Blues take a step closer to the title

Bishop’s Stortford had lost only twice at home this season, whilst visitors Brightlingsea Regent hadn’t managed a single victory on their travels, so yesterday’s match between the leaders and their already relegated visitors looked a home win certainty- and so it proved. Stortford comfortably made it five wins in a row and took themselves four points clear at the top with a three-nil victory. Harry Beadle headed home the opener after just three minutes, and the Blues were two up by half time, Ryan Charles volleying home at the far post from a Frankie Merrifield cross. With eleven minutes to go the hosts made the points certain, a free kick from Jonny Giles evading everyone and finding the net.

Hornchurch travelled to Carshalton Athletic- and a late equaliser means that the Urchins have won only one of their last six. The visitors went ahead just after the break, Tom Wraight converting a penalty, but within seven minutes the Robins were level through Stefan Ilic. With sixteen minutes to go Liam Nash looked to have won it for the visitors, but the hosts weren’t done and a minute from time holed Hornchurch’s hopes when Ollie Cook levelled. The Urchins now have four points to make up on Stortford, and only two games to do it.

Canvey Island and Aveley saw their match rained off. Both could yet be involved in the title shake up, the Gulls five points behind Stortford with a game in hand- but it certainly won’t be easy!

Enfield Town kicked off knowing that a host of clubs were breathing down their necks in the battle for that final play off spot- and a late, late Haringey Borough goal saw the Towners lose their grip on the top five. Jake Cass put them in front on twenty four minutes only for Scott Mitchell to level just before the break, but a second from Cass with twenty five minutes left looked to have given the hosts three points. Right at the end, however, Stefanos Georgiou popped up to earn a point for Borough, and drop Town down to sixth.

Cray Wanderers were the beneficiaries of that late Haringey goal, but to take advantage of that they needed three points of their own- and they got them at Herne Bay in an eight goal thriller. Wands had an almost perfect first half hour, Nyren Clunis scoring twice and Sam Wood adding another- but the hosts then awoke, and a Mason Saunders-Henry effort and an own goal pulled things back to two-three. Ten minutes from time Jalen Jones gave the visitors a boost, making it four-two, but again the hosts hit back through Daniel Ogunleye. Right at the end Wands made sure, Rio Campbell making it five-three and confirming three critical points. Bay are now six points from safety with two games to go- those matches against Wingate & Finchley and Bishop’s Stortford; whilst that’s seven unbeaten for Wands.

Hastings United and Horsham didn’t do each other’s play off chances much good, neither managing a goal. United are six points away from the top five- albeit with a game in hand- whilst the Hornets are four points from the promised land. One thousand, five hundred and twenty one watched on.

Bognor Regis Town walloped Bowers & Pitsea at the weekend, but were on the receiving end of a walloping against Lewes, despite the Rooks playing seventy seven minutes with ten men. Lewes were two goals to the good- both from Ryan Gondoh- when Deon Moore got his marching orders after a clash with Calvin Davies, and the hosts made a match of it when Nathan Odokonyero got a goal back just after the start of the second half- but it was the ten men who kicked on, Joe Taylor doing what he does best and adding two goals for a comfortable victory. That’s thirty six for the season for the big number nine- and his side in seventh, only two points away from the top five.

Margate and Folkestone Invicta had only Kentish bragging rights to play for at Hartsdown Park, and they went to Invicta, Ibrahim Olutade scoring the only goal of the game on twelve minutes.

Billericay Town are assured of a mid-table spot- but their visitors Bowers & Pitsea travelled to New Lodge with no shortage of problems, and those problems got bigger still as the Blues went three goals up. Montel Agyemang opened the scoring nine minutes before the break, and in the first twelve minutes of the second half Toby Stevenson and Kareem Isiaka added two more. At this point Bowers remembered that they were on the cusp of relegation, and goals from Brandon Aviero and Solomon Addy- both on from the bench- gave them hope, but it was forlorn hope and the hosts took all three points. Bowers are now six points from safety and will have to defeat Hornchurch and Hastings United whilst hoping that Kingstonian don’t pick up another point.

Kingstonian faced a derby match at already relegated Corinthian-Casuals, and came through it comfortably to earn themselves a six point cushion. Ibrahim Bangura gave them a sixteenth minute lead, Tom Collins made it two just after the hour mark, and any chance of a home comeback was ended by red cards for Sean Agun and Simbarashe Kudyiwa, as Casuals finished the match with nine men. The K’s aren’t entirely safe, particularly with tricky matches against Cray Wanderers and Hornchurch to come, but they can only be caught if they lose both of those and either of Bowers or Herne Bay record two victories.

Wingate & Finchley needed a point to guarantee safety, but they got three. Dylan Kearney gave them the lead over Potters Bar Town on nineteen minutes, and made sure when adding a second just before the hour. Max Granville saw a late red card for the Scholars.

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