Blues stay top- whilst the Millers and Urchins keep up the pressure

Our leaders, Bishop’s Stortford, travelled to Essex to take on a shellshocked Bowers & Pitsea side. Bowers were three-nil up at Wingate & Finchley in midweek with eight minutes to go, and somehow contrived to lose four-three- a result which left them only a point above the bottom four having played more matches than the two sides directly below them. Stortford had a two point lead at the top, and had won six of their last seven- and the Blues went ahead six minutes before the break, an own goal doing the damage for the hosts. That turned out to be the only goal of the game, and it ensured that Stortford held onto that two point lead- and made it three wins in a row against Bowers- whilst their hosts fall into the relegation places.

Aveley were the only side who could replace Stortford at the top this weekend, but they had to defeat seventh place Lewes to have any chance of that. The Millers, who had won their previous five matches, did their best. They went ahead on thirty three minutes, George Sykes with his nineteenth of the campaign, before doubling their advantage ten minutes after the restart, Oli Coker getting that one. In between the two goals Lewis Carey saved a penalty for the Rooks.

Aveley remain in second place, with Lewes dropping to ninth- and our image is from James Boyes.

Enfield Town had the difficult task of travelling to sixth place Canvey Island. The Towners, despite having the best away record in the Division, were hammered five-one on the Island in the FA Cup, and fell behind on fifty seven minutes, Joe Paxman opening the scoring after a pass from Evans Kouassi- who has tormented the Towners this season, scoring a hat trick in that cup win. The Gulls were two up within four minutes, Bradley Sach with his seventeenth of the campaign after another Kouassi assist, and when Rob Girdlestone made it three seven minutes from time it was game over for the visitors. Canvey are up to fifth, a point behind their now fourth place opponents.

Hornchurch, six points behind the leaders with two games in hand, saw Herne Bay arrive Bridge Avenue. The Urchins were three unbeaten, although surprisingly could manage only a draw at relegation-fighters Corinthian-Casuals in midweek- but they were quickly ahead in this one, Ellis Brown getting the breakthrough on thirteen minutes. They were two up just before the half hour, Sam Higgins with that one- his twenty fifth of the season- but the visitors halved the arrears soon afterwards through Marcel Barrington. The two goal advantage was restored for the hosts just before the break, Ade Yusuff with his second goal for his new club, and Higgins added a fourth just after the hour mark before claiming his hat trick three minutes from time. Five-one was the final score, Hornchurch up to third.

Cray Wanderers, in fifth as we kicked off, were on the road to the side three places and three points behind them, Hastings United. The hosts had won their previous three matches and defeated Cray with a Ben Pope goal back in September, and the same player put them ahead on eighteen minutes. We ended with the same outcome as the September encounter, Hastings up to seventh, Wands ahead of them only on goal difference.

Carshalton Athletic started the day only three points away from a play off spot, and ended with the same margin despite victory. The Robins were on the road to Margate, and went ahead midway through the first half, Tommy Bradford with his third of the campaign. That turned out to be that, Carshalton eighth, Margate sixteenth.

Horsham welcomed miraculous Wingate & Finchley to the Camping World Community Stadium. The Blues knew they would need to be at their best to defeat a Hornets side who had lost only one of their last ten, but two minutes from time, with the game goalless, they were awarded a penalty. Sadly for the away fans Taylor Seymour saved it, and then the ball was sent to the other end, Shamir Fenelon opening the scoring for the Hornets. There was also time for Tom Richards to convert a penalty and somehow make it two-nil, his side ending the day in tenth place.

Billericay Town had slipped to eleventh place after four defeats from their last five, and hoped to begin climbing back up the table as they welcome Haringey Borough. The Blues went ahead with the first Premier goal of the afternoon, Michael Chambers scoring it after eight minutes, and they doubled their advantage when Kareem Isiaka got the second of the afternoon seven minutes before the break. Bradley Stevenson delighted most of the eight hundred and seventy one watching on with a third soon after the restart, although Ben Allen gave the visitors something to cling on to, getting a goal back from the spot with thirty two minutes remaining, but that was that. Billericay eleventh, Borough fifteenth, and a third win for the Blues between the two this season.

Folkestone Invicta welcomed Corinthian-Casuals to the Kent coast. Casuals had failed to defeat Invicta in their previous SIXTEEN attempts, a run going right back to December 2011, and they fell behind eight minutes before half time, Ian Gayle with the opener. Ibrahim Olutade added another twenty minutes from time, and when he added a third a minute from time it seemed that was that- only for Casuals to immediately pull two goals back, Finlay Lovatt and Nathaniel Pinney making the last seconds interesting. Invicta are twelfth, whilst Casuals sink to the bottom despite their efforts.

Bognor Regis Town welcome a Kingstonian side desperate for a win. The K’s had lost their previous last five, and had only one win from ten, but they went ahead at Nyewood Lane, Imran Kayani with his first K’s goal in his second match. Bognor hit back through Dan Gifford just after half an hour, but almost immediately Alex MacAllister, on his debut, restored away advantage. Kayani added a third from the spot twenty minutes from time, and right at the end Ibrahim Jalloh made it four, which meant that Nathan Odokonyero’s late goal for Bognor had made no difference to the outcome. K’s leap out of the bottom four as a consequence.

Bottom side Brightlingsea Regent welcomed Potters Bar Town, and neither side could manage a goal.

Follow the Pitching In Isthmian League on Instagram. Head here or search for theisthmianleague on your app. We're also on Facebook and Twitter.