Chats hit the top!

Chatham Town have had a magnificent start to their Pitching In Isthmian Premier campaign, and the Chats went top of the table by crushing Dulwich Hamlet at Champion Hill. The game looked to be heading into the break goalless only for Jamie Yila to pop up with the opening goal right at the end of the half, and in the second period the visitors ran riot. First Jack Evans made it two-nil, and although Craig Barham-Barrett quickly responded for Hamlet that was Evans cue to score two more, taking his total for the season to four and claiming the match ball. Just before the end Yila surpassed that, scoring his second of the match and fifth of the campaign, and a late, late goal from Danny Mills to bring it back to five-two wasn’t much of a consolation for most of the two thousand, two hundred and eighty two watching on.

Image from Max English- more here.

Chatham are now our only Premier side with a one hundred percent record as Enfield Town were held by Haringey Borough- and indeed were moments from getting no points at all. A Matthew Young penalty gave Borough the lead just before half time and it looked as if they’d pick up their first win of the season, only for Towners goal machine Marcus Wyllie to maintain his record of scoring in every game and earn his side a point. That’s six in five games for Wyllie.

Billericay Town bounced back from their weekend loss to Whitehawk, and climbed to third as a consequence. The Blues were on the road to Potters Bar Town, and it was the Scholars who struck first, Sam Dowdridge opening the scoring shortly after the restart- but that was as good as it got for the hosts. Brad Stevenson quickly hit back, and fifteen minutes from time Moses Emmanuel put the visitors into the lead. Three minutes from time Stevenson scored again, and Potters Bar’s wait for a first point of the season continues.

Late goal specialists Carshalton Athletic did it again, coming from behind and then winning their match at Kingstonian deep into added time. The travelling Robins went ahead midway through the first half, Destiny Oladipo with his third of the season, but Eddie Dsane is proving to be a K’s sensation and scored on thirty four and thirty nine minutes to send his side into the break ahead- and taking his tally to four for the season. The Robins were quickly level through Danny Bassett, and just when it looked as if both sides would have to settle for a point, up popped Kwaku Frimpong with a ninety sixth minute winner. Athletic end the long weekend in fourth.

Hornchurch are up to fifth, after becoming the first side to defeat Hashtag United this season. All the action arrived in the last twenty minutes, Liam Nash putting the Urchins ahead with his sixth goal of the season before Tom Wraight added two more on eighty four and eighty six minutes. The Tags slip to thirteenth.

Hastings United, in sixth, are the third of four sides on eleven points. United welcomed Cray Wanderers, whose poor start to the campaign continued as Davide Rodari put the hosts ahead four minutes before half time. Midway through the second half Femi Akinwande converted a penalty for his fourth goal of the season, and it got worse for Wands as Yahaya Bamba saw red.

Eight minutes from time John Uffuah added a third, to the delight of the vast majority of the one thousand and eighty eight watching on.

Lewes slipped down to seventh after grabbing a late point at Bognor Regis Town- the closing stages seeing not only an equalising goal but two red cards, both for the hosts. The Rocks went ahead on eighteen minutes, Jasper Mather with the opening goal, but within little more than quarter of an hour the visiting Rooks had turned the game on its head, Ryan Gondoh’s third of the season followed by another from Bradley Pritchard. The second half saw the hosts roar back, Tommy-Lee Higgs levelling with twenty three minutes to go, and with Dan Gifford adding a spot kick six minutes later it looked as if the points were remaining on Nyewood Lane. Right at the end, however, everything went a little crazy. Craig Robson saw red for the hosts, an own goal drew Lewes level, and Kieran Douglas was then sent off too. Bognor are twelfth.

Wingate & Finchley delivered their fourth unbeaten game in a row with three points on the road at Cheshunt. The match saw only one goal, and the Blues got it nine minutes before the break, Elliott Long sending his side up to eighth.

Whitehawk and Horsham met at the seaside in a Sussex derby, and the Hawks made it a fabulous August Bank Holiday weekend and six fine points from six with a three-one win. It was the travelling Hornets who went ahead eleven minutes before half time, Jack Strange with the goal, but the Hawks quickly levelled through Dom Johnson-Fisher and forged ahead after the break, Charlie Lambert scoring for the third match in succession. Right at the end any hopes Horsham had halted, as Luke Robinson added a third. Whitehawk are tenth, a point and a place behind their visitors.

Folkestone Invicta got back to winning ways in a Kent seaside derby against Margate. An own goal gave the Stripes the lead eight minutes after half time, and fifteen minutes later they scored one of their own, Ira Jackson sealing three points. One thousand, one hundred and twelve watched on.

Finally, Canvey Island got back to winning ways in the Canvey derby, but Concord Rangers poor start to the season continued. The Gulls took the lead on the stroke of half time, Charlie Edwards opening the scoring, and seven minutes after the restart Mason Hall made it two. Just after the hour Connor Hubble made it three, and a late Khale Da Costa penalty for the Beachboys made little difference to the outcome. Canvey climb to fourteenth.

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