Bowers go goal mad!

Bowers and Pitsea went into last night's Premier Division match with Brightlingsea Regent in good form, with only one defeat in their previous six matches, whilst Regent had two defeats from their previous six but had looked to be improving, too. The odds were perhaps in favour of a home victory, so no-one would be surprised that such was recorded- but the manner of that victory will have been a surprise to even the most ardent fan of Rob Small's side.

It took nine minutes for Ben Sartain to put the hosts ahead, and only two minutes more for Quentin Monville to make it two. On thirty five minutes Lewis Manor got the third for Bowers, and before the break Callum Leahy had ensured that shellshocked Regent would have a second half mountain to climb by scoring the fourth.

After the break it got little better for the visitors. Manor got his second nine minutes after the restart, Monville got his second just after the hour, and in the seventy first minute Manor secured the match ball with goal number seven.

It was around this time last season that Bowers really began to score for fun. Seven times in their last twelve matches they got four or more on the way to picking up the North Division title. If they can repeat that in the eleven games they have remaining this season they'll finish much higher than twelfth!

Not too far away in East Thurrock, the Rocks were entertaining Carshalton Athletic- and ending the Robins three match winning run with a convincing performance which saw them climb to eighth. Both goals came in the first half, Amos Nasha getting the first, and Darren Froxley getting the second from the spot ten minutes before the break.

The Robins slip to fourth, overhauled by Hornchurch who came from behind at Margate to rescue a point. Adam Ramadan put the hosts ahead four minutes before the break, a lead they held until fifteen minutes from time when Jamie Cureton levelled from the spot. That was Cureton's third goal at Hartsdown Park this season, as he got two for Bishop's Stortford in November, but he didn't have long to celebrate as with eight minutes left on the clock Ben Swift restored the hosts lead. Once again they couldn't hold it, however, as right at the end George Saunders stepped up to earn a point for the visitors.

In the North Division leaders Maldon & Tiptree travelled to third place Bury Town and fell behind twenty minutes from time as Cemal Ramadan gave the hosts the lead from the spot. The Jammers, however, never know when they're beaten- and once again they came from behind to seal victory. Martin Stokes got the equaliser five minutes later, and three minutes after that Jerome Slew sealed victory with his twenty ninth goal of an exceptional season. Maldon are now six points clear of Heybridge Swifts in second place and nine clear of Bury, who are third- and have five matches in hand over both clubs. Aveley, in fourth, are ten points behind and have played one game more.

Tilbury, in fifth place, had the chance to go third on Monday night but fell to their first defeat in twelve matches as they lost by the odd goal in seven to a resurgent Brentwood Town. The hosts, once again forced to play away from their Arena, won their second match in three days as Marcus Milner, Marcus Elliott, Adam Topley and Andrew Freeman put them four-one up with fifteen minutes remaining, Ola Ogunwamide having earlier equalised for the Dockers. Two goals in the last seven minutes, from Samuel Keefe and David Knight, pulled it back to four-three, but there was no time for an equaliser. Brentwood climb to seventeenth, and importantly put ten points between themselves and bottom side Romford- although Romford have three matches in hand.

Great Wakering Rovers got back to winning ways as they hosted AFC Sudbury. Connor Martin and Martin Tuohy got their goals, and they were the only goals of the match. Rovers climb to seventh, the Yellows are fifteenth.

The South Central Division saw Ashford Town put three points and three places between themselves and the basement with a two-nil victory over Staines Town. Both goals came after the break, and they came to Aaron Petch and Tommy Brunton. The Swans are off the bottom only on goal difference.

In the South East Division Haywards Heath Town picked up their first victory in seven matches as they travelled to Sevenoaks Town. Kieran Rowe got both of the visitors goals, one in each half, and Tyrell Richardson-Brown got an equaliser for Oaks on the stroke of half time. Heath are up to fourteenth, whilst Oaks are five points clear of them in eleventh- however the Sussex side have two games in hand.

We have- we hope- two matches tonight, both in the Premier Division. Lewes host our leaders, Worthing, whilst Kingstonian bring Wingate & Finchley to King George's Field.