Felixstowe close the gap as Trawler Boys held

We had a flurry of early goals in the North Division, and the first of them arrived at Walthamstow, Bilal Sayoud shocking leaders Lowestoft Town after just two minutes- but the Trawler Boys were quickly level, Harvey Sayer scoring his tenth goal of the season only two minutes later. Adam Hipperson put the visitors ahead on seventeen minutes, but it was a lead they couldn’t hold on to, and new signing Kymani Thomas equalised just before the half hour. We had an hour to find a winning goal, but neither side could manage it, and the Trawler Boys find their lead at the top cut to three points. Image from Shirley Whitlow.

Second place Felixstowe and Walton United were in East London, visiting Redbridge. The Seasiders broke the deadlock ten minutes before half time, Tom Bullard with the opener, and it turned out that was all that we were going to get- but it was enough for the visitors to close the gap on the leaders to three points, although they have played a game more.

Stowmarket Town were still looking for their first win of the season, but our bottom side couldn’t have had a better start against promotion chasing Bowers and Pitsea, Ewan Gordon-Clement putting them ahead after just three minutes. The visitors hit back just before the break, Benas Vaivada with the equaliser, and the turnaround was complete five minutes after half time, Solomon Addy putting Bowers ahead. Thirteen minutes from time Bowers got a third, Solomon Addy with that one, and they held onto their lead and to third place, five points behind the leaders.

Bury Town, eleven games unbeaten and in fourth place at kick off, looked to continue that run at Brightlingsea Regent- and they couldn’t have had a better start, Cemal Ramadan scoring his twenty first goal of the season to put them ahead after seven minutes. Ramadan added another ten minutes after half time, and although Regent quickly got one back through Kojo Apenteng Ramadan went straight back up the other end and completed his hat trick on sixty one minutes, putting Town three-one ahead. The next goal was crucial, and it went to the visitors, Ed Upson putting them four-one up, and that turned out to be that, another fine Town victory.

Gorleston welcomed high flying Brentwood Town, and the Greens broke through the Blues rearguard after just twelve minutes, Joe Jefford with the goal. The visitors, seven unbeaten at kick off, hit back five minutes before half time, Mekhi McKenzie continuing his fine form with a ninth goal in thirteen games, but the next goal went the way of the hosts, Ryan Curtis putting Gorleston ahead once more eight minutes after half time. Again Town hit back, Shad Ngandu making it two-two with twenty six minutes left, and they went ahead for the first time with six minutes to go, Jonathan Nzengo sending the visiting fans wild. That, finally, was that- the Blues holding onto to fifth place.

Heybridge Swifts, trying to get back on an even keel after two defeats, welcomed New Salamis- and fell behind after forty seven minutes, Panny Boxer with the opener. The visitors gave the hosts hope when Tommy Boxer saw red with twenty three minutes to go, and they capitalised, Jack Adlington-Pile equalising almost immediately. Right at the end the eleven men had three points, Kieran Jones scoring from the spot to make it two-one Swifts, who are three points and one place outside the play off places.

Basildon United, under new management, gave their new boss something to smile about when Clyde Semazzi opened the scoring on fourteen minutes against Witham Town. His grin must have grown when Samir Ali made it two just before the break, and when Callum Fitzer made it three soon after half time the Bees were well and truly buzzing. It got even worse for Town when Josh Osude saw red, and their bad day got even worse when Samir Ali added a fourth. That’s where the goals stopped, and the Bees are five points shy of the top five.

Maldon & Tiptree wanted to quickly put their defeat against Bury Town in midweek behind them, and they went ahead at Enfield just after the break, George Smith seventeenth of the season doing the damage. That turned out to be that, the Jammers eighth, five points away from the top five.

Grays Athletic, looking to build on their midweek victory, welcomed Wroxham to Tilbury- but they didn’t have the best of starts, the Yachtsmen making the breakthrough after only eight minutes through Josh Harvey. It looked as if the visitors were sailing home with three points, but right at the end new arrival Elliot Sartorius earned Athletic a point.

Follow the Pitching In Isthmian League on Instagram. Head here or search for theisthmianleague on your app. We're also on Facebook and Twitter.