Blues stay top, whilst the Rooks and Borough hit four

Bishop’s Stortford kicked off the weekend in pole position- and they ended it there too, with a two point lead. Hosts Hastings United had delivered three consecutive one-nil wins, but the Blues turned the tables, Frankie Merrifield continuing his red hot scoring streak with the only goal just after the hour mark, disappointing most of the one thousand, one hundred and sixty one watching on. That’s eight for the campaign for Merrifield, seven league games undefeated for Stortford.

Second place Potters Bar Town wanted to bounce back from Trophy and League defeats against Heybridge Swifts and Canvey Island. They didn’t quite manage it, having to settle for a point as Cray Wanderers came to call. Mo Kamara gave the Scholars a sixteenth minute lead, but they held it for only six minutes before Mitch Chapman grabbed the equaliser- and, as it turned out, earned his side a point.

The Scholars stay second, whilst third place Enfield Town must have had a feeling of deja-vu as visitors Lewes found form and fired home four goals. The last time the two sides met at Donkey Lane, last January, it was four-one to the Rooks- so at least the Towners added an extra goal this time, for all the good it did them. The Rooks were three up at the break, Deon Moore, Jamie Mascoll and Marcel Elva-Fountaine with the goals- and had a fourth within four minutes of the restart, Razz Coleman De-Graft with that one. Jake Cass and James Richmond made things a little more respectable for the hosts, but not much.

Image courtesy of Stuart Fuller.

Canvey Island, who started the weekend in sixth place, travelled to Margate. The Gulls were seven matches unbeaten in the league, but they couldn’t make it eight, Gate making it two wins this week. Both home goals came after both sides went down to ten men, Sam Blackman seeing red for the hosts and Mason Hall for the visitors. Margate used the extra space more effectively, and Correy henry put them ahead with twenty three minutes remaining. Ben Greenhalgh then added his customary goal with nine minutes left, and Margate are up to tenth.

Horsham went level on points with Hornchurch, who were in cup action, with a one-nil win over Kingstonian. The Hornets saw a poor run come to an end when they came from behind to knock Aveley out of the FA Trophy last weekend, whilst the K’s got back to winning ways themselves on Wednesday, hammering Brightlingsea Regent. We expected the match to be close, and so it was, Jack Brivio delighted most of the nine hundred and thirty eight watching on with the only goal, eleven minutes after half time.

Bognor Regis Town welcomed Herne Bay to Sussex, and managed to take all three points despite playing most of the match with ten men. James Crane opened the score for the hosts on twenty four minutes, Kieron Campbell quickly equalised, and then eight minutes before the break the Rocks scorer saw red. Two minutes after half time a home penalty saw Nathan Odokonyero restore the Rocks lead, and this time, despite being depleted, they held onto it. Bognor climb to eighth.

Haringey Borough welcomed Bowers & Pitsea to White Hart Lane. Both sides had drawn five of their ten league matches this season prior to today, but this one certainly wasn’t a draw, the hosts firing home four goals. Kayen Hinds put Borough ahead before the home faithful had even time to get comfortable in their seats, but Bowers levelled on twenty five minutes through Michael Bareck. Johnny Ashman gave Borough a half time lead, but again Bowers struck back, Dexter Peter equalising nine minutes after the restart. That was as good as it got for the visitors, as Hinds soon restored home advantage and Ashman finished things off, making it four-two right at the end. Borough go twelfth.

Wingate & Finchley, without a win and having drawn six of their nine matches prior to today, are still without a win after Billericay Town continued their climb up the table with all three points. The hosts were ahead at the break, Dylan Kearney opening the scoring two minutes before they all trooped off for orange segments and Haribo, but the visitors levelled shortly after the restart, Anthony Jeffrey with the equaliser. Wingate then saw Michael Olarewaju pick up a red card, and the visitors took advantage, Bradley Stevenson adding two- the first from the spot. Billericay are up to thirteenth.

Carshalton Athletic got back to winning ways by defeating Aveley on Monday night, and picked up a second win in a week when Tom Beere slotted home a first half penalty. Casuals are still without a manager, aren’t allowed to play in their own ground due to storm damage, and don’t have a win since the opening day- they remain bottom.

In the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round, ten man Hornchurch departed the competition after a four-one home defeat against Oxford City. Jack Munns put the Urchins ahead on thirty four minutes, but an equaliser just before the break and a red card for Tom Wraight saw the hosts come unstuck, City adding three more in the second half.

Folkestone Invicta travelled to Wales to take on Merthyr Town, and were quickly two behind. They got one back- an own goal on eighteen minutes- but the equaliser didn’t arrive, sadly.

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