Borough march on, Bowers falter, Hayes restricted to two- and United hit five!

Haringey Borough had won ten consecutive matches before their run was ended on the last Saturday of the year, when Merstham grabbed a point. Since then they’ve got straight back to winning ways, and yesterday Tom Loizou’s men celebrated his Manager of the Month Award- and keeper Valery Pajetet’s Safe Hands Award- by scoring three times and keeping a clean sheet against bottom side Whitehawk. Anthony Mcdonald got the opener at Coles Park as the thirteenth minute was unlucky for the Hawks, and Ralston Gabriel had the second before half time. Sub Karl Akinwade got a third in the second half, and it could have been four, but Hawks keeper Melvin Minter saved a last minute spot kick.

Borough go eight points clear at the top, with Kingstonian the first of the chasing pack. The K’s are now five games unbeaten, and yesterday won the third of that quintet, impressively walloping Bishop’s Stortford at their Prokit UK Stadium. The home side started the stronger, and had a number of opportunities to open the scoring, but Elliott Buchanan put the away side ahead eight minutes before the break, and when Louie Theophanous made it two just after the interval the game had turned entirely the K’s way. Shaun McAuley made it three with seventeen minutes remaining, although Leigh Dynan’s side had to end the game with ten men after Josh Huggins picked up a straight red card.

Dorking Wanderers skip to third, and they’ve won only two of their last six. Yesterday they picked up a point away to an improving AFC Hornchurch, Keiron Lavery putting them ahead only for George Saunders to equalise for the Urchins a minute from time.

Fourth and fifth place Enfield Town and Lewes were facing each other, and cancelled each other out at Donkey Lane. Both goals came in the first half, Omarr Lawson giving the Rooks an early lead only for Sam Youngs to equalise eight minutes before the break.

Bognor Regis Town had a good December, and are up to sixth place after picking up their tenth point from the last twelve, courtesy of a 2-0 win over Carshalton Athletic. Mason Walsh seized on a poor goalkick to give the Rocks the lead on ten minutes, whilst Jimmy Muitt made it two- and produced a certain symmetry- scoring ten minutes into the second half.

Folkestone Invicta are seventh- and you can read about their match HERE as it was our Bostik Matchday feature. They travelled to an improving Burgess Hill Town, who climbed out of the bottom three after yesterday’s result.

Worthing come next, and they would perhaps have expected to be higher, after David Ajiboye gave them a second half lead at Margate. But the Hartsdown Park faithful did get something to cheer, Frannie Collin equalising from the spot with two minutes to go.

Merstham have only lost one of their last eight and are unbeaten in six, and Wingate & Finchley continued their terrible league form yesterday as they went down three-nil at Moatside. Goals midway through the first half by Kershaney Samuels and Walter Figueira made it 2-0 at half time, and right at the end Roman Michael-Percil made it three from the spot, as the Moatsiders ended the day in ninth. Wingate & Finchley drop into the bottom three.

Tonbridge Angels have had a torrid time of late, and it looked like that would continue at home to a resurgent Brightlingsea Regent. Tom Rothery’s men travelled to Longmead on the back of three consecutive victories, and just after half time were two goals to the good, Harvey Hodd and Billy Hunt finding the net. Angels didn’t give up, however, and two goals in the last quarter of an hour from Tom Parkinson and Alex Read got them a point.

Leatherhead are just behind Angels in twelfth, but they had to come from behind at home to Potters Bar Town. Dernell Wynter gave the Scholars the lead on thirteen minutes, but Travis Gregory equalised for the Tanners just before the half hour and Ibrahim Olutade struck two minutes after the break to keep the points at Fetcham Grove.

The match between Corinthian Casuals and Harlow Town ended goalless.

North Division

We had a battle of the top two at Scraley Road, and visitors Bowers & Pitsea saw their lead cut to three points after the game’s solitary goal went to Heybridge Swifts, Charlie Kendall scoring it for Julian Dicks men. Since Dicks took over after the departure of Jody Brown his side have played fourteen matches in the League and lost only one, picking up thirty five points- perhaps, after coming so close to promotion last year, this will be their turn?

Swifts local rivals Maldon & Tiptree were taking on the only side to defeat Heybridge during that run, Great Wakering Rovers. Lightning didn’t strike twice, as the Jammers racked up four goals to move themselves a point behind Swifts in third. There were six goals in total, and they all came in the first half- a De-Carrey Sheriff penalty for the away side, followed by a Sammie Mcleod double put the Jammers three up, and whilst Jake Gordon got one back that was only the catalyst for Sherrif to get another and make it 4-1. There was still time for Shomari Barnwell to pull another back before the referee signalled the break, but that was that!

Aveley are fourth, and got back to winning ways for the first time in four matches with a 2-0 victory at AFC Sudbury. Thomas Richardson and Andrew Freeman got the goals, one in each half, and the Millers are five points from the summit- but with two matches in hand.

Felixstowe and Walton United were watched by 560- our highest attendance of the day- and they were rewarded as the Seasiders walloped Coggeshall Town 3-0, a second half onslaught securing the points. A goal from Rhys Henry and two from Josh Kerridge saw the Seed Growers buried, and the home side climb to thirteenth. Coggeshall are fifth.

Visitors to Parkside saw a five goal thriller between the sides in seventh and eighth, Grays Athletic and Bury Town. It was the home side who came out on top, a Kieran Bishop double and one from Aron Gordon not quite matched by Town, for whom Kyran Clements and Ryan Horne found the net.

Canvey Island are ninth, and they came from behind at home to Mildenhall Town to pick up three points, an Adam Vyse double- one in each half- enough to cancel out and then surpass Abouhadje Kouassi’s opener. Tilbury move to tenth, and continued the excellent form that has earned them many plaudits- including our Performance of the Month Award- in recent weeks, walloping four past bottom side Dereham Town despite having to come from behind. David Hinton gave the Magpies the lead, but Lewis Smith drew the Dockers level before half time, and after the break a Thomas Barton double and another from Smith made it 4-1, before Joe Gatting pulled one back for Dereham just before the end.

Basildon United are just behind the Dockers, but they are still living on early season glories are seem in absolute freefall. From their last thirteen matches they’ve picked up just five points, and yesterday they were walloped at Barking. It was four-nil by half time, Kemo Darboe, a Ross Elsom double and Darelle Russell making the match safe, and although Jeffrey Cobblah was able to pull one back in the second half a late Abs Seymour goal made it five-one before the end.

Witham Town continued their excellent form, coming from behind to defeat Brentwood Town. Ernest Okoh gave the away side the lead, but Toby Aromolaran and Luke Mallett had the home fans singing by half time, and they were still singing at the end.

Witham move to sixteenth.

Soham Town Rangers are just below Witham, and they leapt over Romford by firing four goals against the Boro- two in each half. Sam Mulready got one ten minutes in and another ten minutes after the break, whilst Callum Russell and Michael Baulk also found the net.

South Central Division

Molesey did something yesterday that nobody in the South Central Division has done since mid- November. Yes, they restricted leaders Hayes and Yeading United to less than three goals! They still conceded two, however, Duncan Culley and Lee Barney ensuring that United remained two points clear at the top.

Bracknell Town have generally been the leaders of the chasing pack, and that remains the case after the Robins got three without reply at Chipstead. For once Liam Ferdinand didn’t score- but Adam Cornell, Ashleigh Artwell and Joseph Grant did, all three goals coming after the interval- and Town even coped with having ten men for the last twenty minutes, Kensley Maloney sent off.

Marlow are third, Devontae Romeo and Junaid Bell scoring at South Park to give them all three points despite Great Evans getting one back for the home side, whilst Cheshunt are fourth, a Jason Hallett double enough to see them win at Northwood. Hallett’s second, two minutes from time, was truly a heartbreaker for Woods, who must have thought they’d secured a point after Sam Jenkins had equalised with only nineteen minutes remaining.

Only four points separate the top four, but Hayes and Yeading have three matches in hand over their rivals.

Three points and one place further back are Waltham Abbey, but the Abbotts fell at Westfield. There was only one goal, but Graeme Purdy got it for the home side in the seventeenth minute. Westfield have only lost two of their last nine- both defeats coming to the top two in the division.

Ashford Town got back to winning ways with a 2-1 win over bottom side Egham Town, but they had to come from behind to do it, Luke King giving the Sarnies a first half lead. That lead remained until the 64th minute, when Max Webb equalised- and eight minutes from time Gurkan Gockman got the winner. The Tangerines are sixth, and the Terrors are seventh, after an own goal and a goal from Hady Ghandour gave Tooting & Mitcham United three points at Chalfont St Peter.

Ware, in eighth, and Bedfont Sports delivered a quite ridiculous match at Wodson Park. The home side won four-two, goals from Dave Cowley (2), Albert Adu and Harry Norman for Ware enough for victory despite Sports getting two of their own, through Abdeen Temitope Abdul and David Pitt- but the match ended in controversy after five players were sent off- including two substitutes! Harry Norman and Leigh Rose took an early bath for the home side, whilst Scott Harris and subs Paul Johnson and David Pitt joined them for Bedfont. Pitt had earlier seen his penalty saved- and there is also a suggestion that Sports scored a goal which wasn't given, after the officials thought a ball had come back from a post when instead it hit a stanchion at the back of the net.

Finally for the South Central, we had two 2-2 draws. Hertford Town and Hanwell Town shared the first four goals, Hertford coming back from two down after a Tom Collins double had given the Geordies the lead. Mark Twumasi and an Elliott Bailey penalty two minutes from time brought things level. There was also late drama for FC Romania, who must have been assured of three points after the prolific Chiduben Onokwai had given them a 2-0 lead with both goals. Uxbridge weren’t done, however, and two goals in the last three minutes from Mitchell Wiseman and Matthew Woods got them a share of the spoils.

South East Division

Leaders Cray Wanderers entertain Three Bridges today, and Hastings United took advantage to cut their lead to five points. They scored five goals to do so, all in the first half, including a Jack Dixon hat trick as Sittingbourne were put to the sword. Jordy Mongoy and Daniel Ajakaiye got the other goals, in front of 430 at the Pilot Field.

Whyteleafe, in third place, were only slightly less effective than United- they got four goals in the first half of their match with Greenwich Borough, all in the first 26 minutes! Bradley Wilson got two, Kelvin Ogboe and Lauris Chin the others, and although Borough were able to get one back in the second half through Reece Deakin it was nowhere near enough.

Horsham are fourth, goals three minutes from the start and three minutes from the end enough to see off Faversham Town at the Shepherd Neame Stadium, Rob O’Toole and Jack Brivio finding the net- whilst Danny Parish’s first senior hat trick- he also managed an assist for Theo Fairweather-Johnson- was enough to see ashford United go fifth, courtesy of an excellent 4-0 win at VCD Athletic.

The Nuts and Bolts leap over Haywards Heath Town, who fell to defeat at home to Ramsgate. Tom Chapman and Aaron Millbank gave the Rams a half time lead, but Heath were able to draw level in the second half, Alex Laing and Callum Saunders finding the net. At that point you’d perhaps have expected any victory to come to the home side, but instead Trey Williams popped up right at the end to take the points back to Kent.

Herne Bay looked to continue their recent revival at home to Sevenoaks Town, and it looked good for them when Bradley Schafer gave them the lead with only twenty minutes to go. That spurred Oaks on, however, ad first Kenny Pogue and then, in the last minute, Frankie Sawyer with a penalty, ruined things for the home side.

Finally, the Belmont saw early and late goals as Whitstable Town and East Grinstead Town got a point each. Greg Cundle gave the Wasps the lead in the fourth minute, and they held that advantage until two minutes from time, when Chris Elliott equalised from the spot.