Curfews hit Vale for four and return to the summit

Southall had an enforced absence due to flooding in Thatcham, so Chertsey Town knew that they could return to top spot if they could emerge victorious from our match of the day, fourth place former leaders Raynes Park Vale their visitors. The Curfews had been quite magnificent in recent weeks, and went into this one having last tasted league defeat nearly four months ago, at the hands of…Raynes Park Vale. That was an unbeaten run of sixteen matches, and they went ahead in this one on twenty six minutes, Gianluca Botti opening the scoring with his fourteenth of the season. Vale levelled from the spot two minutes before half time, Palace Francis keeping his cool, but that spurred on the hosts and they still had time to restore their lead before the break, Luke Robertson making it two-one. The hosts put daylight between themselves and the visitors with eighteen minutes left, Luke Robertson once more doing the damage, and when Louis Degand made it four-one with twelve minutes to go the match was as good as over. It was soon actually over, and the Curfews take the summit on goal difference, whilst Vale slip to fifth. Image from Dave Reid.

Leatherhead, who had only two defeats from their previous ten matches, started the day in third place, and made the- short in distance but regularly long in delay- trip around the M25 to take on Northwood. The Woods had found their feet at home, and had won three of their last four on their own patch, but they were behind in this one when Trevan Robinson opened the scoring for the Tanners on twenty minutes. It was two-nil six minutes after the restart, Alpha Diallo with that one, and although the Woods got one back right at the end through Lucas Sinclair it made no difference to the outcome. The Tanners are three points behind the leading duo.

Fifth place Marlow welcomed Met Police at the Alfred Davis Ground. Marlow had rather unusually lost their previous two at home, but since then had taken seven points from nine on the road and it was that form they brought to their own patch, three up by half time, Dave Tarpey with two of those, Brandon Curtis with the one in the middle. Tarpey completed a hat trick with Marlow’s fourth on sixty six minutes, and that was that- up to fourth.

South Park Reigate started the weekend in seventh place, and were in good form, seven matches unbeaten and trying to make up the six points between themselves and the top five. The Sparks welcomed mid table Uxbridge, the visitors six points further back and having a frustratingly inconsistent campaign, and the first half frustrated both sides, not a goal being scored. The frustration continued for the hosts after the break, but was relieved for the visitors, George Moore putting them ahead on sixty three minutes, and a red card for the Sparks Sam King gave Uxbridge another advantage- but it was the ten men who levelled just before the end, Ryan Healy scoring from the spot to earn his side a point.

Hanworth Villa were on the way to Hartley Wintney, as tenth welcomed ninth. The Villains had only two defeats from ten, but saw a six match unbeaten run come to an end with defeat against Met Police last time out; whilst their hosts had lost their last two, and were hit for five at Westfield last weekend. Midway through the first half IK Hill put The Row ahead, and they doubled their advantage with twenty two minutes left, Conor Lynch making it two-nil. Kyen Nicholas gave the Villains hope, pulling a goal back with fourteen minutes remaining, and they had even more hope when Louis Evans was dismissed for the hosts, but they couldn’t break down the ten men, and the hosts held on to do the double over their visitors.

Badshot Lea welcomed Guernsey in our early kick off. The Baggies, who started the day in eleventh, were six without a win, although they drew four of those. The Green Lions, however, were on the up, three games unbeaten, and looking for revenge after the Baggies beat them three-one on the Island back in September. The hosts were ahead after just ten minutes, Jonathan Sanchez opening the scoring, but the visitors levelled ten minutes later, the ever-reliable Matt Loaring with his seventh of the season. They weren’t level for long, Anuar Ceesay restoring the Baggies lead- and scoring for the fourth game in a row- only eight minutes later and taking his tally to double fixtures, and they had a man advantage on the hour mark, Thomas Dodd sent off for the Green Lions. The hosts took advantage, Kareem Akinibbi making it three-one nine minutes later, and although the ten men quickly replied through Charlton Gauvain, with twelve minutes to go Akinibbi made quite sure, making it four-two. The Baggies are ninth.

Sutton Common Rovers entertained Corinthian-Casuals at Whyteleafe. Both sides had struggled of late, Rovers eight without a win, whilst Casuals had only one win- and also eight defeats- from ten, and found themselves five points from safety and eight points behind their hosts at start of play. A goalless first half was quickly followed by the opening goal, and it went to Rovers, Aaron Jenkins scoring on forty eight minutes, but Casuals had hope when the hosts saw Matthew Tanton sent off. It turned out to be forlorn hope as the ten men scored another, Nabeel Ghannam making it two-nil, as Rovers did the double over their visitors.

Chipstead were back at the High Road, and they welcomed Ashford Town. Both sides were struggling, sixteenth versus eighteenth. The Chips had lost nine of their last ten- only bottom side Binfield with a worse recent record- whilst the Tangerines were not much better off, also with only one win from ten, but they went ahead in this one, Qasim Khan scoring after six minutes. The Chips quickly levelled, Jack Leahy with the equaliser, and they went ahead on sixty six minutes, Danyaal Iqbal making it two-one. It looked as if the hosts had a valuable return to winning ways, but right at the end the Tangerines took a point, Deven Reid-Solanki making it two-two.

On Friday Night bottom side Binfield looked to get their first win of the season as they welcomed Ascot United- but sadly for the home fans they fell just short. Liam Tack put the visitors ahead on twelve minutes, only for Tyler D’Cruz to quickly level, and on fifty seven minutes it was advantage Moles, Jack Matton putting them ahead. The Yellas levelled with seventeen minutes to go, Tack completing a brace- and right before the end an own goal gave the visitors victory.

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