Chats close the gap, whilst Hastings hit five

Chatham Town moved to within five points of leaders Hornchurch with victory over Kingstonian. The Chats went ahead on twelve minutes, Jack Evans moving into double figures for the season, although the K’s levelled just after the half hour, Luke Stokoe scoring his first Kingstonian goal on his home debut. On he stroke of half time the visitors restored their lead, Kareem Isiaka making it two-one, and any chance of a K’s comeback ended when Chris Dickson’s sixth in ten matches made it three-one with twenty minutes left. That’s fifteen for the season for Dickson, as he got nine for Erith & Belvedere before his move to the Chats.

Three points and one place further back are Enfield Town, who won the A10 derby at Cheshunt. Sam Youngs got the Towners underway with the opener on twenty minutes- his eighteenth of the campaign- and with twenty three minutes to go an own goal made them comfortable. They were less comfortable when Nnamdi Nwachuku got one back from the spot seven minutes later, but the Ambers couldn’t find an equaliser.

Wingate & Finchley remain in fourth place, but they fell to defeat in a five goal derby thriller against Potters Bar Town. The visiting Blues went ahead midway through the first half, Ahmet Biler opening the scoring, but the Scholars levelled just after the start of the second half through Brandon Adams- his seventh in ten games- and on sixty four minutes went ahead, Darnell Goather-Braithwaite, on from the bench, making it two-one. The visitors weren’t behind for long- two minutes in fact- before Zack Newton drew them level, and it looked like we’d be level on points on Boxing Day, only for Goather-Braithwaite to force home a winner deep into added time. That’s three wins in a row for Potters Bar, and only one defeat in ten- a result which moves them up to fourteenth. Image courtesy of the club.

Hastings United were the days biggest winners, thrashing Folkestone Invicta on the Kent coast. Davide Rodari has been in magnificent form since the return to the club of boss Chris Agutter, and he opened the scoring after just three minutes- his fifteenth of the season. It took only nine minutes more for him to score another, and three minutes after the break he had his hat trick, putting his side three-nil up. Kian Moyes added a fourth on fifty six minutes, and Tommie Fagg rubbed seasalt into the Invicta wounds with a fifth three minutes from time. Invicta slip into the bottom four, and Andy Drury’s nightmare start as their boss continues.

That’s seven in four matches for Hastings number seven Rodari, and his side into the top five.

Another set of big winners on the road were Hashtag United, who trounced Haringey Borough at Coles Park. Borough went ahead on thirty three minutes, Nadum Melvin-Lambert with the opener, but the Tags levelled just before the break, Matthew Wooldridge making it one -one. Ten minutes later the Tags were ahead, Sakariya Hassan with his first of the campaign, and fifteen minutes from time they made the points safe, Luke May-Parrott continuing his fine run in front of goal with his fifth goal in three matches. Just before the end the visitors made it four-one, Max Cornhill with that one, and they sit only a point away from the top five with a game in hand.

That’s three consecutive wins from the Tags.

Horsham hoped to break into the top five as they travelled for a Sussex derby at Bognor Regis Town, but it was the Rocks who emerged triumphant to stretch their unbeaten record to six matches. The opening goal arrived in the sixty fourth minutes, Lucas Pattenden with it, and the points were secured right at the end when Dan Gifford made it two. The Hornets are only three points away from a play off spot, and with games in hand, but their lack of goals must be worrying boss Dom Di Paola, as only the bottom two have scored fewer. Bognor are twelfth.

Dulwich Hamlet got back to winning ways at Champion Hill, two thousand, seven hundred and thirty seven watching them defeat Carshalton Athletic. It took only three minutes for them to go ahead, Ryley Scott with the opener, and they were two up soon afterwards, Kreshnic Krasniqi with that one- but that’s where the home goes stopped, and the Robins got back into the match just after half time, Mark Marshall reducing the arrears. Try as they might there was no equaliser, and Hamlet are ninth, moving ahead of their visitors on goal difference.

Lewes made it two two-one wins in a row with victory at Whitehawk. After a goalless first half the Rooks got their beaks in front when Chris Whelpdale opened the scoring on fifty two minutes- his seventh of the season, this one set up by Deon Moore- and before the Hawks could recover from that blow the visitors had another, Moore this time scoring himself, just two minutes later. The hosts made the closing stages interesting when Charlie Lambert got a goal back with twenty minutes left, but a red card for Joel Daly right at the end ended the hosts hopes.

The match between Cray Wanderers and Margate was abandoned right at the end after an injury to the hosts Yahaya Bamba. We hope you’re fit and well soon, Yahaya, and great credit to the physio’s from both sides for their support for the injured player.

Note to all clubs- please upload any goal of the month contenders as soon as you can!

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