Bowers hit seven, Worthing and Invicta manage four, and Wands make it two hundred and seventy five!

Since promotion to the Premier Division, seven has become Bowers and Pitsea’s favourite number. Last season it was Brightlingsea Regent who were on the end of a seven goal thrashing, but today’s victory was even more incredible, as the side on the receiving end of it were Leatherhead. The hosts were two goals up by the break, Billy Knott and Daniel Trendall getting them, but that gave little clue to what was going to come in the second half, as Trendall, Max Cornhill, Knott, Quentin Monville and Suaibo Balde made it a fairly awful trip back to Surrey for the Tanners- and sent Bowers top of the table.

The last time East Thurrock United hosted Cray Wanderers, back in February, Cray triumphed by the only goal of the game. Today they got three, with two from Joe Taylor and one from Freddie Parker, to end the day in second. The Rocks got a late consolation, through Jonathan Nzengo, but it didn’t even come close to stopping Wands going two hundred and seventy five days unbeaten. If they can keep that run going until Boxing Day- the date of their last defeat- they’ll surely be well on the way to promotion!

Worthing are in third place, as Kingstonian’s start to the season went from bad to worse as the Mackerel Men scored four on the road. Ollie Pearce got two, Joel Colbran and Jasper Pattenden the others, and the visitors were given a helping hand by Gus Sow’s dismissal.

Enfield Town bowed out of the FA Cup on penalties on Tuesday night, but they had a strong start last weekend, walloping Lewes four goals to one- and made it two wins from two at Merstham. Billy Bricknell got the winner three minutes from time.

Haringey Borough came from behind to go fourth. Jordy Mongoy put visitors Bognor Regis Town into a first half lead, but after the break Roman Michael Percil got the equaliser from the spot, before Laste Dombaxe got the winner fifteen minutes from time.

Cheshunt continue their fine start by picking up a second three points of the season at Horsham. Rob O’Toole put the hosts ahead, but the equaliser came quickly, Jamie Reynolds with it, and fourteen minutes from the end the Ambers defeated the Hornets, Joe Re with the goal. That makes it three matches in all competitions and three wins for Craig Edwards men.

Carshalton Athletic have been scoring goals for fun, thirteen in three matches before kick off today, and by half time had made it fifteen from four, David Fisher with his fifth of the season, Omar Koroma with his third. Hosts Margate didn’t give up, however, and an own goal followed by a ninetieth minute equaliser from John Ufuah earned them a point. The Robins are seventh, the Blues are eighth.

Hornchurch followed up their opening day win over Merstham with a comprehensive display against Bowers in midweek, but couldn’t make it three from three at Bishop’s Stortford, as the Blues Ryan Henshaw got the only goal of the game.

Folkestone Invicta knocked Wingate and Finchley out of the cup last weekend, and the Blues must be sick of the side from the Kentish coast as Invicta hit them for four this afternoon. Every goal came after the break, and the first one was scored in the 57th minute- an own goal to put Invicta ahead. Ian Draycott and Aaron Simpson made it three, and although Suleiman Bakalandwa got one back Scott Heard made it four in the last minute.

Two sides who hadn’t had the best of starts met at the Dripping Pan. Neither had won a match, one of them still has that unenviable record- and that side is Lewes, who still struggle to shake off their home malaise from last season. The Rooks took the lead against Brightlingsea Regent, Aaron Cosgrave with his third goal in three matches, but Regent hit back, and Jerry Kamanzi equalised before Valter Rocha got the winner with nineteen minutes to go.

Finally, Potters Bar Town hosted Corinthian-Casuals. All three goals came in the last twenty five minutes, and the visitors got the first two of them, both from Bradley Wilson. Samson Esan got one back, but the equaliser didn’t come.

North Division

We had a reduced programme of North Division fixtures this weekend due to FA Trophy involvement, but each of them had excitement.

Most of that excitement came at Parkside, where Grays Athletic hosted Canvey Island and there were four goals- all for the Gulls. Evans Kouassi made an early breakthrough, Joseph Auwatubilluda doubled the lead before the break, before Elliott Ronto and Harrison Chatting made it four,

At Barking, Romford are still looking for their first goal, but Aveley scored again to take the points. The Millers had been averaging three goals a game before today, but one from George Sykes was enough- his fourth of the season.

Maldon & Tiptree have a much changed side this season- as have Brentwood Town, and the two cancelled each other out at Park Drive. Rob Harvey gave the visitors a first half lead, but Martyn Stokes drew the hosts level six minutes after the break.

Tilbury are amongst our promotion favourites after a strong showing last season. The Dockers defeated Cambridge City by the only goal of the game last weekend, and made it two from two by defeating Dereham Town two-nil. Brian Moses got the first, Marlon Agyakwa made it two just after the break, and that’s how it remained.

Neither Coggeshall Town or Heybridge Swifts have had the starts to the season they would have wanted. The Seed Growers lost to AFC Sudbury in their opening league fixture and departed the cup against Stansted in midweek, whilst much changed Swifts had lost both of their fixtures so far- and now have three defeats from three after Town won today’s match two-nil. Both goals came after the break; Jack Baker got the first, and former Swifts talisman Matt price made sure in the very last minute.

South Central

We had only three matches in the South Central Division, but they promised fabulous entertainment- and they delivered.

Westfield made it six points from six by thumping Chipstead at the High Road. Darnell Goather-Braithwaite got two for the visitors in the first half, and although Tom Collins reduced the arrears for the Chips, another double from Aderi Dede made it four-one to Field.

Promotion favourites Bracknell Town had won three matches out of three before today, and looked like making it four from four, Seb Bowerman and Caden Genovesi putting them two-nil up at half time. Hosts Uxbridge weren’t done, however, and Mahlondo Martin- twelve minutes from time- and Mark Bitmead earned them a point. Headline image from Neil Graham- head here for more.

Bedfont Sports, were superb in midweek when dumping Pitching In Isthmian Premier side Lewes out of the FA Cup, started well against Ware, Darryl Saunders putting them ahead. Thomas Bruno equalised for the Blues three minutes before the break, but once more Sports went ahead, Saunders making it two-one three minutes after the restart. Ware then got two in three minutes, Patrick Adamson equalising, and Bruno grabbing what turned out to be the winner.

South East

VCD Athletic top our table after another impressive victory, this one at Whitstable Town. They were behind at half time, Aaron Millbank opening the scoring for the Oysterboys, but after the break walloped home four, Ashley Probets, Chris Edwards, Marcus Elliot and Paul Vines shocking the home crowd, whose side prop up the rest at this early stage.

Whyteleafe had ten goals from their last three matches, winning them all, but only managed one more against Chichester City. Luckily for the home fans that was enough, as Aaron Watson’s goal was the only one of the game.

Sevenoaks Town are third after a one-one draw at Whitehawk. Ahmed Abdulla put the Hawks ahead, only for Dan Parkinson to earn a share of the spoils fourteen minutes from time.

Ramsgate welcomed Ashford United to the Southwood Stadium. The Nuts and Bolts had a terrible week, losing to Phoenix Sports in the league before being hammered by Bracknell Town in the cup, but put that behind them by grabbing a late, late winner today. Adrian Stone put them ahead in the first half, only for an own goal twelve minutes from time to seemingly give the Rams a point. But it was not to be, as Josh Wisson- who apparently got the own goal- then got the winner a minute from time.

Sittingbourne had a difficult trip, as they travelled to face Cray Valley PM- and so it proved as the Millers triumphed two-one. Dan Smith and Hassan Ibrahiym put the hosts two up, and although Andy Drury got one back fourteen minutes from time, it was just the one. The Millers end the day in fourth place.

Herne Bay fell to a surprise defeat last weekend, but put it right at Phoenix Sports, winning three-nil. Two of those goals came in added time, from Zak Ansah and Dean Grant, the second eighty four minutes after the first from Tushaun-Tyreese Walters.

It’s two games and two nil-nil draws for our title favourites, this one at Faversham Town, whilst two more Sussex sides, Burgess Hill Town and Haywards Heath Town, drew one-one at the More Than Tyres Stadium. Both goals came in the first seven minutes, Jordan Clark putting the visitors ahead, Reece Williams-Bowers getting the equaliser.

FA Trophy

The First Qualifying Round of the FA Trophy started today, with last season’s tournament still unfinished.

Tooting and Mitcham travelled to AFC Dunstable and got their season kick started with a two-one win, Mark Waters and Kesna Clarke with the goals.

AFC Sudbury looked to bounce back from their FA Cup defeat in midweek, as they hosted Barking, who were walloping Dunstable Town six-one at the same time. The visiting Blues continued as they finished, Junior Dadson grabbing two in three minutes midway through the first half, and although Joe Grimwood got one back on the hour the equaliser didn’t arrive.

Cambridge City entertained Kidsgrove Athletic, of the Pitching In Northern Premier League South East Division, and although they scored two- Jarid Robson and Jordan Gent- to look comfortable at half time, the visitors got three after the break.

Felixstowe & Walton United and Great Wakering Rovers knew each other rather well already, as they drew nil-nil at Rovers last weekend. This time the hosts took victory, an Ollie Canfer double enough despite Martin Tuohy getting one back.

Hullbridge Sports hosted Ashford Town, Sports buoyant after their seven-nil thumping of Witham Town last time out, but that confidence didn’t help as the Tangerines got a last minute winner through Steven Duff.

Hythe Town invited those saints of Chalfont to Reachfields, and a Frannie Collin hat trick sent them away empty handed.

Bury Town travelled to Market Drayton Town and made it four wins from four, Baris Altintop with the only goal of the game.

Northwood and Basildon United had managed only one win between them so far this season prior to today, and that came to the hosts in a penalty shootout. Woods won a second one of those after a one-one draw, Jaden Sharman’s equaliser giving them the chance to win the shootout four-three. Ruben Martins Carvalho opened the scoring for the Bees on the half hour.

Soham Town Rangers fell three-nil against Corby Town, whilst South Park lost to Three Bridges, Alax Barbary averting a shootout with a last minute goal.

Waltham Abbey and Staines Town had both started their campaigns positively, the Abbotts with three straight victories and three clean sheets, the Swans winning two out of three and being defeated by higher division opposition- Walton Casuals- in the other. We had a five goal thriller at Cappershotts, and the hosts came out on top, Jason Hallett, Jack Daveney and Rimmel Daniel’s winner enough to defeat the Swans, who saw Sebastian Osei-Obengo get his fourth of the season and Monty Everett his first.

Finally, Hanwell Town made it four wins from four at Witham Town. A Gareth Chendlik penalty on twenty three minutes and a second half goal from Gianni Crichlow sealed the win for the Geordies.