Goals, Goals, Goals!

By Ian Townsend

On an incredible Saturday Enfield hit eight, Haywards Heath and Cray Valley six, Bracknell, Canvey, Worthing and Folkestone five! One hundred and forty two goals, only one goalless draw- it’s our round up!

Pitching In Isthmian Premier

Leaders Enfield Town were on the road, visiting East Thurrock United. The Towners were unbeaten in four, whilst the Rocks were looking to prevent a three match losing streak from turning into four. Town didn’t have a single victory against the Rocks in their last twelve appearances, but they started very well indeed, Adam Cunnington putting them ahead in the sixth minute and Lyle Della-Verde doubling the advantage seven minutes later. On the quarter hour Mo Faal made it three and it looked an awful long way back for the shellshocked hosts, and it was even further back when Faal made it four on twenty one minutes to help the visiting supporters forget about the chaos on the A13!

Della-Verde got the next in the twenty sixth minute, Faal got his hat trick from the spot on thirty three , and six minutes before the break Nathan Smith made it seven, before the Towners gave their hosts a few minutes rest. Faal, of course, was the next player to score, as the visitors got their eighth eleven minutes after the break, and then…they stopped scoring, but let’s be fair, they had enough! Nil-eight the final score, and the Towners doing their goal difference a power of good as well as remaining a point clear at the top.

Our biggest crowd of the day was at the Crucial Environmental Stadium, where second place Worthing hosted fourth place Lewes.

The Mackerel Men went into it having taken sixteen points from their last eighteen, whilst the Rooks had been scoring goals for fun, twenty three in their last six matches, five of which were victories. The last three matches between the two had each ended three-one, on each occasion Worthing the victors; indeed the Rooks had won only one of their last seven meetings, but they started very well, and went ahead on ten minutes after Joe Taylor scored from the spot- his twelfth of the season after Ollie Tanner was tripped. It got even better when Matt Weaire made it two only two minutes later.

The hosts didn’t let their heads fall, and Ollie Pearce halved the arrears on sixteen minutes after the Rooks failed to clear, and then the hosts turned the game on its head as first Pearce and then former Rook Dayshonne Golding put them three-two up in the thirty fourth minute. The break was hardly over before Jasper Pattenden made it four-two, and when Golding got his second of the game and his side’s fifth eighteen minutes from time there looked no way back for the visitors. A second Taylor spot kick made it five-three with fifteen minutes remaining, and then Ollie Tanner got another to pull it back to five four with twelve minutes to go. The one thousand, six hundred and nineteen certainly got their money’s worth, but that was that in terms of scoring, the Mackerel Men holding on for victory.

At the Kentish seaside unbeaten (in the league) Folkestone Invicta hosted a third place Kingstonian side experiencing their first slump of the campaign. The K’s had only one win in their last three, and it took only a few minutes before this one became an uphill struggle as keeper Rob Tolfrey saw red. It was, then, perhaps no surprise when Adam Yusuff opened the scoring for the hosts on eighteen minutes and Matt Newman doubled their advantage eight minutes later. Newman had another before the break, as Invicta went in for their half time haribo three goals to the good. They got their fourth from the spot, David Smith with that, and Smith got another sixteen minutes from time to make it five. Gus Sow scored a customary penalty for the K’s as a consolation, but Invicta are up to fourth- five points off the top with three games in hand.

Cheshunt had taken seven points from nine of late and took the lead against Cray Wanderers six minutes after the break, Reece Beckles Richards with his sixth of the season. The Ambers were due a victory, as Wands had defeated them on the last three occasions they’d met, and they got one in some style, Beckles Richards with a second, Amadou Kassarate and Mo Camara making it two, three, four-nil and sending the home fans home happy with their side in fifth place.

Bognor Regis Town travelled to Bowers and Pitsea. Our cup heroes from the Len Salmon had a very large cup hangover in midweek, being walloped by Merstham- a defeat which ended an unbeaten run going back to August 28th, the same day that the Rocks had last lost. Neither could find the net today, and Bognor slip to sixth.

Bishop’s Stortford knew that they could enter the top five with victory at Horsham. The Blues had taken seven points from their last nine, whilst the Hornets had been brilliant in the cup and quite the opposite in the league, without a victory since Saturday 28th August. The hosts lives got more difficult when Danny Dudley saw red just before the break, and it was no surprise when the ten men went behind, Ryan Charles with the opening goal twelve minutes after the break. The Hornets weren’t done, and Shamir Fenelon’s last minute equaliser will undoubtedly feel almost like a victory.

Margate welcomed Brightlingsea Regent to Hartsdown Park. The Blues last four games had a W-L-W-L sequence so they wanted that to continue; whilst Regent’s sequence had been rather different, L-L-L-L. They’d failed to defeat Margate in seven previous encounters, and they didn’t make a good start to this one either, Dan Thompson putting the hosts ahead after only four minutes. Ryan Palmer made it two-nil eight minutes before the break, before Eren Kinali made the match interesting by pulling one back with nineteen minutes left. Not interesting enough for the visiting fans, however, as that was that. Margate are eighth.

Tenth hosted eleventh as Haringey Borough welcomed Carshalton Athletic to Coles Park, but they ended up twelfth and thirteenth. It took only one minute for the breakthrough, and it would have made the Bell End chime as Scott Mitchell put the hosts ahead- but the Robins were level on nineteen minutes, Harry Ottaway with his fourth of the campaign. That was that in terms of goals.

Wingate & Finchley and Potters Bar Town were separated only by goal difference at the start of the day, but by three points by the end of it. The Scholars were five games unbeaten and had scored thirteen goals during that period, and they had another on the quarter hour as Joseph Boachie put them ahead. It was nil-two midway through the first half, Samson Esan with the second, and the two-nil win saw Town up to tenth.

Merstham have suddenly started scoring for fun, with five against Haringey Borough and four against Bowers and Pitsea, but they’d won only one of their last nine against Leatherhead before today and it was the Tanners super striker, Chiduben Onokwai, who opened the scoring on eleven minutes. Forward Korrey Henry is on fire at the moment, and got his fifth in three games to equalise just before the half hour, and five minutes before half time John Ufuah put the Moatsiders ahead- but there was still time for Alex Sami, back from injury, to get his seventh of the season and draw the Tanners level before the break. The next goal was the winner, and it went to the visitors, Ufuah from the spot sending the Moatsiders eleventh. The Tanners may be improving fast but they remain at the bottom.

You never seem to know which version of Hornchurch will turn up. It had been nearly a month- and five matches- since Hornchurch recorded a win in any competition- and it’s now six matches, as Corinthian-Casuals got the only goal of the match from the spot, nine minutes from time. It went to Kieron Cadogan, and it saw Casuals climb to sixteenth- with games in hand over everyone around them following their Cup heroics. The Urchins are one place further up.

Pitching In Isthmian North Division

Our North Division weekend started a day early, with Aveley taking on Maldon and Tiptree on Friday night. We got an eight goal thriller, and five of the eight went to the Millers, who were three-nil up at the break- Manny Ogunrinde, Ryan Scott and Alex Akrofi with the goals. Scott Kemp struck back for the Jammers only for Akrofi to open up the three goal gap once more, and although Shomari Barnwell got a second for the visitors George Sykes made it five-two four minutes from time. Kemp’s second, right at the end, made little difference.

Our leaders, Canvey Island, undefeated and with five wins in a row, had what looked like a tricky trip to Bury Town. The Gulls went ahead on twenty six minutes, Evans Kouassi with his ninth of the season, and doubled their advantage five minutes before the break as Connor Hubble scored for the sixth successive match- his seventh of the season. Town hit back just after the break, Cemal Ramadan also with his seventh of the campaign, but the two goal cushion was quickly restored by Elliot Ronto- and the Gulls then hit full speed, Matt Price making it four and Kouassi getting their fifth with eleven minutes to go. Canvey are four points clear at the summit. No manager? No problem!

Dereham Town travelled to Barking, and the Magpies gave the Blues the blues just before the break when Adam Hipperson got his fourth in four- his fifth of the season- two minutes before the break. Hipperson got the next goal, too, nineteen minutes from time, before the hosts decided to make a game of it, Aaron Blair halving the deficit. It didn’t stop the Magpies flying home with the points, and second place.

Grays Athletic saw David Knight get his tenth goal of the season as they took the lead at Heybridge Swifts in the second minute. Danny Gould made it two just after the half hour, but Swifts got back into it midway through the second half, Jack Adlington-Pile scoring for the second game in succession. Athletic made sure five minutes from time, Freddy Moncur making sure. Athletic end the day in third.

AFC Sudbury are understandably full of confidence, and Lewis O’Malley put them ahead against Felixstowe and Walton United five minutes after half time. Jamie Shaw made sure with the second, two minutes from time, and the Yellows are fourth.

Brentwood Town have found form of late, and they went ahead against Basildon United after twenty eight minutes, Jack Humphrey with the opener. The Bees stung two minutes after the restart, Luke Hirst with the equaliser, but were almost immediately stung themselves as Rob Harvey restored the hosts lead. Freddie Gard made it three-one fifteen minutes from time, and although Sam Jeremiah got one back for the visitors just before the end Town held on to go fifth.

Great Wakering Rovers, who picked up their first win of the season last Saturday, took the lead at Stowmarket Town, Connor Martin on twenty five minutes- but they didn’t hold it for long, Chris Chasement equalising four minutes before the break. The next goal was critical, and it went to the hosts, Jack Ainsley making it two-one Town- and they held on to climb to ninth.

Witham Town hosted a local derby, Coggeshall Town- under new management- the visitors. Witham struck first through Suaibo Balde on the quarter hour, but that man Sam Bantick got the Seed Growers level just before the hour- his ninth of the season. That was that, the Seed Growers twelfth, Witham fourteenth.

Tilbury made a number of new additions to their squad yesterday, but they didn’t start well as they hosted Hashtag United, Joe Debell opening the scoring for the visitors in the very first minute. The Dockers were level twelve minutes later, Roman Campbell with his first goal for his new club on his second start, but the Tags had the last laugh, Kris Newby taking the points from the spot eight minutes from time.

Hullbridge Sports had a much changed side as they hosted Romford, but it was a familiar name that opened the scoring, Tony Stokes firing home from the spot on fourteen minutes. The Boro equalised on twenty eight minutes through Shermandin Artmeladze, and then went ahead eleven minutes later, Patrick Campbell giving them the lead. Stokes had the last word, however, his second spot kick earning a point for Sports in the very last minute.

Pitching In Isthmian South Central

Our South Central afternoon started in the Channel Islands, Guernsey hosting Northwood. The opening goal came six minutes before the break, and it went to the Green Lions- Charlton Gauvain curling a shot into the top corner. Ross Allen doubled the home advantage on the hour, and that was that, two wins in three for the side in green.

Leaders Uxbridge fell behind on twenty seven minutes as Dan Williams opened the scoring for Tooting & Mitcham United, and it was two-nil eight minutes before the break as Dontai Stewart fired home from the spot. The hosts hit back almost immediately after the restart, Victor Osobu getting them back into the game, and then turned the match on its head, Osobu levelling matters and Anthony Mendy getting his customary goal- his thirteenth of the campaign- to give them the lead. The second and third Uxbridge goals came against ten men, after Eric Mbangui saw red for the Terrors, and the hosts held on to remain in pole position.

Bracknell Town hosted Chipstead, and the Robins were ahead just after the half hour, Daniel Bayliss with the opener- and they made it two-nil twenty minutes after the restart, James Clark with the second. Dave Tarpey made it three with twenty three minutes remaining, and then the Robins went goal mad, Temi Eweka with a fourth and Mickel Platt with a fifth. But for the Uxbridge comeback, the Robins would have been top- but they remain level on points with the Red Army, and now have the same goal difference, too.

Headline image: Neil Graham.

Marlow lost for the first time this season last time out, but they were quickly ahead at Staines Town, Marcus Mealing with the goal on eleven minutes. The Swans, under new permanent management, equalised just after the break, Luis Fernandes with the goal, and that was how it ended- Marlow in third, two points behind the top two.

Basingstoke Town got the first goal of our three o’clock kick off’s, and- of course- it went to Conor Lynch, his thirteenth of the season arriving in the ninth minute. They got the second of the match just before the break, and for once they gave Lynch a rest, Mckoy Palmer doubling their advantage- but then they did something they’ve become far too good at, letting the opposition back into the game, hosts Ashford Town seeing two goals in three minutes bring them level- Connor Cullen and Ethan Hellyer with them. The last word went to the visitors, however, Daniel Williamson getting the winner two minutes from time to send his side fourth.

South Park have looked a different side over the last few weeks, and continued in a positive vein as they opened the scoring at Hanwell Town- Ibrahim Jalloh with the goal on ten minutes. The same player got another five minutes later, but the shellshocked Geordies pulled themselves together and Dan Carr got one back only a minute afterwards. The next goal was all-important, and it again went to the Sparks, Adam Aziz getting his eighth of the season six minutes before the break- but the Geordies weren’t going to give in an Ogo Obi’s twelfth of the season gave them hope on sixty two minutes. Joe Bell’s red card for the Sparks left them to hold out with ten men, and they couldn’t, Callum Duffy getting an equaliser- and leaving the Geordies eighteen minutes to find a winner. They couldn’t, and despite another red card for Sparks- Alex Laing- the visitors held on for a point. The Geordies are fifth, Sparks in ninth.

Bedfont Sports are having a superb season, whilst visitors Binfield are not having a poor campaign either. The first half saw no goals, but Sports broke the deadlock on sixty eight minutes and then quickly got a second, Lewis Pegg and Darryl Sanders finding the net. Callum Bunting got a late penalty for the Moles, but Sports are seventh- nine points behind the leading pair with three games in hand.

After a goalless first half Connor French broke the deadlock for Sutton Common Rovers, hosting Thatcham Town, and that turned out to be the only goal of the game- Rovers up to eleventh.

Managerless Chalfont St Peter seemed to be making light of that vacancy when Alex Cathline put them ahead on eleven minutes at Westfield, but the hosts drew level thirteen minutes after the break, Kai Davis with the equaliser. The winner didn’t come for either side, Field ending the day in twelfth, Saints in eighteenth.

Pitching In Isthmian South East

Our leaders, Haywards Heath Town, travelled to face draw-specialists Three Bridges in a Sussex derby, and took only four minutes to get their noses in front, Josh Clack with his fourth of the season. They charged out of the traps after the break, Davigildo Cravid doubling their advantage, and Tom Cadman made it three eleven minutes after the restart. It was four-nil on sixty three minutes, Jordy Ndozid with that one, and although Curtis Gayler got one back for Bridges that only inspired Jerson Dos Santos to make it five for Town. Byron Napper made it six four minutes from time, and they stay two points clear at the top.

Anything Heath can do, Cray Valley PM can do, too! Two goals in three minutes midway through the first half put them in the driving seat at Sittingbourne, Nathan Green with the first and Rory Hill the second, and the third goal of the game also went to the Millers, Marcel Barrington just before the hour. Barrington then got two more to get his hat trick, and right at the end Denzel Gayle made it six! Second place for the Millers.

Ashford United saw Tommie Fagg open the scoring four minutes before the break, his eighth of the campaign, Whitstable Town the visitors. The Oysterboys fought hard, but conceded a second goal right at the end, Johan Ter Horst making sure and sending the Nuts and Bolts third.

Zak Ansah always seems to have the…solution when Herne Bay are searching for a goal, and he opened the scoring against VCD Athletic five minutes before the break. They had another five minutes after the restart, Dan Johnson with that one, and Ansah made sure with a third twenty minutes before the end. Bay end the day in fourth, Vickers are down to fifth.

If you’re struggling to win a match then perhaps the last opposition you’re going to want to face is Hastings United, and Phoenix Sports, without a league win since 28th August, were quickly behind today- Kenny Pogue scoring for the fifth successive match- his sixth of the season. Pogue had another after just twelve minutes, but the hosts struck next, Henry Ikeije halving the deficit. The next goal took until nine minutes from time, and it went to the visitors, Lanre Aziz making it three-one, but they couldn’t see the game out peacefully, Byron Walker making it two-three with three minutes left. Pogue’s second of the match in the last minute made sure, finally, for United, who are sixth- nine points from the top with three games in hand.

Jordan Cheidozie has been a constant danger for Ramsgate this season, and got his tenth of the season to open the scoring at Corinthian a minute before the break. The hosts weren’t downhearted, however, and drew level on the hour, Jack Mahoney getting his fifth of the season- and were soon ahead, Emmanuel Oloyede turning the game on its head. The side in green and white are up to ninth, behind the Rams only on goal difference.

Chichester City hosted Hythe Town, and Ethan Pritchard opened the scoring for them on eighteen minutes. They held that lead until two minutes from time, when Jacob Gilbert equalised for the Cannons to take a point and stay a point and a place ahead of their hosts, in eleventh.

Faversham Town saw Joe Denny give them the lead after sixteen minutes against visitors Whitehawk, and that turned out to be the only goal of the game, the Lilywhites ending the dat in thirteenth.

East Grinstead Town hosted a Sussex derby against Lancing, and went ahead eight minutes into the second half, Aidan Brown with the goal. They weren’t ahead for long, Lorenzo Lewis with the equaliser, and the two had to be content with a point each.

Burgess Hill Town have finally begun to deliver during the last couple of weeks, and they were quickly out of the blocks against Sevenoaks Town at the More Than Tyres Stadium, Lewis Finney opening the scoring on two minutes. Max Miller made it two on twenty, but the next goal gave Oaks hope as Fjord Rogers got one back two minutes before half time. The equaliser came just after the hour, and it went to Bradley Schafer, but four minutes from time Finney pounced to earn the Hillians their second win of the campaign- and the month- over these visitors.

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