. Regent held on for three points, and are up to twelfth. 

Grays Athletic, in seventeenth and four points clear of the drop zone as we kicked off, were at home to second bottom Heybridge Swifts, who were four points from safety. With one defeat from four Athletic seemed to be finally finding their feet, but they fell behind just before half time courtesy of Tobias Braney and almost immediately conceded another, Michael Salako with that one. A red card for the visitors Jack Turner gave Athletic renewed hope twenty minutes from time, but the points headed to Heybridge- who are up to twentieth. 

Lowestoft Town, out of the bottom four only on goal difference, were the hosts for Downham Town, their visitors only two points further back. The Trawler Boys had been in dreadful form, having taken three points- all draws- from the last thirty available to them, but they were quickly ahead in this one, Kyle Haylock scoring after only five minutes. Aaron Bullent made it two from the spot midway through the first half, and it then got worse for the visitors, Jake Miller dismissed. Sixteen minutes from time Downham were reduced to nine men, Nathan Davies the latest to be dismissed, but somehow they got a goal back in added time, Harley Murkin getting what turned out to be a consolation.