Curfews climb to Christmas number one

Leaders Raynes Park Vale took a two point advantage on the road to Hartley Wintney knowing that anything less than victory could allow second place Chertsey Town to beat them to the Christmas summit. Vale were in fine form- nine unbeaten, having won eight of those- and hadn't conceded a goal for five hundred and thirty one minutes, but on five hundred and fifty two minutes- twenty one of today’s match- they were behind, Marcio Neves putting Hartley Wintney ahead. They were only ahead for a quarter of an hour before Charlie Penney levelled for Vale, and that was how it ended- a result which saw the visitors removed from the summit.

Second place Chertsey Town were in first place until their nine match winning streak came to an end with a goalless draw against Sutton Common Rovers last weekend- and knew they could go back to the top if they won at Ascot United and Raynes Park Vale failed to win at Hartley Wintney. The Curfews took a twelve match unbeaten run to the Racecourse Ground, and they went ahead on ten minutes through Oliver McCoy’s eighth in thirteen matches- but the Yellas, adjusting to life without striker Brendan Matthew, quickly levelled through Alfie Grant. Into added time we went, a point each the likely outcome- but the Curfews decided they wanted to be Christmas number one, and five minutes after the ninety up stepped Scott Rees to give them three points and a leg up to the summit.

Third place Southall, with Brendan Matthew making a debut, welcomed sixth place Uxbridge. The All got back to winning ways following two defeats when they were too good for Hartley Wintney last weekend, and they were too good for Uxbridge too, winning three-one. Anthony O’Connor put The All ahead after only nine minutes, and although Shaun Preddie levelled just before the half hour mark the hosts went ahead once more when Jaden Thompson-Brissett put away his twenty third goal of the season, this one from the spot. Six minutes from time Thompson-Brissett added another, ending any chance of a comeback for the visitors and keeping Southall within two points of the top.

Fifth place Marlow started the day six points behind the leaders with two games in hand, and had won eight of their last nine- but they came unstuck in a five goal thriller at Westfield. The hosts defeated Marlow on their own patch in the FA Trophy in September, and lightning struck twice as they came from behind to do it again. Naheer-Omar Nawaf put Marlow ahead on twenty seven minutes, and although Luke Elliott levelled for Westfield five minutes after the break, Dave Tarpey quickly restored the visitors lead. The hosts levelled again on sixty five minutes, Mayowa Adaje- on from the bench- scoring his ninth of the season, and with sixteen minutes to go Andrew Crossley put the hosts ahead for the first time, three-two. It was a lead they held, and they climbed to ninth.

Badshot Lea had seen bad weather wipe out their December programme, and our seventh place side travelled to Sutton Common Rovers looking to play their first league match of the month. Rovers were impressive in drawing at Chertsey last weekend, a result which ended a run of three defeats- and it was a case of the same again. Anaur Ceesay gave the Baggies an early lead after nine minutes, only for Aaron Jenkins to level for the hosts eleven minutes after the break. In the last five minutes Tariq Straker for the hosts and Ceesay for the visitors both saw red.

Hanworth Villa welcomed Chipstead to West London. The Villains started the day seven points away from the top five, and with only one defeat from their previous nine, and they comfortably narrowed the gap to four points with a three-one victory. It took an hour for the opening goal to arrive, Rayan Djouadi scoring for the hosts, and it was soon two-nil, Guy Ansah-Palmer at the double. At that point the Chips got back into the game, Arlie Desanges with his ninth of the season, but they were back in the game for only one minute before Louis Collins made it three-one and wrapped up the points.

That’s eight defeats in a row for the Chips.

Thatcham Town welcomed Metropolitan Police, the Kingfishers hoping to add to their six match unbeaten run and record a third win in a row. Sadly for the home fans the boys in blue had other ideas, Alex Body opening the scoring on seven minutes and Kareem Akinnibi ending the hosts hopes entirely with a second two minutes from time.

South Park Reigate will be disappointed that they didn’t get three points at Marlow last weekend, ending up with their third draw in five matches- but they did pick up three points as Northwood came to call.

The Sparks went ahead on seventeen minutes, Jamarie Brissett with his sixth of the season- and two minutes from time Brissett made quite sure by adding a second, and moved up to tenth. The Woods have now followed each of their last three victories with an immediate defeat- whilst the Sparks have beaten Northwood EIGHT times in a row in league encounters.

Corinthian-Casuals welcomed Ashford Town to Tolworth. Casuals had only one win from ten, and it’s now one win from eleven, as the Tangerines came from behind to take three points. It was advantage Casuals when Shea Cascoe-Rogers opened the scoring ten minutes into the second half, but with fourteen minutes remaining the visitors levelled through Connor Young. Right at the end, with a draw looking certain, Qasim Young got the winner for the Tangerines.

We had a bottom two battle as Binfield- under new management- welcomed the side six points but one place above them, Guernsey. The Green Lions had been a little unlucky in their last two narrow defeats at Leatherhead and Northwood, but they got back to winning ways at the Iconic Stadium. Ethan Lindo put the Moles ahead midway through the first half, but Dave Rihoy levelled just after the start of the second half and six minutes from time Jack Griffin ensured that the trip back to the Channel Islands would be a happy one.

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