Bowers close to within two points of the top after reaching nine in a row

Leaders Lowestoft Town had a five point lead at kick off but no match this weekend, so second place Bowers and Pitsea knew that they could cut that lead to two points if they could win at Basildon United. Bowers have hit top form at just the right moment, and came into this one after winning their last eight matches- and it took them only eight minutes to go ahead, Malakai Hyman with the opener. The lead was doubled ten minutes later, Geoffrey Okonkwo giving them some breathing space, and they needed that breathing space as the Bees got a goal back nine minutes from half time, Kye Jude giving the home fans something to sing about. The rest of the match brought no more goals- but it ensures that Bowers put more pressure on the Trawler Boys.

Third place Felixstowe and Walton United had slipped to seven points behind the leaders, albeit with a game in hand- but with only three matches left to play that looked possibly to be too much of a gap to bridge. The Seasiders were back on their own patch, Witham Town the visitors- and after only one win in five the hosts wanted to get back on track with those Play Offs to come. The match was still goalless when Town’s Ryan Dear was dismissed on fifty six minutes, and it was still goalless when the Seasiders joined their visitors on ten men, Noel Aitkens also taking an early bath. The winner eventually arrived with only six minutes to go, and it went to the hosts, Zak Brown with the only goal of the game- leaving his side four points away from the summit with two games remaining.

An nasty injury to Seasiders keeper Josh Blunkell- and all subs used- meant that the Seasiders ended the match with nine men and with Josh Hitter in goal! Get well soon to the first Josh, and well done to the second one, who was called upon to make some important saves.

Image from Stefan Peck.

Bury Town have had a fine second half to their season, and headed to Walthamstow with their play off place secured and a chance to end the East Londoners play off ambitions once and for all. Our fourth place side had only one defeat from ten- indeed they had only one defeat from twenty two- whilst Walthamstow found themselves five points away from fifth place with only two matches left to play, and needed wins coupled with a Brentwood disaster to have any hope. Stow went ahead eight minutes into the second half, Brian Moses with the opener, but the Blues quickly hit back, the ever-reliable Cemal Ramadan with his thirtieth goal of the season. That was that, and Bury stay fourth, whilst the hosts play off hopes come to an end.

Brentwood Town knew that victory at Wroxham- or indeed victory in any of their four remaining matches- would guarantee their play off spot, but hadn't yet have given up on a top three finish and home advantage. The Blues went ahead five minutes before half time at Trafford Park, Matt Cripps with the opener, and that turned out to be the only goal of the game. They are five points away from third place, with a game in hand.

Two sides who wanted a positive end to the season were Brightlingsea Regent and Heybridge Swifts, in eighth and seventh and meeting at the Taydal. Swifts could still mathematically make a play off spot but needed to win their three remaining matches and hope for a Brentwood implosion, whilst Regent had been in super form, having won their last five whilst conceding only one goal- and the hosts were quickly ahead in this one, Marley Andrews with the opener, before doubling their advantage only three minutes later through Jake Thompson. An own goal gave Swifts a lifeline, and they took it, with Eman Okunja levelling eight minutes into the second half. Ten minutes from time Ross Wall saw red for the visitors, but Regent couldn’t take advantage and two-two was the final score.

Maldon and Tiptree welcomed New Salamis, and the Jammers made the breakthrough on seventeen minutes, Harry Phillips with the opening goal. With ten minutes left that was the only goal, but suddenly the contest exploded into life. Nathan Mandle levelled for the visitors, and with two minutes left an own goal put them ahead, and it looked like the points were off to North London, but in added time Shane Temple found an equaliser.

Redbridge- winners of the Essex Senior Cup and winners of two hime matches already this week- welcomed Norfolk Senior Cup holders (and finalists again) Gorleston, and the Motormen went ahead after just seven minutes, Oscar Shelvey-Negus with the opener. It turned out that the opener was the last and indeed only goal of the game, and it’s been a fine week for Redbridge, who are up to thirteenth.

Grays Athletic played host to Stowmarket Town, and they also played host to the first goal of all of the three o’clock kick offs, as the visitors- who of course were already confirmed as relegated- took the lead after two minutes, Ewan Gordon-Clement with his ninth goal in sixteen matches. Athletic soon levelled, however, Charlie Stimson with the equaliser, and they were ahead on twenty seven minutes, Aron Gordon completing the turnaround. On the stroke of half time Stimson added a third for Athletic, and that was that.

Enfield welcomed Ipswich Wanderers to Bishop’s Stortford, and there was much ado about nothing-nothing. The sides are eighteenth and seventeenth after a goalless draw.

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