Brentwood steal home advantage, Barking win but drop out

Champions Aveley were on the road to face great escape artists Hullbridge Sports, and after a goalless first half we also had a goalless second half, a fabulous point for Sports, who end the season in sixteenth despite being rock bottom only a few months ago.

Canvey Island needed at least a point at Hashtag United to guarantee second place no matter what Stowmarket Town did, and the Gulls went ahead on twenty six minutes, Michael Finneran opening the scoring. Matt Wooldridge got an equaliser for the Tags shortly after half time, but the winner came from Connor Hubble, sixteen minutes from time. Canvey will host Felixstowe & Walton United in midweek.

Stowmarket Town and Brentwood Town played each other. After a goalless first half, we had another goalless forty one minutes before the winner arrived- and it went to the visitors, who will now be the hosts in midweek at Stow make the return journey. Andy Freeman got the all-important goal.

Felisxtowe and Walton United were assured a fifth place finish, and continued their fine form against Coggeshall Town, going two-nil up in the first half, Charlie Warren and Sam Nunn with the goals. Harry Knock knocked in (sorry) a third, fifteen minutes from time.

At the other end, the battle was for third bottom and the chance of a relegation play off (or perhaps even an FA reprieve). Witham Town were in pole position to give themselves a chance of survival, and were on the road to bottom side Romford, but went behind midway through the first half only to equalise eight minutes before the break, L’heureux Menga opening the scoring, Adam Cheniti levelling for the visitors. Menga put the hosts ahead again from the spot just after the hour, and they stayed ahead until eight minutes from time, when Josh Osude equalised for the visitors. That point wouldn’t have been enough, but deep into added time Osude got a winner to leave them third from bottom and relegate Barking.

Barking travelled to Tilbury knowing that they must better Witham’s result to get out of the second relegation spot. The first half was goalless, and although player-boss Charlie MacDonald got the winner from the spot on sixty four minutes, Witham’s late win broke their hearts and confirmed their relegation.

AFC Sudbury welcomed Basildon United, the Bees now safe for another year, and the yellows took the lead on twelve minutes, Lewis O’Malley putting them ahead. A late goal from Marley Andrews made it two-nil and ensured three yellow points.

Two sides whose end of season has fallen flat, Grays Athletic and Maldon & Tiptree, faced off at Parkside. The Jammers scored two goals in the first half, one at each end, Malachi Napa with the first ten minutes before the break and an own goal four minutes later drawing Athletic level. After the break Shomari Barnwell put the visitors ahead once more, but goals in the last fifteen minutes from Anointed Chukwu and Don Tantale ensured that the points stayed at home.

Great Wakering Rovers welcomed Dereham Town, and an own goal gave them a first half lead, before Billy Johnson and Darnell Mavanga-Kithambo made it two and three after the break. Adam Hipperson got a late consolation for the Magpies.

Heybridge Swifts fell behind on ten minutes against Bury Town, Ollie Hughes with the goal, but the hosts hit back to go ahead, Rhys Henry and Jack Adlington-Pile turning the game on its head. After the break Joseph Claridge put the hosts further ahead, Cemal Ramadan narrowed the gap, but Lance Akins and Enmmanuel N’Daw added two more before Joe Hood saw red for Town. Five-two the final score, and our image comes from the expert lens of Alan Edmonds, highlighting that fifth goal.

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