Perfect Tags!

Bank Holiday Monday saw us back in Pitching In Isthmian North action after a Saturday of FA Trophy matches. 

AFC Sudbury finally picked up a win- albeit in the FA Trophy- on Saturday, so perhaps they thought that their fortunes might change as they welcomed Cambridge City, but instead it was four defeats from four as the visitors left with three points- effectively winning the match in the first half. Charlie Royle took only four minutes to put City ahead, which means that he has scored in five matches in a row in League and Cup- including as City knocked Sudbury out of the Cup ten days previously. The second goal came from Alex Warman, and Charles Brown-Bampoe effectively finished off the Yellows with twelve minutes of the first half still remaining. An own goal did give the home fans something to cheer nineteen minutes from time, but they are now the only side still to pick up a point- whilst City are sixth. 

Bowers and Pitsea, looking for their first League win of the season, were the hosts for Canvey Island- and the home fans were able to celebrate that first three points. Finlay Dorrell gave Bowers a flying start on two minutes but they were behind by the break, Ross Wall and Mitchell May turning things in the Gulls favour. A red card for the visitors George Scales then boosted the hosts hopes, and Dorrell was able to level from the spot just before the hour, with Josh Colver getting a winner eight minutes later, three-two the final score. 

Brightlingsea Regent hit the road for a League match against a Felixstowe and Walton United side who unexpectedly lost their opening two matches. The Seasiders did the double against Regent last season, and they returned to form in rather spectacular fashion, sticking five goals past their visitors. Josh Mayhew put them ahead after only four minutes, Will Jones added a second just after the half hour, and Max Statham made it three seven minutes before the break. The second half saw even moire one way traffic, Josh Hitter with a fourth and Tom Warren with a fifth before a late consolation for Regent, Daniel Rowe the scorer. The Seasiders climb out of the bottom four, whilst Regent have only two points from their opening four matches.

Image from Stefan Peck. 

Buckhurst Hill played their first Step Four match and recorded their first Step Four win in midweek, and travelled to Takeley on Monday looking to climb further up the table; however the hosts had other ideas and climbed to fifth in the table with victory. George Pullen put Takeley ahead midway through the first half, but they were quickly level again, Suley Zudhu levelling for Hill. The visitors took the lead just before the hour, Shane Temple making it one-two, but George Sykes soon levelled for the hosts and the same player got the winner with eleven minutes left, soon after a red card for Hill’s Harvey Brown.

Concord Rangers welcomed Grays to the Island, Athletic making two trips to the seaside in a row after playing Canvey on Saturday- and the visitors got a better outcome for this one, picking up a point. Kai Torres took only two minutes to put the Beachboys ahead, with Ollie Muldoon levelling for Athletic at the end of the first half. Rangers started the second half as they had started the first, Toheeb Elegushi immediately restoring their lead, but Gabriel Chapps levelled for Athletic on sixty seven minutes and they held on for a point. Rangers are  fourth- one of only three teams still unbeaten. 

Fakenham Town hit the road to Gorleston looking for a first Step Four win, and buoyed by Trophy victory against Wroxham win Saturday- but the Greens were too good, although they had to work hard for the points. The opening goal arrived only fifteen minutes from time, Joe Jefford with it, and five minutes after than Aaron Bullent made sure, two-nil the final score. 

Hashtag United, holding a one hundred percent record in the League and yet to concede a goal, faced a derby against landlords Redbridge, and with the sides in first and second and both with perfect records we expected a cracker! The Tags went down to ten men after only twelve minutes, Nathan Korenteng dismissed, so perhaps it was no surprise when Ayo Olukoga put the Motormen ahead ten minutes later- but the hosts then saw skipper Jack Chawner dismissed early in the second half, Misha Djemaili levelling from the spot, and the match turned on its head. Bilal Sayoud quickly gave the Tags the lead, and just after the hour Sam Park added a third. Djemaili made it four with twenty two minutes left, and United are three points clear at the summit. 

Little Oakley picked up their first ever Step Four victory in midweek, and picked up another at Witham Town, two late goals ending their hosts one hundred percent record. Witham went ahead just before the hour through Sam Bantick, who has now scored in each of his opening three league matches, but eight minutes from time the visitors drew level through Joe Howard and they were to deliver an added-time knockout blow, Luke Mayhew getting the winner. Little Oakley are now seventh- and alongside Hashtag United retain a one hundred percent record, although the Tags have played twice as many matches. 

Lowestoft Town werte the visitors for Wroxham. The Yachtsmen had won their previous two league matches and looked full of confidence, and it showed. They were ahead after only four minutes, Sammy Johnson with the goal, and the same player made it two seven minutes later- before claiming the match ball with a third within the first quarter of an hour. He wasn’t allowed to take it home at that point, however, and nine minutes before the break Lucas Densley got a fourth; although the visitors were on the scoresheet just before thee break, pulling it back to four-one. Louis Simmons made it five twelve minutes from time, and a few minutes later Ryan Hawkins added number six. Six-one was the final score, Wroxham ending the long weekend in second. 

Mulbarton Wanderers had started the season in superb form, and were comfortable winners over Lowestoft Town in midweek. They looked to continue their run as they travelled to Newmarket Town on Monday looking to hold onto their one hundred percent record- but the Jockeys had other ideas, grabbing a late winner for their first victory of the season. Owen Lane put Wanderers ahead form the spot midway through the first half, but Callum Page levelled on sixty four minutes and Jack Palmer got an added time winner for the hosts. 

Tilbury were at home to Walthamstow. Stow took four points from the Dockers last season, but they got none on this occasion, goals from Bobby Rea and Jon Nzengo giving the hosts a first win of the campaign. Joden Trickett got a late goal for the East Londoners, but it wasn’t enough.