Drama galore- as a late Thatcham leveller sends the title to Basingstoke

We started the day with Walton & Hersham and Basingstoke Town separated only by goal difference at the top, with three sides trying to avoid automatic relegation, a fourth attempting to stay out of the bottom four, and two of those fighting relegation playing each other- it was always going to be an interesting South Central Saturday, but we could never have guessed just how interesting.

Waken & Hersham were at Thatcham Town knowing that a win would hand them the title. They fell behind just after the start of the second half, Cameron Rohart-Brown putting the Kingfishers ahead, but quickly levelled through Jordan Adeyemi and then went ahead through Mitchal Gough. Into the last minute we went, the red ribbons being attached to the trophy, and then suddenly up popped Ashley Howell to score an equaliser for Thatcham and send the title Basingstoke way! It is days like these that it is disappointing not to have an Isthmian helicopter, as off the trophy went to Winklebury!

Basingstoke Town welcomed South Park Reigate to Winklebury. All they could do was win and hope, and they played their part despite going behind- Sam Tutt for the Sparks on the half hour. Bradley Wilson levelled just before the break and put his side ahead five minutes later- both goals from the spot. George Reid added a third sixteen minutes from time. But even then, it looked as if it hadn’t been enough- until news came through of that late Thatcham goal and pandemonium began! Congratulations to Stoke- whilst Walton will welcome Northwood on Wednesday.

Image from Gary House.

The rest of our drama was at the other end of the table, where Ashford Town survived despite defeat- because Merstham could only draw.

The Tangerines fell by the only goal of the game at Sutton Common Rovers, who needed that victory to take a relegation play off place. Max Oldham scored it on the hour, and lifted his side to seventeenth, so they await news of their opponents in the second chance saloon.

Merstham join Rovers in the relegation play off places, coming from two down to earn a point against Westfield. Didi Ndombe and Jake Baxter put the visitors two up at the break, but in the second half a Reece Deakin penalty and a Bryan Zero goal brought it back to two-two. One more goal for the Moatsiders could have kept them up on goal difference, but it didn’t come despite a red card for the visitors Jonathan Sanchez near the end.

Bedfont Sports had to win and hope that other results went their way, but Sports went down despite hitting Guernsey for six. A Nathan Hogan double and a third from Jake Beck-Nardoni made them comfortable at the break, and the last three came right at the end, Kofi Anoyke-Boadi with a double and Sam Evans with the sixth. That was that- by far their best result of the season, but sadly for the home fans, too little, too late.

Marlow, secure in third place, travelled to fifth place Northwood- and the Woods delivered a morale-boosting three-one win. Ricardo Alexander-Greenway put them ahead early on, Shane Cojocarel made it two just after the half hour, and despite a Kai Hamilton-Olise goal for the visitors Greenaway made sure of three points with a third just before the end.

Northwood will travel to Walton & Hersham on Wednesday, whilst Marlow will welcome Hanworth Villa, two-nil winners at Chipstead. Ben Geraghty put the Villains ahead nine minutes before half time, and Jordan Ellis made it two thirteen minutes before the end.

Southall welcomed Chertsey Town to West London and got back to winning ways with four first half goals. Emmanuel Williams got the first two, Anthony O’Connor the third, and Caden Thompson-Brissett made it four on thirty four minutes. The All then eased up, and William Montague was able to get one back for the Curfews with sixteen minutes left, but it didn’t make much difference. Southall end their campaign in eighth, Southall in tenth.

Leatherhead went eight unbeaten, but were only able to take a point against Binfield. Omar Lawson opened the scoring for the Tanners early on, Liam Gavin levelled for the Moles just after the break, and although Dave Tarpey looked to have given the hosts the points with thirteen minutes left it wasn’t to be, Gavin levelling right at the end.

Uxbridge played host as we wave a sad goodbye to our longest serving members, Tooting & Mitcham United- and the Terrors finally turned in a performance, winning four-nil. Elijas Bagdonavicius topped and tailed with first and fourth, Nikolai Krokhin and Ryan Lopes got the two in the middle.

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