Fifth for Felixstowe- whilst the Seed Growers boost their survival hopes

Felixstowe and Walton United travelled to Basildon last night on the back of a poor run of form, but got back to their best to beat the Bees and climb back into the top five.

The Seasiders had only one win in five as they travelled to the Hive, but they showed mental toughness to come away with three vital points. Josh Hitter gave them a half time lead, but the Bees, who have been in fine form of late, levelled with sixteen minutes to go- Kye Jude with the equaliser. One point wouldn’t have been a lot of good for the visitors, and they were determined to do better- and do better they did. Leon Ottley-Gooch restored their lead with nine minutes to go, and five minutes later a third goal made the three points secure, Billy Holland’s eighth of the campaign rounding off a rather good night for the travelling fans. Felixstowe climb to fifth, moving above Heybridge Swifts on goal difference and with a game in hand.

Image courtesy of Tom Bradford.

The Seasiders are only a point behind fourth place Stowmarket Town, who have followed a perfect March with a -so far- rather imperfect April. Stow have lost both matches this month, and last night’s defeat will hurt- particularly as there are three sides within three points of them as they battle for a play off place. Stow went ahead against relegation-fighters Coggeshall Town with eighteen minutes on the clock, Harvey Sayer with the goal, but the Seed Growers immediately hit back with a Billy Roast equaliser- and six minutes after the restart Darnell Kithambo scored for the fifth time in his last six matches to seal a vital away win. Coggeshall remain in the bottom two, and are ten points from safety- but they are only one point away from the second-chance saloon of a relegation play off place.

Witham Town now have an eight point cushion between themselves and the drop zone, but managed to take only one of those from the visit of Brentwood Town. The visiting Blues have been in good form, and Connor Hogan’s opening goal extends their run to show only one defeat from their last eleven matches- but it wasn’t enough to earn them victory. Ramiah Mills made sure of that, with the equaliser five minutes later- and that was that. Brentwood are up to ninth.

but after narrow defeat at New Salamis on Sunday will be desperate to increase that to double figures as Brentwood Town come to call. The visiting Blues have nothing to play for but pride, but have given themselves much to be proud of lately, and travel with a record which has seen them lose only one of their last ten. The hosts have only one win from seven, but should be very focused on the task in hand.

Bottom side Hullbridge Sports welcomed Bury Town, and a late goal consigned them to defeat and drove a coach and horses through their survival hopes. Sports went ahead on the half hour, George Forrest with the goal, but after the break Town striker Cemal Ramadan decided that it was time for him to step up. He equalised just four minutes after the restart, and then, right at the death, he delivered a massive blow to the hosts chances of avoiding automatic relegation by delivering a winner for his side. That’s twenty four for the season for the Town number nine, and his side climb to eleventh. Sports, in contrast, are thirteen points from safety with fifteen available- and need to focus their hopes on obtaining a relegation play off place, but they are four points away from that, too.

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