Seasiders increase their lead as Jammers held

Our Pitching In Isthmian North weekend began on Friday, and it began at the seaside, with Felixstowe and Walton United. Our leaders were looking to bounce back from last Saturday’s thumping at the hands of second place Maldon and Tiptree, and they faced what looked to be a tough task, their visitors fifth place Stanway Rovers. 

Felixstowe were nine unbeaten until that defeat Jammers defeat, whilst Rovers had also lost last time out, but their defeat on February 10th followed a six match winning streak. On that basis we had two sides who had consistently shown good form- but as it turned out, what we got was rather one sided. Felixstowe went ahead just before the half hour, Toby Stevenson with the goal, and there made it two twelve minutes after the break, Josh Mayhew making them rather more comfortable. Eight minutes later William Jones made it three-nil, and the hosts held onto that advantage rather comfortably, to the delight of most of the five hundred and one in attendance. 

Image from Stefan Peck. 

Maldon and Tiptree hoped to narrow the gap on the Seasiders as they travelled to Downham Town, but they didn’t have the best of starts, falling behind on nine minutes to a goal from Harley Murkin- and it quickly got worse, as two minutes later Murkin scored again! The Jammers got one back from the spot just after the half hour, Freddie Sears keeping his cool, and Sears also got the equaliser seven minutes into the second half. At that point we might have expected the visitors to go on and win, but Downham’s defence had other ideas, and they held out to ensure a point. 

Maldon are three points behind the leaders- but they do have two games in hand. 

Waltham Abbey and managerless Grays Athletic didn’t manage a goal in the first half, but the hosts got one early in the second, Kai Brown putting them ahead. In added time Matt Price added a second for the hosts, and that was that. The Abbotts remain third, Grays are four points above the drop zone. 

Bowers and Pitsea were at home to Gorleston, both sides chasing promotion. The hosts were ahead on ten minutes, Jon Evans with the opener, and, as it turned out, that was to be the only goal. Bowers are fourth- seven points clear of their visitors and sixth place Stanway Rovers, although both Rovers and the Greens have three games in hand. 

Redbridge have a Cup Semi-Final to look forward to, but first they had to face Lowestoft Town- and the travelling Trawler Boys were ahead on nine minutes, Mitchell Belmar the scorer. The Motormen were soon level, Jack Chawner delivering the equaliser, and then went ahead just after the half hour, Ayo Olukoga up from the back to score his fourth goal of the campaign.

Only two minutes into the second half and Karl Kayembe made it three-one, and it was as good as game over twenty minutes from time when Charles Brown-Bampoe added a fourth. The visitors did bring it back to four-two, Aaron Bullent scoring a late spot kick, but it made no difference to the destination of the points- and Redbridge climb into the top five. 

Tilbury have been in good form, and they were ahead against Takeley after only five minutes, Dan Trendall scoring for the third time in four matches. Jake Brocklebank made it two on twenty six minutes, and just after the hour the visitors chances of a comeback were reduced still further, George Pullen sent off. Takeley’s chances looked over when Joe Elliott quickly added a third, and so it proved- whilst the Dockers are up to ninth. 

Witham Town looked to follow up their win in Cambridge last weekend with another as they hosted Wroxham, and they made a strong start, Sam Bantick scoring on eight minutes. The Yachtsmen drew level from the spot, Travis Dodsworth scoring six minutes before half time, but Bantick restored the lead just after the hour. Once again the visitors hit back, and it was two-two ten minutes from time, Asa Mcgeachy drawing them level- and it was to get better still for the visitors as Ethan Flack put them ahead for the first time only two minutes later. Wroxham held on, and are eighth- three points away from the top five with three games in hand. 

Cambridge City travelled to Heybridge Swifts looking to get back to winning ways, whilst Swifts had a far greater need of three points. The first half was goalless, but Swifts finally made the breakthrough with only eleven minutes to go, Samuel Adeyeye the scorer. Could they hold on? They couldn’t, George Smith levelling one minute from time. Swifts are four points from safety. 

Newmarket Town were at home to bottom side Brantham Athletic, and ahead eleven minutes prior to half time, Prince Mutswunguma opening the scoring. Lucas Wells levelled on sixty six minutes, but the Jockeys regained the lead with sixteen minutes left, Emmanuel Osei-Owsu making it two-one. New signing Jahkyah Ebanks Blake made quite sure with a third, scoring from the spot deep in added time. 

Brightlingsea Regent were at home to Mildenhall Town, and they were behind just before the break, George Chenery silencing the Taydal faithful. They weren’t silent for long, as they were celebrating straight after the break, Michael Okafor with the equaliser, and then on the hour Dan Rowe put their side ahead. That was how it ended, Regent tenth.