Beachboys end home jinx

By Peter Butcher

AFTER taking only one point from their first four Ryman Premier games at home, Concord ended the Thames Road jinx in style tonight (Tuesday) with a 2-1 victory over table-topping Hampton.

Harry Elmes put them ahead after nine minutes and Reece Harris added another just after the hour. Mo Bettamer pulled one back with five minutes left.

So a point would have been enough to take Whitehawk to the top but, in fact, they were on course to forfeit second place to Kingstonian, who took a 2-0 lead at East Brighton Park with goals either side of half-time from Andre McCollin and Matt Pattison.

The game had been delayed for some time by a floodlight failure in the first half, and when they went out again with around 15 minutes left the match had to be abandoned, much to Kingstonian’s frustration.

FA Cup heroes Hastings showed they had not saved their fighting spirit for the national competition as they came from behind to beat Enfield Town 3-2 at the Pilot Field despite being reduced to ten men.

Zac Attwood put Hastings ahead moments before half-time but Tyler Campbell replied shortly after the break and Lee White put Town ahead in the 58th minute.

When Hastings had Tom Vickers sent off it looked all over, but Bailo Kamara equalised with ten minutes left and Josh Jirbandey (pictured celebrating by Simon Roe/TGS Photo) won it with a superb 20-yard shot.

Leiston suffered their first home defeat in the Premier, having drawn five of their previous six outings on their own turf. Gareth Heath gave them a 19th-minute lead against Margate, who equalised quickly with a Dan Stubbs penalty. Richard Avery put the visitors 2-1 up on the stroke of half-time and that was how it finished. Victory lifted Margate to fifth place.

Marksman of the day was Pat Harding, who scored all his side’s goals as Burgess Hill won 4-2 at Whitstable in Ryman South, leaping from 11th to fifth in the table.

It was 1-1 after only six minutes, with Harding replying to James Everitt’s penalty. Rob Gillman restored the Oysremen’s lead in the 58th minute but again Harding was quick to reply from the spot and then struck twice in five minutes to clinch the points in the closing stages.

Crawley Down arrested their recent slide and halted Maidstone’s run of success with a 0-0 draw. This was another game in Sussex to be hit by floodlight problems in the first half, though the delay was brief.

The result was enough to stretch Maidstone’s lead to three points as second-placed Hythe lost 3-2 at home to improving Leatherhead, who are up to eighth.

Kev Terry gave Tanners an early lead and they held it until just before the hour, when Dave Cook replied. Vernon Francis put Leatherhead in front again and Brendon Cass made it 2-2. But Hythe could find no answer to Terry’s second goal with eight minutes left.

Horsham collected their second away point of the season thanks to a pair of Evan Archibald equalisers in a 2-2 draw at Merstham. The home side scored at either end of the first half through Fabio Saraiva and Liam Wright. Archibald’s replies came in the 34th and 51st minutes.

Newcomers Wroxham made a slow start to life in Ryman North but the Norfolk club are starting to settle down and they had their best result so far tonight, beating second-placed Heybridge 3-0.

Matt Blake opened the scoring on the half-hour, Jamie Forshaw added another before half-time and Christy Finch wrapped in up with a goal of the season candidate six minutes from time. Heybridge slipped back to third, behind Grays on goal difference.

Harlow slumped to their sixth home defeat in the league, going down 2-1 to Chatham. Harry Smith gave Chats a first-minute lead which they held until nine minutes into the second half, when Hector Mackie squared it. Kes Metitiri nabbed the winner with 17 minutes left.

A 77th-minute goal by Rob Whitnell was all Witham needed to capture three points at Soham.

Where next?

Meakin's the man for Wingate THE new manager at Ryman Premier club Wingate & Finchley is Gary Meakin, who moves from nearby Southern League side Northwood.
Marketmen lift Charity Shield THE new holders of the Isthmian Charity Shield are Ryman North club Needham Market, who won on penalties at Bury Town tonight (Tuesday) after a 0-0 draw.

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