Curfews go seven clear

Struggling Chipstead had gone eight matches without a win, and when you’re trying to avoid that run extending to nine the last thing you need is leaders Chertsey Town coming to play- but that’s what the Chips got, and the first half was perhaps predictable. Louis Degand opened the scoring after just four minutes, and the same player made it two-nil three minutes into the second half- but what happened next gave the visitors reason to worry, as the hosts hit back to halve the arrears seventeen minutes from time, Danyaal Iqbal proving that the match wasn’t won yet. The Curfews held on, but their ninth consecutive win was closer than perhaps anyone might have expected and might just give the hosts a boost.

Second place Southall got back to winning ways against Westfield last weekend, and The All travelled to bottom side Corinthian-Casuals hoping- at the very least- to stop Chertsey’s lead at the top from getting even longer. Casuals hadn't picked up a win since mid November, were beaten five two by this weekend’s opponents in November, were eight points from safety, and have taken one solitary point from their previous ten fixtures- so it perhaps wasn’t too much of a surprise when Ethan Kaiser scored his first Southall goal and the first goal of the match after twenty four minutes, heading the visitors ahead. It was perhaps more of a surprise, however, when Jaedon Reynolds levelled with eighteen minutes left, and the hosts held on for that point to close the gap between themselves and safety by a point.

Third place Marlow started the day seven points behind the leaders, and they travelled to take on the side directly behind them, Leatherhead- free-scoring striker Dave Tarpey making a quick return to his former club. Since arriving at Oak Tree Road, Tarpey had scored fifteen goals in fourteen appearances- including eleven in the last six- but the Tanners had the joint best defensive record in the Division so would have been confident that they could keep him out! It seemed that confidence was misplaced, however, as it took only eleven minutes for Tarpey to make the breakthrough, and deep in first half added time Dawid Rogalski made it two-nil from the spot. The second half brought no further goals, which meant that Marlow were ten unbeaten and up to second- and finished a Tanners double. Image from SB Photographic.

Raynes Park Vale made the trip to Ashford Town. Vale found themselves three points clear of sixth place Westfield ay start of play, and were three unbeaten, whilst the Tangerines had gone nine without a win- and it was perhaps not a surprise when the visitors went ahead, Daniel Moody opening the scoring on eighteen minutes. That turned out to be the only goal, but it was enough for Vale to open up a five point gap between themselves and sixth- and complete a Tangerine double.

Defeat at Southall last weekend saw Westfield depart the top five, and they hoped to quickly return to the form that had seen them win eight of their previous nine. The Woking Park side welcomed tenth place Badshot Lea, the Baggies three without a win and hoping to get back on track- and after a goalless first half the hosts went ahead on fifty six minutes, Jordan Alves making it one-nil with a fine effort from distance. The lead lasted but four minutes, George Hedley heading home for the visitors, and both sides had to be content with a point. They are scheduled to meet again on March 5th.

Hartley Wintney seemed to have suddenly lost their way, experiencing three consecutive defeats whilst conceding eleven goals, but the Row went ahead against Sutton Common Rovers in the early stages, Conor Lynch converting from the spot after four minutes. Rovers didn’t let their heads fall and levelled eleven minutes into the second half through Aaron Jenkins, but home advantage was restored twelve minutes from time, Mason Obeng making it two-one, and this time they held on to win.

Thatcham Town started the day ten points away from the top five, and after three wins in a row and only one goal conceded during them shouldn’t have been short on confidence as they headed to Northwood, but they fell behind on twenty six minutes, Kofi Anokye-Boadi with the opener- and after Harvey Harry levelled on fifty six minutes Anokye-Boadi quickly restored the advantage, making it two-one Woods. It was three-one with twenty three minutes left, Harry Gallagher with the third for the hosts, and it was certainly game over when Lucas Sinclair headed home a fourth two minutes from time. The Woods are up to sixteenth as a consequence.

Ninth place South Park Reigate will have hoped to have escaped a spell of inconsistent form after winning two of their previous three, but they faced a resurgent Binfield who were fighting for their lives at the bottom of the table. The Moles had been playing more like promotion chasers of late, with only one defeat from six, but it was the Sparks who broke the deadlock just before the half hour through Craig McGee. The visitors levelled eight minutes after half time, Dontaye Whittaker with his eleventh of the season, but it was advantage the hosts once more when Kelvin Manuel Massango made it two-one with twenty two minutes left. This turned out to be enough for victory, South Park in eighth, Binfield six points from safety.

Hanworth Villa played host to Uxbridge in a local derby. One place and one point separated the sides in eleventh and twelfth, but Villa had gone six without a win whilst their visitors had also been on a poor run, one win from ten, but had looked much improved and have taken four points from their last two. It took seventy three minutes before we saw a goal, Guy Ansah-Palmer heading home for the hosts, and that turned out to be the only goal of the game- although neither side moved in the table. Villa do the double over their local rivals.

Metropolitan Police welcomed Guernsey, fifteenth v sixteenth, with only a point between the sides at kick off. The Boys in Blue saw a two match winning run come to an end against Chertsey Town last time out but hadn’t managed to play for a fortnight, whilst the Green Lions had won three of their last four but have been much stronger at home than on the road- and that away form continued at Imber Court. The visitors went in at half time with the lead, Charlton Gauvain opening the scoring five minutes before the break after a mazy run, but ten minutes into the second half Mason Galloway levelled for the hosts with a fine free kick and five minutes later they were ahead, Ben Mendoza with what turned out to be the winner and from what appeared to be a cross. Jamie Dodd saw red for the visitors just before the end.

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