Four leaders, four wins- but it's heating up in the fight to go up and stay up!

We’re fast running out of superlatives for Dorking Wanderers, in the same way that their promotion rivals are fast running out of ways to catch them at the top of the Premier Division. Yesterday the did to Burgess Hill Town what they’d done to Folkestone Invicta and Kingstonian last month- win by a six goal margin- and in so doing went eleven points clear at the top, winning their tenth successive match. It took only four minutes for Elliot Buchanan to score his first Wanderers goal on his first start for the club, and only fifteen more before he had his second. Jason Prior made it three before the break, and in the second half Matt Briggs, James McShane and David Ray rounded things off in front of a crowd of six hundred and seven. Hill remain at the bottom and are now eight points from safety.

Our image, taken by Chris Neal, shows Hillians fans smiling before the match. To be fair, they were still smiling at the end- and you can see the rest of Chris's images here.

Haringey Borough, in second place, entertained Corinthian-Casuals and quickly fell behind, Gabriel Odunaike putting the ball past Valery Pajetet after only eleven minutes. They were ahead by half time, however, Georgios Aresti scoring a twenty yard beauty and Joel Nouble slotting home from the spot- but they couldn’t hold on for three points, Majed Osman dragging Casuals level on 64 minutes.

Merstham continue to quietly impress in third place, yesterday scoring the only goal of the game at leatherhead deep into stoppage time, Roman Michael-Percil finding the net to give the Moatsiders a six point gap between themselves and sixth place Enfield Town. They’ve also got a three point gap between themselves and fourth place Tonbridge Angels, as Angels and Town played out a goalless draw at Donkey Lane.

Worthing are fifth, and they picked up a point in what some local commentators call El Classicoast- but not us, because we hate it, we’ll stick with the Rebel/Rock derby, although given these days Worthing are the Mackerel Men that doesn’t work either! Hosts Bognor Regis Town soon soared into a two goal lead at Nyewood Lane, Mason Walsh and Joe Tomlinson doing the damage in the first twenty one minutes, but a transformed Worthing made the last sixteen minutes a nightmare for their hosts, James Crane getting one back from the spot before Jesse Starkey got the equaliser in added time. Bognor are seventh, two points behind their opponents.

Eighth place Folkestone Invicta travelled to Carshalton Athletic looking to get back to winning ways- and at half time it seemed as if their dreams would be answered, but things didn’t turn out that way. Harry Ottaway gave the Robins a very early lead, but two goals in five minutes midway through the first half from Alfie Paxman and Ira Jackson sent the visitors into the break in confident mood. The second half was a different story, as Ottaway completed a hat trick whilst Jacob Mendy got another to seal a 4-2 victory- a result which sees Carshalton six points from a playoff spot with a match in hand.

Eight hundred and eighty one people turned up at the Dripping Pan, where Lewes were entertaining Whitehawk as well as giving free entry to public servants. Only the away fans- and perhaps any neutrals- would have left happy, however, as the Rooks failed to win for the seventh match in a row. Actually, to say that they failed to win does Whitehawk rather a disservice, as the resurgent Hawks got their fourth consecutive victory. Ben Pope put the hosts ahead, but the away side weren’t behind for long, Ky Marsh-Brown scoring the equaliser. In the second half Duane Ofori-Acheampong made it advantage Hawk, and after Omar Lawson sent a spot kick over the bar when set to equalise former Lewes favourite Henry Muggeridge rubbed salt in the wounds in the last minute, making it three-one- or rather one-three. The formerly doomed Hawks are now three points outside the relegation zone.

One side still firmly in the relegation zone are Harlow Town, who yesterday travelled to Brightlingsea Regent and came away with a draw, Reece Price-Placid equalising after an own goal gave Regent the lead. That’s a point each, which doesn’t much help either Regents playoff hopes or Harlow’s relegation dogfight. The Hawks are four points from safety.

Bishop’s Stortford have slipped to thirteenth, and yesterday slipped to defeat at home to Potters Bar Town. Sean Grace gave the Scholars an early lead only for Ben Worman to equalise, but the away side took the points when Josh Hutchinson scored seven minutes after the break and then held on for the remaining thirty-eight. Bar are now seven points clear of the drop zone.

That gap is five points for AFC Hornchurch, who took the lead against a resurgent Margate at Bridge Avenue but couldn’t hold on to it, nor take any points. Sean Marks gave them that lead in the eleventh minute, but it lasted only two minutes more, Tobi Sho-Silva equalising. In the second half Kadell Daniel ensured the points headed back to Kent. Gate climb to fifteenth.

Kingstonian remain in freefall. They’ve now lost eight of their last nine matches, and yesterday’s defeat came at home, and at the hands of relegation strugglers Wingate and Finchley, who did their survival hopes the world of good. Charlie Cole gave the visitors an early lead only for Rhys Murrell-Williamson to equalise five minutes before the break. There were no further goals until fifteen minutes from time, and when the next one came the Blues got it, Tanasheh Abrahams ensuring that Wingate remained only three points behind Whitehawk and safety. The K’s are eleven points clear of the drop zone, but they need to arrest this slide if they don’t want to make the last nine matches interesting for all the wrong reasons.

North Division

Bowers and Pitsea, eleven points clear at the top of the North Division, broke Mildenhall Town hearts yesterday. With twenty minutes remaining Hall had hope of narrowing the gap between themselves and safety to four points, as they were ahead through an Abouhadje Kouassi goal scored more than forty minutes earlier and Bowers seemed to be falling to a rare defeat. But things didn’t turn out that way. First, Jamie Dicks found an equaliser, and then with two minutes remaining James Thomas earned them the usual three points.

Ten man Heybridge Swifts had to hold on to earn victory at Canvey Island. Elliott Ronto and Matthew Price gave them the lead, two goals coming in the first sixteen minutes after the restart, but when Joe Claridge got his marching orders that spurred on the hosts, and Martin Tuohy was able to reduce the arrears- but the side from the seaside couldn’t find an equaliser.

Matthew Briggs, Liam Hope and Jack Cawley gave Maldon and Tiptree a comfortable victory at home to Dereham Town, which keeps them third and their visitors eighteenth, whilst Aveley remain fourth. The Millers took a first minute lead through Alex Akrofi, and although they had to withstand a great deal of Great Wakering Rovers pressure the away side made it two after the break through Amir Berkane . Anthony Martin halved the arrears only for Harry Gibbs to make it 1-3, and although Martin found the net once more a minute from time, Aveley held on for victory.

Fifth place Coggeshall Town eased to a three-nil victory at barking, goals from Tevan Allen, Nnamdi Nwachuku and Conor Hubble doing the damage, and there is now an eleven point gap between fifth and sixth with only ten- or in Bury Town’s case, nine- matches to go. AFC Sudbury are a point behind Bury in seventh place, and yesterday the yellows recorded a comprehansicve victory at Basildon United, Billy Holland, two from Callum Harrison (29') and another from Phil Kelly doing the damage- and prompting the departure from the Ho Ho Stadium of Bees manager Neil Blackburn.

Grays Athletic supporters, watching their side play the first match under new manager Jim Cooper, saw four goals in the first half an hour, and then none in the hour afterwards. Joao Carlos gave Athletic a tenth minute lead at home to Felixstowe and Walton United, but Jack Ainsley equalised ten minutes later. Parity lasted only four minutes, however, Aron Gordon putting Grays back ahead, but again their lead lasted hardly any time at all, Rhys Henry equalising after three more minutes. And that was that!

Grays are tenth, and Brentwood Town eleventh, the Blues winning 2-0 against sorry Romford yesterday, a Charlee Hughes goal in each half doing the damage. Romford remain ten points from safety, and have taken only one point from their last thirty.

Witham Town are eight points from danger, and yesterday they were leapfrogged by Soham Town Rangers, Sam Mulready scoring the only goal of the match between the two to lift Rangers to fifteenth. You’ll see an image somewhere in this article- we don’t get to place them, computer says no- of Witham fan Kyle in a shirt presented to him by the players for his birthday- we hope you had a wonderful day Kyle, despite the result.

South Central

The Hayes and Yeading United procession continues to its final destination, which seems to be the title and promotion. Yesterday they travelled to playoff hopefuls Westfield, a side who hadn’t lost a home league match since early October, and walloped four goals without reply. They all came in the second half, through Elliot Benyon, Scott Donnelly, Scott Bridges and Chiduben Onokwai, and that gives them seventy three points, one hundred and nine league goals, and a seventeen point lead. Westfield are fifth, six points ahead of Tooting & Mitcham United.

Bracknell Town are second, first half goals from David Hancock and Adam Cornell ensuring that the Saints of Chalfont didn’t go marching in, whilst Marlow defeated bottom side Egham Town Adam Richards and Kelvin Bossman doing the damage in a 2-0 victory. The Sarnies are twelve points from safety with ten games to go.
Cheshunt, in fourth place, delivered the comeback of the day. Hanwell Town went into a two goal lead, Louis Bircham and Zaine Gangadeen doing the damage, but that seemingly woke up the Amber hordes as they then got four of their own, three before the break and one shortly afterwards. Ashley Nzala, Jordan Westcott, Jason Hallett and then Nzala with his second made it 4-2, and that’s how it finished.

Playoff hopefuls Ware and Tooting cancelled each other out at Wodson Park. Dave Cowley gave the home side the lead in the 31st minute, but a three minute double from Leon Lalor-Dell just before the break sent the Terrors into the changing room with the advantage. They couldn’t hold it, however, Tommy Wade finding an equaliser and ensuring a point each, a result which does neither side’s playoff chances much good.

Waltham Abbey sit between Ware and Tooting in seventh place, and the Abbots got back to winning ways with victory over Ashford Town despite falling behind to a Maz Webb goal in the twenty first minute. Timothy Ogunrinde and Ellis Brown made it a happy second half for the home side, ensuring a 2-1 victory after three defeats.

Another magnificent comeback was found at Northwood Park, where the home side came back from two goals down to defeat Bedfont Sports 3-2. Perry Luckins and Abdeen Temitope Abdul gave Sports a two goal lead at the break, but two from Alex Witham drew the home side level, and then in added time Zaied Sabti got the winner. Woods are tenth, Sports thirteenth.

Eleventh place Chipstead fell behind early on at Uxbridge, Andrew Whorms opening the scoring, but Sam Bell got an equaliser and Callum Hope got the winner four minutes from time. Uxbridge are fourteenth.

The battle for who goes down with Egham- assuming that miracles don’t happen- is heating up nicely. The two prime contenders, Molesey and South Park, both picked up points- but only the Moles got three, a Ryan Marklew goal earning them victory over Hertford Town. That narrows the gap between them and Sparks to one point, as at Whitehall Lane FC Romania were leaving with a point, taking the lead through Roddy Lemba only for Great Evans to equalise after the break. The Moles have two matches in hand over South Park- but the Sparks, in turn, are now only two points behind Hertford, who must now be considered to be deeply in trouble.

South East

Cray Wanderers are another side making the title race into a procession, now thirteen points clear at the top of the South East Division, Yesterday’s victory, courtesy of a Karl Dent goal at Phoenix Sports- the only goal of the game- was their twenty first from twenty seven matches, with only one defeat.

The playoff spots seem to be becoming a case of who finishes where, with the four clubs from second to fifth changing places almost every week. Horsham are currently in second, and they won a hard-fought match at home to Hythe Town, Lee Harding and George Hayward giving them a two goal cushion at the break only for Sid Sollis to pull one back late on and make the last eighteen minutes rather interesting.

Haywards Heath Town are up to third, and their victory over fifth place Hastings United was our Bostik Matchday feature so you can read about that HERE, whilst fourth place Ashford United started like a rocket at Whyteleafe, Danny Parish and Jay May putting them two up within four minutes. Bradley Wilson had soon halved the arrears from the spot, but the Nuts and Bolts made sure of the points when Sam Corne scored just after the break. Leafe are sixth, but the gap between them are the playoffs is now nine points.

VCD Athletic are level on points with Whyteleafe, and yesterday went to the Channel Islands and defeated Guernsey by the odd goal in seven. Evergreen Charlie MacDonald weighed in with a hat trick, Alex Gaggin got the other, whilst Paris Pereira, Carlos Canha and an own goal made the scoreline look closer than perhaps it should have been for the Green Lions.

Ninth place Ramsgate were held at home by Three Bridges, the managerless visitors equalising through Connor French after Tom Chapman had put the Rams ahead, whilst Ramsgate’s neighbours Herne Bay made light of their financial worries to defeat Whitstable Town 3-1, Bradley Schafer, and own goal and Ronald Sobowale making sure of the points despite the best efforts of James Trueman for Town.

Sittingbourne, in freefall a short while ago, recorded their fourth consecutive victory by scoring three goals against rivals Faversham Town, who could only manage one of their own. Timileyin Toluwanile and Lewis Chambers made it 2-0 at the break, and whilst Matthew Bourne was able to pull one back the Brickies weren’t to be denied, Billy Lewins restoring their two goal cushion. The Brickies are up to thirteenth, Town are fifteenth.

Finally, Greenwich Borough are fighting hard against the drop, yesterday defeating East Grinstead Town two-nil. Rhys Paul and Teshuane Tyreece Walters were the goalscorers, and both sides played more than half an hour with only ten men.