Fantastic Four!

By Ian Townsend

Planters give themselves hope, Urchins confirm the title, and it’s advantage Billericay and Carshalton in the Premier and South Divisions.

It has been a decidedly mixed season for Norwich United, but for some reason they seem to enjoy taking on promotion-chasing Canvey Island. Back in December the Gulls arrived at Plantation Park with the sides at the opposite ends of the Bostik North table, and within sixty three minutes were 4-0 down, courtesy of a quartet of goals from Liam Jackson. They did manage to pull three goals back, two in added time, but there must have been a feeling of trepidation about the Planters arrival at The Frost Financial Stadium last night, despite the away club sitting firmly at the bottom of the table.

It turned out that Canvey would have been right to be nervous. On this occasion Jackson was only occupying the bench, but Adam Hipperson took on his role as the Gulls bogeyman, scoring a hat trick as the bottom side found themselves bottom no more, leaving with a 4-1 victory that not only lifted them above Romford but left the Gulls looking nervously behind them. Nathan Stewart had scored the Planters first goal, whilst George Craddock replied for Canvey.

At the top of the table AFC Hornchurch were entertaining Mildenhall Town, and a 2-0 victory conformed what we’d all suspected for many months as the Urchins were crowned champions. Nathan Cooper and Bradley Warner did the damage in the first half. Heybridge Swifts leapt over Canvey into fifth place courtesy of a three-nil win at Hertford Town, a Matt Price double and a first half strike from Lewis Godbold the difference, but it wasn’t all bad news for the Gulls as seventh place Maldon & Tiptree crashed to a 3-1 defeat at Tilbury. The Dockers took an early lead through Albert Keith only to see the Jammers equalise through George Brown nine minutes after the restart, but it was a brief respite as Keith and Toby Aromolaran ensured the points remained at Chadfields.

AFC Hornchurch with the Witham Town Under 7's! Image courtesy of Jim Purtill

AFC Hornchurch with the Witham Town Under 7's! Image courtesy of Jim Purtill

Dereham Town’s promotion hopes came to an end as they were held 2-2 by Brentwood Town. Tony Stokes gave the away side the lead, but the Magpies turned the match on its head, Joe Gatting and Ashley Jarvis putting them ahead with only a quarter of an hour remaining, only for Tom Ranger to grab a last minute equaliser for the Blues. At the bottom, Romford’s unbeaten run came to an end as Shamido Pedulu gave Witham Town the points with the only goal ten minutes from time, but Ware finally banished any relegation fears by coming from behind to beat Soham Town Rangers at Julius Martin Lane with a last minute winner- a first half double by Sam Mulready for the home side being cancelled out by Harley Haag and Jordon Watson, with Haag stepping up again to score the winner.

There were few goals in the Premier Division last night, but those that were scored may turn out to be significant. A Ricky Modeste strike eleven minutes from time was enough to give Billericay Town victory over a stubborn Dorking Wanderers at Westhumble, the goal arriving just as the 326 in attendance and the 350 watching on Facebook courtesy of Back of the Net were starting to believe that the game would end goalless. That result takes the Blues four points clear of second place Dulwich Hamlet, who will now really be desperate for victory at Leatherhead this evening.

Folkestone Invicta closed the gap on both Billericay and Hamlet, defeating Thurrock by the narrowest of margins in a hard-fought game at Ship Lane. Kieron McCann gave Invicta the lead, only to see Ronnie Winn grab an equaliser on the stroke of half time; but Joseph Taylor ensured the points were coming back to Kent with a winner eleven minutes from time. Invicta host Dulwich Hamlet on Saturday in a ‘Wacky Dress’ Charity special.

The other matches ended all square, Lowestoft Town coming from behind to draw against Wingate & Finchley in a match where all of the goals came in the first nine minutes- Marc Charles-Smith for Wingate, Travis Cole for the Trawlerboys- whilst the match between Tonbridge Angels and Harlow Town saw neither net troubled.

In the South Division Carshalton Athletic followed up their promotion party on Saturday by taking the whip hand in the title race, goals from Ola Sogbanmu and Peter Adeniyi giving them victory at Ramsgate and seeing them back to the top of the table on 99 points, one ahead of Lewes with two matches to go for both sides. It seems that we may have two South Division centurions this season- and wouldn’t that be special?

Walton Casuals were the other significant winners, a 2-0 victory at already relegated Shoreham taking them within two points of the final playoff place and its occupants, Hythe Town- with goals from Youseff Bamba and Jack Sammoutis. Hythe, incidentally, will be the subjects of our #Bostikmatchday feature on Saturday as they take on East Grinstead Town in Sussex (chosen partly for its significance, and partly because the M23 northbound is closed again- please keep that in mind, Worthing fans travelling to Enfield Town, Lewes fans travelling to Faversham Town and Horsham fans heading to VCD Athletic).

There were four goals at Sittingbourne, the Brickies coming from behind against Thamesmead Town to grab a point. Danny Parish gave Mead the lead just before half time, only for Chris Elliot to equalise six minutes after the restart, and a goal each way from jake McIntyre and Dylan Riches ensured honours even. A last minute Jack Mazzone goal gave South Park victory at home to Guernsey, the match finishing 2-1 after Josh Gallagher’s early strike for the Sparks had been cancelled out by Matt Loaring, and the match between Molesey and Herne Bay ended goalless.

Main image- AFC Hornchurch fans from a wet and cold Saturday in November. We bet they are feeling much warmer now!

Second image was taken before Saturday's Hornchurch victory at Witham Town, and features the Urchins with the Witham Town Under 7's.

Where next?

Porter to leave Sparks South Park manager to step down at the end of the season

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