Curfews open up a six point gap

Leaders Chertsey Town, without a defeat since mid September and having won six in a row, travelled to Met Police looking to keep those runs going. Gianluca Botti put them ahead on sixteen minutes, his nineteenth of the season, and that turned out to be that- and it was more than enough, Chertsey going six points clear at the top.

South Park Reigate looked to bounce back from two defeats as they welcomed second place Southall, but they fell behind on twelve minutes, Anthony O’Connor with the opener. The Sparks levelled sixteen minutes later, Deondre Date equalising, and after the break they took control, Jamarie Brissett adding a second and, with only eleven minutes left, Marco Haigh making it three-one. The visitors worked hard, but the Sparks held on for three valuable points and ended the day in eighth. The All stay second, but now have a six point gap between themselves and the summit, having played two games more.

Leatherhead, in fourth place at kick off, started at speed against Uxbridge, Trevan Robinson putting them ahead after just two minutes- and they didn’t slow down, Michael Elechi making it two only nine minutes later. Tyler Cox seemed to have virtually ended the contest when making it three-nil just before the half hour, and it was certainly as good as over when he added the fourth, six minutes after half time. That’s two points from the last twenty seven available for Uxbridge, and the Tanners up to third.

Northwood were taking on fifth place Raynes Park Vale. The Woods have had a stop-start season, whilst Vale have hit a bump in the road of late but had looked to have found their feet once more by winning two of their previous three. It was the hosts who took the lead midway through the first half, Harry Gallagher with the opener, but it was level by the break, Danny Dudley with the equaliser on forty three minutes, and the visitors went ahead thirteen minutes from time, Charlie Penny making it one-two. The Woods hit back, an equalised eight minutes from time, Harry Gallagher with another, and in the end both sides had to settle for a point.

Westfield welcomed Sutton Common Rovers, the hosts with seven consecutive wins under their belts- and they finally broke through on sixty five minutes, Jacob Breckon with his sixteenth of the campaign- and ninth in his last five matches. The visitors weren’t done, and equalised eighteen minutes from time, Lindell Stewart with the goal, and that was that. Westfield are sixth, three points away from a play off spot.

We gave Binfield (pictured, courtesy of the club) our Performance of the Month Award for their victory over Southall, and they headed to take on another promotion hopeful, Hartley Wintney, trying to keep their great escape alive. It certainly looked alive when Dontaye Whittaker put them ahead just before the half hour, and the same player added a second six minutes later. Visiting fans must have been scratching their heads in disbelief when Ethan Lindo added a third just before half time, and they were probably frantically buying lottery tickets when Jack Matton made it four-nil just before the hour. The hosts then roused themselves and got a goal back, Conor Lynch with it, but it was too little, too late- and the Moles are probably in contention for another award for February. More importantly, they close the gap between themselves and safety to eight points.

Hanworth Villa came into their match against Ascot United with four consecutive defeats behind them and desperate to avoid another. Sam Merson put them ahead on the half hour, and within seven minutes Ben Geraghty made it two, but the Yellas quickly hit back, Taylor Morgan giving the visitors hope. The equaliser arrived four minutes from time, Harry Laflin with it, and that was that.

Guernsey scored five in midweek, but the Green Lions have been better at home than on the road, so would their form transfer to the mainland for their match at Ashford Town? It turned out that it would! Matt Loaring put them ahead after just five minutes, and although Scott Day levelled for the Tangerines twenty minutes later the visitors took control in the second half, Loaring adding a second from the spot eight minutes after the restart and Charlton Gauvain quickly adding a third. That’s how it ended, and the Green Lions are up to sixteenth.

Corinthian-Casuals desperately needed a win to keep alive their survival hopes, but Thatcham Town had other ideas. The Kingfishers went ahead after five minutes, Jordi Ebanda with the goal, and Ebanda added another ten minutes later, before Sam Tanner added a third just after the half hour. Casuals got a goal back just before the end, Aderi Arthur-Dede bringing it back to one-three, but it was no more than a consolation prize, and they remain eight points from safety.

Chipstead welcomed Badshot Lea, and neither side could manage a goal. The Chips are eighteenth, the Baggies in ninth.

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