Curfews held- so Marlow close the gap to six points

With an eight point lead and a game in hand over the pursuing trio at kick off, Chertsey Town hoped to take a step closer to the title as Northwood came to call. The Curfews were undefeated since mid September, and most of the five hundred and nineteen in attendance hoped that would continue, but neither set of supporters had anything to celebrate in the first half. The second half was little different, and both sides had to settle for a point- which saw Town’s lead cut to six points.

Second place Marlow had lost two of their previous three, their four-two defeat to Guernsey last time out the most surprising of those- but they still had eight wins from their last ten and hoped to get back to winning ways as Badshot Lea came to call. The visiting Baggies had found football matches hard to find of late, and this was their first league game since February 17th- but it looked like they’d leave with a point, until, three minutes from time, Naheer-Omar Nawaf struck for the hosts- who close the gap on the leaders to six points.

Third place Southall welcomed Ascot United. The All have slipped to eleven points behind the leaders at kick off, after a run of two wins from seven, but they were three unbeaten and hoped they’d put that sticky patch behind them- but they fell behind nine minutes before half time Oliver Harris scoring for the Yellas, who were looking for a sixth unbeaten match in a row. With twenty minutes to go the visitors had Taylor Morgan dismissed, but nonetheless they held on to take all three points. Southall slip to fourth, United are thirteenth.

Fourth place Leatherhead welcomed Met Police to Imber Court. The Tanners had lost only two of ten but hadn’t looked particularly convincing of late- but they were certainly convincing after just two minutes, Ibrahim Olutade putting them ahead. The boys in blue levelled just before the half hour, Ben Mendoza with the equaliser- a fine free kick, but the hosts were back in front five minutes before half time, Tyler Cox restoring the Tanners advantage via a deflection. That was where the scoring ended, and most of the five hundred and forty watching on were quite happy with that, as their side climbed to third.

The Tanners are pictured with Leatherhead Youth Under 12’s.

Raynes Park Vale, in fifth, were on the road to Uxbridge. With only four points between themselves and Westfield, and the Woking side with a game in hand, Vale hoped to bounce back from defeat in their last match, but Uxbridge, with only one defeat from five, went ahead in this one, George Moore opening the scoring on twenty four minutes. It looked as if the hosts would go into the break ahead, but three minutes into added time Vale levelled, Tom Barnes with the equaliser. Uxbridge were ahead once more five minutes after the break, Troy Walters making it two-one, but with sixteen minutes left Vale levelled again, Seanan McKillop with the latest equaliser.

Once more the hosts pressed, and once again they got their reward, Andrio Brandao making it three-two with ten minutes left, and deep into added time they added a fourth- Mahlondo Martin making it four-two, which was the final score as that was the last kick of the match. Uxbridge are eleventh, Vale now only a point ahead of their sixth place rivals.

Sixth place Westfield were looking to narrow the gap on Raynes Park Vale as they battle for a play off spot, and they welcomed Hanworth Villa to Woking Park. Field were without a win in three- although they did draw the last two- whilst Villa, play off Finalists last season, were five unbeaten and had won their last three, finally beginning to display last seasons form. We waited sixty seven minutes for a goal, and it went to the hosts, Jordan Alves opening the scoring- and that turned out to be the only goal. Westfield are now only a point behind fifth place Raynes Park Vale- and they have a game in hand and a better goal difference.

We’d eighth v seventh as South Park Reigate welcomed Hartley Wintney, the hosts nine points away from the top five, the visitors seven. Sparks had gone four without a win, but they looked to have this match wrapped up by half time, after three goals in fifteen minutes gave them a commanding lead at the break. Aiden Brown got the opener just before the half hour, and he also got the third two minutes before the break, Jamarie Brissett with the one in the middle. With fourteen minutes to go Andy Demira got one back for the visitors, but that just annoyed the hosts, who quickly added a fourth and fifth, Brissett with the fourth and a Brown hat trick clinched with the fifth. Connor Lynch pulled it back to five-two deep in added time, but there was still time for Brissett to add a sixth- a second hat trick of the afternoon! Six-two was the final score, the Sparks up to seventh- six points from a top five spot and having to provide two match balls to their hat trick heroes!

Thatcham Town played host to Binfield. The Kingfishers defeated Binfield five-three in November, two of the Moles goals coming in added time, but we thought they might find this a more difficult encounter given the visitors improved performances of late. That said, the Kingfishers went ahead after a quarter of an hour, Harvey Harry opening the scoring, but the Moles levelled only seven minutes later, Tyler D’Cruz making it one-one. Twelve minutes from time the hosts regained the lead, Muhamadou Ceesay making it two-one, but deep, deep in added time it looked like the visitors had grabbed a point, Ben Stallard with an equaliser. It turned out they hadn’t, as somehow there was time for Harry Hoath to charge up the other end and score a winner! Thatcham are ninth, Binfield seven points from safety.

Sutton Common Rovers, who started the weekend in fourteenth, had a fifteen point cushion between themselves and the danger zone and kick off- whilst their visitors, Ashford Town, were seven points worse off. Rovers had gone four without a win, whilst the Tangerines had one win from ten- and five points from the last thirty available- but it was the visitors who quickly got their noses in front, Connor Young with the opener on five minutes. Town went two up just before the break, Juwon Akintunde doubling their advantage, and when Young added a third seven minutes into the second half the game looked as good as won. Rovers finally got on the scoresheet with seven minutes left, Bertie Lloyd finding the net, but Young finished off the match by making it four and securing a match ball right at the end- and opening up an eleven point gap between the Tangerines and the bottom two.

Bottom side Corinthian-Casuals welcomed Guernsey, this one kicking off at 2PM. Casuals started the day eight points from safety and without a victory since mid November, so desperately needed a positive result- but they fell behind on seventeen minutes, Scoring Matt Loaring’s thirteenth of the season- and ninth in twelve games- not very looking for the hosts. Two minutes into the second half and it was two-nil, Charlton Gauvain finding the back of the Casuals net- and this one was important for another reason, as it was senior goal ONE THOUSAND for the Green Lions. That looked to be that, as it was still two-nil as we entered the last minute, but it wasn’t, as somehow there was time for Brandon Wallace to add a third and for Loaring to add a fourth- the second match in a row that the Green Lions have scored four on the road. Guernsey are fourteenth, Casuals eight points from safety.

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