The right results at the wrong end!

Pitching In Isthmian Premier

After seven defeats in a row, things were looking rather desperate for Potters Bar Town as they travelled to St Albans City, the Saints having hammered Chatham Town on Saturday- but the form book was trampled into the mud as the Scholars went home with three valuable points. Damaray Anyadike put the visitors ahead on twenty seven minutes, and they held onto that lead until ten minutes from time, when Leo Sery delighted the home fans with his fifth goal in five matches. 

If those same home fans then expected their side to go on and win, they’d have been quickly disappointed, as it took the visitors only four minutes to reassert their advantage. Nana Kyei’s fourth goal of the season earned his side three priceless points- and whilst they remain at the bottom of the table the gap between them and safety was cut to nine points. They host draw kings Cray Wanderers on Saturday. 

Canvey Island had gone six without a win- including three draws- and for much of their match against Whitehawk it looked as if that run would be extended, but a last-gasp goal decided otherwise. An early penalty miss for the hosts din’t augur well, and the travelling Hawks went ahead just before half time, Harry Bridle with the opener. It was a lead they held until thirteen minutes from time when the Gulls had newly-returned legend Conor Hubble to thank for their equaliser. A draw seemed likely, ands then two minutes into added time substitute Calum Newson decided he wasn’t happy with that, delivering a winner which sees his side up to twentieth and six points from safety. They travel to the side just above them, Hashtag United, at the weekend.

Image from Nicky Hayes Photos. 

Chichester City and Chatham Town were both looking to get back to winning ways in the Sussex rain, but neither could quite manage it. The travelling Chats were ahead twice, Kofi Anokye-Boadi giving them the lead on seventeen minutes and Matt Macarthur reestablishing it just before the break, but between those two goals Ethan Pritchard had levelled for the hosts, and just before the hour Misha Djemaili did the same again. Chatham remain third, City seventeenth. 

Velocity Cup

Our Velocity Cup Fourth Round ties this week kicked off on Monday, and they kicked off with a shock. Aveley will host our Final, but the hosts most definitely won’t be in it as they were knocked out by North Division Redbridge- at Parkside. 

The travelling Motormen started at top speed, Solomon Ogunwomoju putting them ahead after five minutes and Kaya Hayrettin making it two only two minutes later. Midway through the first half Ryan Charles got the hosts back into the match, and soon afterwards it was two-two, Jayden Gipson with the equaliser. A red card for Prince Sikiru on the half hour seemed to leave the visitors with an uphill challenge, and Aveley went three-two up just before the hour, Joshua Colyer giving them the lead for the first time, but a spot kick from Malachi Napa made it three-three six minutes later. 

It seemed we were heading inexorably towards a penalty shootout, but seven minutes into added time the travelling ten men delivered a killer blow, Kai Thomas-Fraser finding a winner.

Onto Tuesday, and Ramsgate were the hosts for Welling United. The Rams are managed by Lee Martin, who started the campaign as manager at Welling, whilst Welling are managed by Ryan Maxwell, who spent all of last season fighting the Rams for the South East title as boss of Sittingbourne, which perhaps added an edge to the proceedings. 

After a goalless first half it turned out that we were saving up the goals for a twenty one minute avalanche after the break. Tijan Jadama took only two minutes to put the hosts ahead, and four minutes later it was two-nil, Billy Munday with that one. The Wings quickly hit back, Luke Allen halving the arrears just after the hour, and six minutes later Jamie Reynolds drew them level- but the next word went to the hosts, Ryan Kingsford’s seventy first minute goal sealing victory.

Wingate and Finchley were the hosts for a local derby, Cheshunt making the trip, and the Blues swept away the Ambers.

Tommy Roberts gave the hosts the lead on twenty six minutes only for Reon Smith-Kouassi to quickly level, but that was as good as it got for the visitors. Cain Keller quickly reestablished home advantage, and six minutes after the break Alfie Cue added a third. Cue made it four-one eighteen minutes from time, and the North Londoners comfortably progressed to the next round.