Tanners take Tuesday’s top spot

Welling United will have been delighted with their victory over Whitehawk on Saturday, but their positivity came to an abrupt end as they were on the receiving end of a Leatherhead hammering at Fetcham Grove. The newly-promoted Tanners also had a positive weekend, starting with victory over Ramsgate, but they delighted the home fans with a first half demolition of their visitors, Anas Igozouln with a double, with James Dickson and Mark Waters adding a third and a fourth before the break. John Ufuah scored a late consolation for Welling, but it won’t have been much consolation for the travelling fans as they headed home. 

Image from Stuart McAlister. 

Carshalton Athletic, who made it two wins from two on Monday, slipped to second, whilst St Albans City climbed to third with victory at Enfield Town. Sam Youngs delighted the home faithful from the spot midway through the first half, but that delight was in short supply as the Towners saw first Sonny Hart and then Ayo Tanimowo red carded in the closing stages of the opening period. 

The Saints unsurprisingly drew level twelve minutes into the second half, an Alex Dyer thunderbolt from distance doing the damage, but it looked as if the nine men would hold on for a point until substitute Inih Effiong slammed home in added time. 

Brentwood Town crossed the river to take on the Dartford. The Blues, who did so well to reach our Play off Final last season, started their campaign with a comfortable win over Burgess Hill Town, whilst the Darts also defeated Sussex opposition, coming from two down to triumph against Three Bridges. We expected this one to be close, and indeed it was, an early goal from the Darts Dan Smith turning out to be the only goal- Dartford up to fourth. 

Eastbourne Borough’s first Isthmian home match saw them host a Sussex derby, Three Bridges making the trip. The first half was a delight for the home fans, Liam Nash, Terrell Egbri and Josh Rees giving them a three-nil lead at the break, but there will have been some bitten fingernails as Bridges hit back in the second half, Hayden Velvick and Kevin Rivera getting two goals to ensure a nervy end to the contest. The hosts held on to climb to fifth, whilst Bridges have now lost both of their opening encounters three-two, but given those defeats came against sides highly-fancied for promotion they shouldn’t be too downhearted.

Dulwich Hamlet had a superb start to the season, hitting Maldon and Tiptree for six- but they faced what looked to be a rather more difficult task as they travelled to take on much-fancied Chatham Town, and so it proved. The Chats took an early lead, Bradley Stevenson doing the damage, but Hamlet drew level just before the break through Nyren Clunis to leave the match in the balance at half time. Seven minutes into the second half that balance tipped the way of the hosts, Harry Lodovica restoring their lead, and the Chats were assured of three home points when Reece Butler struck six minutes from time. Hamlet slip to sixth, Town are eleventh. 

Aveley picked up a late point from their competitive season debut against Eastbourne Borough on Saturday, and perhaps expected three from their trip to Maldon and Tiptree, the Jammers reeling from that Hamlet hammering. The Millers lost only three times on the road last season, but they were undone at The Maldon Stadium just before the end, substitute Iffy Allen popping up with a home winner. The Jammers went through the entire 25-26 campaign unbeaten on their own patch, and that run continues.

Cray Wanderers and visitors Cheshunt both started the campaign with draws, and now they both have another, neither side managing a goal at Flamingo Park. For Wands that was a familiar feeling, as they were our draw kings last season, sixteen of their forty two matches ending all-square. 

Stanway Rovers started their top flight life with a point and a clean sheet at Cheshunt, and hoped for a home victory as Ramsgate made the rather long trip- but the points headed back to Kent.  The Rams, looking to bounce back from home defeat against another newly-promoted club, Leatherhead, took control in a first half interrupted by a hole appearing in the pitch, Callum Jones putting them two up at the break. Rovers struck back twelve minutes from time, Alfie Cutbush halving the deficit, but Solomon Ogunwomoju made sure of three Rams points with a third Rams goal shortly afterwards. Ramsgate are up to eighth. 

Whitehawk and Lewes met in a Sussex derby. Both sides fell to defeat on opening day, and neither managed to record a first win, or a first goal, the match ending nil-nil. 

Finally, two sides who normally play in Green met in Mid Sussex, Burgess Hill Town- helped by some dreadful defending- defeating AFC Whyteleafe three-nil. Kieran Rowe (2) and Chris Whelpdale scored the goals in the first half, and we covered that match so you can read about events in more detail HERE, including the moment that a goose stopped play.