Blues and Urchins grind out narrow wins, Canvey hit four- and Casuals relegation is confirmed

Saturday brought with it a proper clash of the titans, as leaders Bishop’s Stortford hit the road to take on fourth place- and this week, Cup Winners- Aveley. So close were things at the top that only two points separated the top four at kick off, and we expected this one to be close. The leaders went ahead on the half hour, Ryan Charles opening the scoring, and with the Blues having the best defensive record in the division we suspected that it might be difficult for the Millers to score- and so it proved. One goal, three points, a two point lead at the top for Stortford- and a win double for the season.

Hornchurch, four matches without a win, needed to put things right as Billericay Town came to call for an Essex derby. Shortly after news came through of Bishop’s Stortford’s goal at Aveley, the Urchins got one of their own, Liam Nash putting them ahead- and just like the match at parkside, that proved to be the only goal of the game. Hornchurch remain second- and have now defeated Billericay three times this season.

Canvey Island came into the weekend at the top of our ten match form table, unbeaten and having won their last five. The Gulls faced a tricky trip to the capital, Kingstonian and Tooting & Mitcham United’s Imperial Fields their destination with the hosts desperate for points- but the Gulls have the Usain Bolt of the Isthmian League, Evans Kouassi, and their number eleven took his tally for the season to twenty when opening the scoring after just five minutes, finding the net from distance. Twenty minutes later it was two-nil, Elliott Johnson with that one, but the K’s made a game of it when Tom Collins got a goal back with twenty six minutes left. Sadly for the home fans, Kouassi had something to say about that, and within four minutes had restored his sides two goal advantage, before completing his hat trick ten minutes from time, his sides fourth goal securing the points. The Gulls remain two points off the top, in third place.

Fifth place Enfield Town were on the road to Horsham, the Hornets looking to make up a six point gap between themselves and their visitors and thrust themselves into a play off spot. The hosts went ahead two minutes before the break, Jack Mazzone holding his nerve from the spot, but the Towners levelled ten minutes later, Jake Cass with the equaliser. The Hornets weren’t having that, and Tom Kavanagh quickly restored their lead from a free kick, before Charlie Hester-Cook made it three-one with ten minutes left. The Hornets are up to seventh, but are only three points behind their visitors.

Lewes and Herne Bay met on Friday, in a match which was critical to the hosts play off ambitions and the visitors hopes of avoiding relegation. The two sides played out a six goal thriller. Rooks boss Tony Russell had spoken about throwing caution to the wind, and although they fell behind on fifteen minutes, Marcel Barrington continuing his fine recent form, they turned the match around to be ahead by the break- Joe Taylor and Ayo Olukoga with two in two minutes in the last few minutes before half time. Ten minutes after the restart Will Salmon made it three and home fans hoped that would be that, but sadly for the Dripping Pan faithful, it wasn’t- Troy Williams got one back with fifteen minutes left, and five minutes later Mason Saunders-Henry levelled the game. The Rooks end the weekend in eighth place, but are only three points away from fifth spot- whilst Bay are three points from safety with three games to go. Image courtesy of James Boyes.

Cray Wanderers, four points away from fifth place at kick off, welcomed second bottom Corinthian-Casuals. Wands were five unbeaten, whilst Casuals looked to be thriving in adversity and had won their last two- but had they left their revival too late? Wands went ahead just before the half hour mark through Nyren Clunis, and as it turned out that was the only goal of the game- sadly enough to confirm relegation for Casuals, but also to take Wands to within a point of Enfield Town in the race for fifth place.

Hastings United started the day eight points away from the promised land- and looked to keep their play off hopes alive as they travelled to Potters Bar Town. A corner from Kasim Aidoo gave the visitors the lead four minutes after the restart, but the Scholars levelled through Theo Alexandrou nine minutes later. They weren’t level for long, however, David Smith restoring the United lead, and they made sure with two goals in the last five minutes, Ben Pope and Sam Adams with numbers three and four. That was that, Hastings in ninth- and the gap now five points.

Folkestone Invicta and Carshalton Athletic met on Friday, in a match marred by serious injury to Invicta’s keeper Patrick Ohman just before half time. Neither side could manage a goal, and both had to be happy with a point.

Haringey Borough welcomed Margate on Friday, in a clash between two sides who are destined to finish in mid table. It looked as if we had a goalless draw, and then, right at the end, Samuel Owusu stepped up to give Borough all three points.

Bowers and Pitsea, three points from safety, knew that a win over Bognor Regis Town could see them climb out of the bottom four if neighbours Canvey could do them a favour at Kingstonian- but they didn’t start well, the Rocks taking the lead on nineteen minutes, Danny Howick with the goal. It got worse for the hosts when Nathan Odokonyero made it two on fifty minutes, and on fifty seven minutes Sam De St Croix made it three. Florian Kastrati made it four-nil with fourteen minutes left, but Bowers haven’t lost ground on fifth bottom Kingstonian, and will be delighted that only Herne Bay from the bottom five earned as much as a point this weekend. Bognor are up to thirteenth.

Relegated Brightlingsea Regent had boss Brett Munyard newly reappointed after six weeks away, but his second tenure had the worst possible start, Elliot Long putting Wingate & Finchley ahead after only two minutes at the Taydal. The hosts levelled just before the break, Suleyman Zudhu with the equaliser, but thirteen minutes from time it was advantage Blues once more, and once more it was Elliott Long with the goal. That was that, Wingate as good as safe having opened up a nine point gap on the bottom four with only three games remaining.

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