Casuals leap off the bottom, whilst the two United's kept pace at the top of the South East Division

Premier Division

Corinthian-Casuals last night lifted themselves off the bottom of the Premier Division, climbing to eighteenth place with victory over East Thurrock United- which perhaps demonstrates just how tight it is at the wrong end of the table, with only one point separating the bottom five.

Casuals took a two-nil lead into the break at King George’s Field, Gabriel Odunaike opening the scoring after just two minutes and Benjamin Checklit doubling the advantage less than half an hour later, but the Rocks made their hosts fight for the points by halving the deficit twelve minutes after the restart, Danny Cossington with the goal.

Just above the bottom five Lewes got a useful point at Enfield Town, but will perhaps be a little disappointed that they couldn’t make it three, the home equaliser coming seventeen minutes from time. Aaron Cosgrave got his first goal for the Rooks to put them ahead in the first half, whilst Marc Weatherstone got the Towners equaliser.

Leatherhead bounced back to form by walloping Potters Bar Town by four goals to nil at Fetcham Grove, but that result perhaps doesn’t entirely show the balance of play given that three of the goals came in the last thirteen minutes. The opening goal of the contest came five minutes before the break, Stefan Brown putting the hosts ahead, and then in the seventy-seventh minute the lead was doubled, Zachary Robinson scoring from the spot. Robinson added another four minutes later, and Ibrahim Olutade got the fourth four minutes from time. Leatherhead end the day in ninth place.

Tonight, Kingstonian face Haringey Borough at King George’s Field.

In the North Division Maldon & Tiptree extended their advantage at the top to eleven points, and took their revenge on Tilbury, who were the first side to inflict defeat on them this season. The Dockers took an early lead through Brian Moses- after just two minutes- but the Jammers struck back to level eleven minutes later through Martyn Stokes, and the winner came just before the hour, Jake Cass finding the net.

Bury Town are up to third. Ollie Fenn put them ahead against Grays Athletic just before the break, and Cemal Ramadan made sure just before full time- although Steve King did grab a late consolation for Athletic deep into added time.

Cambridge City were our big winners of the evening, hammering five at Hullbridge Sports. It was only one-nil at the break, Ryan Sharman opening the scoring, but by the time we reached the midway point of the second half Sharman had his hat trick and Tom Wood had also scored to make it nil-four. Arel Amu got the visitors fifth just before the end.

Two goals in two minutes at Histon- one for each side- saw the match against Coggeshall Town end in a one-one draw. Max York put the hosts ahead from the spot, but two minutes later Nnamdi Nwachuku scored his seventh goal in six matches since his return to the club.

Tonight Romford ‘host’ AFC Sudbury knowing that just one point will lift them off the bottom of the table. The match will take place at Parkside, home of Aveley, just like most of the fixtures in the division seem to lately!

Into the South Central Division now, and Marlow got their revenge for their recent one-nil defeat against Northwood by inflicting the same scoreline on their rivals in the return. Isaac Olorunfemi got the only goal sixteen minutes from time.

Westfield and Tooting & Mitcham United played out a one-one draw at Woking Park. Aaron Watson gave the hosts an early lead, but eleven minutes from time Dan Williams got an equaliser for the Terrors.

South East

As we entered last night’s fixtures Ashford United and Hastings United were level on points at the top, and as the evening ended the same was true- but the points tally for both sides had increased by three.

The Nuts and Bolts had to fight hard for their victory at in-form Chichester City, and eventually won by the odd goal in five. All of the goals came before the break; George Purcell put the Nuts and Bolts ahead in the eleventh minute only for Kaleem Haitham to immediately cancel that out, and although Adrian Stone put the visitors ahead once more only two minutes later, and Purcell increased the lead with his second on the half hour, Haitham once more pulled a goal back to make it two-three at the break. The second half saw City try their very best to find a leveller, but ultimately fall short- a result which keeps Ashford top of the table on goal difference.

Hastings had a rather easier night in their three-one win at Burgess Hill Town. They were two up after a quarter of an hour, Jake Elliott and former Hillian Ben Pope with the goals, added a third eleven minutes after the restart through Daniel Ajakaiye, and the hosts consolation came with the last shot of the match, Scott Kirkwood pulling one back from the spot. Our headline image shows a collection of hardy Hastings fans, and comes from the lens of Eva Gilbert. You can see the rest of her shots from the match here.

Haywards Heath Town moved up to eighth with victory over Sittingbourne. All of the goals came in the second half, with Nathan Cooper and Hamish Morrison putting Heath two goals up, Sid Sollis pulling one back for the Brickies.

In the Velocity Trophy Folkestone Invicta were given an almighty scare at Basildon United, only an equaliser a minute from time keeping them in the competition. Alfix Paxman opened the scoring for the visitors after only ten minutes, but another Paxman- Joseph, not Jeremy- got the Bees equaliser seven minutes later and eleven minutes from time Albert Perry put the hosts ahead. That equaliser came from Johan Ter Horst, and the Premier Division side went on to win five-four on penalties.