Villa, Yellas and K’s clinch their play off places- as Guernsey depart

The Pitching In South Central Play Off race was so close that there were four sides battling for three places as we entered the last day. 

Uxbridge, who travelled to take on Westfield, had a play off spot already in the bag- and barring some kind of miracle had second place and home advantage sewn up too. They went ahead on the half hour, Dernell Wynter putting them ahead, and that was all the excitement we had! Uxbridge will host Kingstonian on Wednesday evening. 

Ascot United might have looked to have an advantage, given that they were in third, but the Yellas were only one point clear of sixth place Hayes and Yeading United, and travelled to take on fifth place Kingstonian, who were level on points with Hayes and only a point behind Ascot and Hanworth Villa! The K’s were ahead on twenty eight minutes, Dan Rowe the scorer, but that lead lasted almost no time at all, Anas Igozouln quickly levelling. On fifty eight minutes the Yellas went ahead, Connor Holland bringing joy to the travelling faithful, but they were ahead for only four minutes before Eddie Simon brought it back to two-two. The scoring stopped there- and as it turned out, defeat for Hayes meant that even defeat wouldn’t have ended wither side’s play off ambitions. 

United head to Hanworth Villa, the K’s to Uxbridge, both on Wednesday night. Image from Shooting Stars Photography. 

Hanworth Villa welcomed Horndean knowing that victory would guarantee them a play off spot.  They also knew, however, that defeat could be disastrous, so there were no shortage of nerves- and even more when Dan Sibley put the visitors ahead on fifty one minutes. Sam Merson quickly levelled, and just two minutes later he put the Villains ahead, and they went further ahead just after the hour, Abdullah Javaid making it three-one, before quickly adding a fourth- Lucas Defise with that one. Two minutes from time Rayan Djouadi made it five, and although there was still time for Aaron O’Brien to bring it back to five-two the Villains had secured that top five spot- and indeed third place, so they will host Ascot United on Wednesday evening. 

Defeat, however, could be disastrous, as if that happened just a draw for Kingstonian or Hayes would take them above the Villains on goal difference. A draw for the Villians would be enough for a top five finish, on the basis that even if Kingstonian and Hayes managed to win, that would mean that Ascot had lost! 

It was rather simple for Hayes and Yeading United, who travelled to take on South Park Reigate. Victory would take them into the top five, as it would leave them with more points than at least one of Ascot United or Kingstonian, as they couldn’t both win given they were playing each other! Hayes made the breakthrough on sixteen minutes, Keano Robinson the scorer, but the Sparks were in good form and levelled on the half hour, George Vincent with the equaliser. Right at the end, the visitors desperate for a winner, we finally got a third goal- but it went to the Sparks, Bobby Mills clinching victory and lifting them to fifteenth. 

At the bottom, Met Police knew that victory at Sutton Common Rovers would ensure their safety- and indeed that a draw would probably do, as they had a much better goal difference than fourth bottom Guernsey and a two point advantage. The first half was goalless, and indeed the second half had nearly ended the same way when Izvnna Ikebuasi put the boys in blue ahead. Mason Galloway added a second two minutes later, and Met had secured their survival. Rovers sadly leave us, but we’re sure they’ll be back. 

Guernsey travelled to Harrow Borough, and needed to win and hope that Met Police lost to have a chance of survival. Borough were in poor form- one win from ten- and the Green Lions went ahead on fifteen minutes, Jacob Fallaize the scorer, and added a second just before the break, Finley Du port making it two. The third goal arrived within two minutes of the restart, Charlton Gauvain with that one, and they held on for a fine victory- but it turned out to be too little, too late, as they end the season in nineteenth and relegated, a point from safety. 

Moneyfields are searching for a new manager, but in superb form, and took a nine match unbeaten run into their home match against Rayners Lane. It was the West Londoners who made the breakthrough early on, Deshane Dalling taking only three minutes to strike, but the Moneys levelled on the quarter hour mark, Lewis Beale with the equaliser. Lane were soon ahead once more, Frank Keita the scorer, and on twenty eight minutes Keita made it three-one only for Beale to quickly pull it back to three-two. The Lane skipper completed a seventeen minute hat trick when making it four-two on thirty six minutes, but two goals in the first three minutes of the second half made it four-four, Beale also completing a hat trick and Harry Thorpe getting the equaliser. The ninth goal of the game arrived just after the hour, and it saw the hosts go ahead for the first time, Joel Brown making it five-four, but still we weren’t finished! In added time Jafer Mahhammedkier made it six-four, and then there was still time for Anthony Cook to bring it back to six-five! The Moneys end their first Isthmian campaign two points away from the top five. 

Leatherhead travelled to Hartley Wintney, ninth v eighth, three points between the sides at kick off. The Tanners had won two of their last three, whilst the Row had defeated the champions on Monday to make it two wins in a row. Leatherhead went ahead nine minutes before the break, George Hedley the scorer, and right at the end they added a second, Marco Haigh sealing victory as they end the season in eighth, four points away from the top five. 

Bottom side Badshot Lea hosted Raynes Park Vale, and the visitors were soon ahead, Trevan Robinson making it eight goals in fourteen matches since his arrival. Walter Figueira made it two-nil four minutes before half time, and the same player added a third ten minutes after the break. Steven Sylla got a goal back for the Baggies on the hour, and an own goal seven minutes from time gave them another, but Vale held on to take the points and end the season in ninth.

Champions Farnham Town needed one point to reach a round one hundred- and travelled to Binfield hoping to achieve that. With two defeats from ten- and only four all season- Town are worthy champions, but wanted to end the campaign on a high, and they were given a helping hand after only two minutes as the Moles went down to ten men, keeper Coleridge Fubler Jr dismissed for bringing down Adam Liddle. 

Town went ahead, unsurprisingly, on sixteen minutes, Jordan Stepney the scorer, and made it two-nil ten minutes later, Great Evans with that one. Liddle made it three-nil in first half added time, and the scoring stopped there. Farnham leave us (we suspect) with one hundred and two points and many fine memories. 

Finally, we said a -hopefully only temporary- farewell to Ashford Town, who welcomed Southall in a West London derby. The Tangerines fell behind on fifteen minutes, Makael Scott opening the scoring, and early in the second half Brendan Matthew made it two-nil to The All. The visitors began to enjoy themselves, and Scott made it three with Romey Meoded adding a fourth. Just before the end Azeez Alabi made it five-nil, and that, finally, was that.