Comeback wins for Rocks and Wands- whilst the Sports revival continues, and the Geordies go second

We had two five-goal thrillers in the Pitching In Isthmian Premier last night- and two comeback victories.

The first came at Nyewood Lane, where Bognor Regis Town got back to winning ways after two defeats by overturning a Corinthian-Casuals lead. Casuals saw Bobby Mills give them the advantage after just five minutes- his ninth goal of the season- but they were ahead for no time at all as Bognor went straight up the other end an equalised, Dan Gifford’s third of the campaign. The visitors lead was restored when Keiron Cadogan converted from the spot on twenty five minutes, and they held it until just before the hour when Finlay Lovatt drew the hosts level.

Another spot kick, this time in favour of the hosts, was converted by James Crane, and the majority of the five hundred and forty five in Nyewood Lane had a positive end to their day. Bognor move ahead of their visitors into eleventh place.

Cray Wanderers showed how good they were at comebacks when defeating Carshalton Athletic five-four last month, but Wands had lost two games since and are in danger of getting into terrible trouble at the wrong end of the table, particularly with a recent three point deduction. It looked like it would be more points dropped last night when Zakary Guerfi and Samson Esan gave Potters Bar Town a two-nil lead with only half an hour to go, but at that point Wands finally found their magic, Jamie Yila’s tenth of the season pulling one back, Ethan Kaiser drawing them level with six minutes to go, and an own goal right at the end giving them all three points.

In the Pitching In Isthmian North Division the Hullbridge Sports revival continued- and rather impressively too, as they walloped promotion-chasing Dereham Town by three goals to nil. The three points moved them seven points clear of bottom side Romford and to within two points of third bottom Barking, and this was undoubtedly their most impressive success of the campaign. Joe Gregory gave them the lead after twenty three minutes, Abdus Salami made it two with eighteen minutes remaining, and on seventy eight minutes Tony Stokes kept up his fine run of form by adding a third. That’s eleven goals in sixteen matches for the Sports number nine.

Our headline image comes from the lens of A Bridge Too Far, and shows a deserved Sports celebration. Click the link to see the rest of his fine camera work.

Felixstowe and Walton United have become rather good at two things of late- scoring late goals and winning games. They did both against Brentwood Town, Joe Whight scoring the only goal of the game from the spot right at the end- a result which means they’ve taken twenty five points from thirty, won eight of their last ten, and are only four points off a playoff spot with games in hand over almost all those above them. The only side they don’t have games in hand over, coincidentally, are last night’s visitors, who remain in sixth place, three points better off.

AFC Sudbury got back to winning ways after a run that had seen them win only one of nine. There was only one goal in the match between the yellows and hosts Coggeshall Town, and it was a majestic header from Marley Andrews ten minutes from time which made the difference.

Into the Pitching In Isthmian South Central, and Hanwell Town are up to second place in the table following a three-nil win over Ashford Town. It took until the second half for the Geordies to get into gear but goals from Sam Saunders nine minutes after the restart, Tom Collins from the spot, and Ogo Obi right at the end did the damage. That’s ten Geordie goals for Collins to add to the thirteen he got for Chipstead, and twenty two for Obi. It’s also the seventh clean sheet in a row for that black and white defence.

Uxbridge are third, after they got back to winning ways at Chalfont St Peter. Anthony Mendy’s twenty second of the season got the visitors started after four minutes, but Dawid Rogalski’s seventh goal in fourteen matches drew the Saints level soon afterwards. The winner came from Mark Goodman, midway through the first half, and then we had sixty eight minutes without a goal, despite the hosts best efforts to find another equaliser.

Basingstoke Town moved back into the top five by scoring the only goal of the game at South Park. It came after ten minutes, and it went to Simon Dunn.

Bracknell Town’s lead at the top is now nineteen points- although the Geordies to have two games in hand.

Into the Pitching In Isthmian South East Division, and Burgess Hill Town’s wining run was brought to an end at Chichester City. First half goals from Callum Overton- his thirteenth of the season- and Lloyd Rowlatt gave Chi a two goal lead at the break, and although Super Pat Harding got one back with twelve minutes remaining the equaliser didn’t arrive, and the Hillians five match winning streak came to an end.

Cray Valley PM are up to third, getting back to winning ways after two goalless draws with a comprehensive victory over Sevenoaks Town. Denzel Gayle gave the Millers an early lead, and after the break Ade Adeyemo and a late goal from Marcel Barrington made sure of the points. The Millers are six points behind leaders Hastings United.

Finally, we had a collection of matches in the Third Round of the Velocity Trophy.

Barking were our most notable victors, slaying Premier Division title contenders Enfield Town at Donkey Lane. Charlie Heatley and Freddie Parker gave the Blues a two-nil lead, and although Bilal Sayoud got one back on his second debut it was three-one by half time, Parker with his second of the game just before the break. Jake Cass got one back eleven minutes after the restart, and another Sayoud goal with twenty two minutes remaining sent us to penalties, which the visiting Blues won by four goals to three.

Brightlingsea Regent triumphed at Maldon & Tiptree. Second half goals from Wyan Reid and Dom Locke gave them a comfortable two-nil win.

Horsham welcomed Hythe Town to the Camping World Community Stadium, and a Shamir Fenelon double gave them a two-nil half time lead. Tyler Sterling got one back for the Cannons on the hour, but a goal from Lucas Rodrigues two minutes from time ensured the Hornets passage to the next round.

Margate had a Kentish seaside derby with Herne Bay, and gave the Hartsdown Park crowd something to cheer early in the second half with two goals in seven minutes, James Bessey-Saldanha and Vance Bola with those. Bode Anidugbe got one back for Bay, his sixth of the campaign, but the hosts marched on.

Finally, Tooting and Mitcham United travelled to face South Central rivals Binfield and came away with a three-one win. Michael Dixon gave the Terrors a nineteenth minute lead which they held for only two minutes, Callum Bunting equalising, but Joseph Joseph restored the lead just seven minutes later and a third from Mark waters, eleven minutes after the break, made sure for the visitors.

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