Cat, meet pigeons

Pitching In Isthmian Premier

Our top match in the Pitching In Isthmian Premier last came from Cheshunt, where the Ambers, in sixth place, hosted fourth place Hornchurch. The Ambers had closed to within two points of the top five on the back of a collection of superb results, and had lost only one of their last ten, so one more win would have seen them leapfrog Folkestone Invicta and Lewes into a play off place- but Hornchurch had other ideas.

The Urchins took the lead after twenty minutes, Tom Wraight continuing his incredible form and scoring for the eighteenth time in twenty one games, but the Ambers were soon level courtesy of a long range Nicholas Dib thunderbolt. Into the second half we went, and the match was decided twenty minutes from time, and in the cruellest way, an own goal giving the points to the visitors. Cheshunt still have a game in hand over the sides above them, but they travel to Lewes on Saturday so that match now takes on even greater importance.

At the other end of the table, Merstham are out of the bottom three only on goal difference, and remain in freefall. Frank Wilson’s side welcomed Corinthian-Casuals last night trying to arrest a slide that has made wins almost as rare as hens teeth, but instead they were well and truly plucked- Casuals scoring three goals without reply. Jerry Nnamani got the opener nine minutes before the break, and when Jack Knight doubled their advantage five minutes after the restart it looked a long way back for the Moatsiders. A third goal, thirteen minutes from time, put the result to bed- Ben Cheklit with that one.

Potters Bar Town were already safe from danger. And visitors Horsham were nearly there- and now the Hornets are really there, as they got the only goal of the game. Charlie Hester-Cook scored it after just twelve minutes, to grease the chuckle muscles of the Lardy Army and open up a twelve point gap over the bottom three, with just four games left.

Into the Pitching In Isthmian North, and our matches had implications at both ends. The top clash was between Stowmarket Town and Maldon & Tiptree, and after a goalless first half the hosts struck first, Willie Clemons opening the scoring three minutes after the break and looking to give Town three valuable points. The Jammers are rather difficult to beat these days, and their on-fire striker Shomari Barnwell rescued a point for them nine minutes from time, scoring his ninth goal in five matches. The Jammers are two points behind Grays Athletic, who occupy the final play off spot, whilst Stow are six points better off and remain third.

Great Wakering Rovers were looking nervously at the wrong end of the table, only three points above danger prior to last night’s match against Heybridge Swifts. That nervousness has now increased markedly, as Swifts made sure that Rovers game in hand counted for naught, with a comfortable win at Burroughs Park. The visitors were three up by the break, Jack Adlington-Pile with the first two on sixteen and twenty two minutes, Rhys Henry with the third five minutes before the break- and although Louie Arrowsmith pulled a goal from his quiver on the hour that was all that Rovers could find. They remain fifteenth.

Our image of a forlorn Great Wakering Rover comes from the lens of Dave from Stadium Photography, and will have you sobbing into your shredded wheat this morning.

We’d one match in the Pitching In Isthmian South East, and it was a crucial one for Whitstable Town. The Oysters gave themselves hope by hammering Whitehawk on Saturday, and new boss Andy Drury had them fired up for the arrival of Chichester City. The only goal of the game arrived on sixty six minutes, and it went to the hosts, Scott Doe closing the gap on safety to just four points. Can they? We don’t know, but it will be fun finding out- although perhaps less fun for those still in danger. There are but seven points between the bottom seven.

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