Fraser only needs a minute

A first-minute goal by James Fraser was enough to give leaders Whitehawk a 1-0 victory over second-placed Concord and extend the Sussex club’s lead to ten points.

Hawks had the ball in the net again before half-time but Hakeem Araba’s effort was disallowed for a push, and the Beachboys came within inches of a late equaliser when Leon Gordon hit the bar.

With about five minutes left it looked as if it would be very much Whitehawk’s day, for all the other teams in the top five were losing.

But Wes Parker scored twice in the dying minutes to give Wealdstone a 2-1 home win over Margate, who had also netted in the first minute with a Dan Stubbs header.

Parker turned in a loose ball to equalise with six minutes left and then popped up with an 89th-minute header to lift Stones to second place.

At Enfield, meanwhile, Paul Vines struck in added time to give fifth-placed Kingstonian a 1-1 draw at Enfield Town, who had gone ahead with a 27th-minute penalty by Scott McGleish after a foul on Mark Henry.

Enfield had Joe O’Brien sent off for halting Andre McCollin’s run towards goal five minutes after the interval but the ten men almost held out.

Wealdstone climbed above Concord and their neighbours Canvey, who crashed 3-0 at home to ever-improving Hendon.

Dean Cracknell gave the visitors an 11th-minute lead which was extended 13 minutes into the second half by 17-year-old Wycombe loanee Junior Morias to end a spell of home pressure. Isaiah Rankin added a late third.

Lowestoft made the most of the failings of the sides above them, ending Hastings’ remarkable sequence of eight home draws with a convincing 4-1 victory at the Pilot Field.

Jack Defty twice headed the Trawlerboys into the lead, on 18 minutes and again on the stroke of half-time, after Mikel Suarez had levelled the scores.

Chris Henderson made it 3-1 with around 20 minutes left and Joshua Dawkin’s strike in added time completed a fine performance which lifts Lowestoft to sixth place, six points behind Wealdstone with at least three games in hand on everyone above them.

Those games in hand, though, mean that they still have 21 matches - half the season - to play. A hectic programme lies ahead.

Thurrock, who have 22 games to go, hit the bottom after a 3-1 home defeat by Carshalton, who occupied the basement at kick-off time.

The in-form Nathaniel Pinney gave the visitors the lead after 17 minutes. They almost doubled it when Justyn Roberts hit a post, and did so through Pelayo Gomes Pico soon after half-time.

Danny Green pulled one back for Thurrock with 13 minutes to go and they almost drew level when Harry Cook hit a post. Instead, the visitors counter-attacked and Pinney made sure of the points. (Goalmouth action, with Carshalton in purple, is pictured by Mikey Cartwright).

Carshalton remain in the relegation places, behind Hastings on goal difference and two points ahead of Thurrock, who have no fewer than eight games in hand.

The day’s goal feast came at Leiston, where the hosts edged out East Thurrock 5-4. Seven of the goals came in the first half, though that could not quite match the nine-goal second half at Kingstonian a week earlier.

Pat Brothers, with a back-heel, and Daniel Ottley-Gooch put Leiston two up before Sam Collins replied, and it was still only the tenth minute.

Dave Bryant levelled matters in the 26th minute but nine minutes later Rocks were 4-2 down as David Head and Gareth Heath punished their failure to clear corners.

Collins pulled one back before the interval and completed his hat-trick in the 57th minute as Rocks again came from two down to draw level.

Then Rocks keeper Elliott Justham failed to hold Joe Jefford’s header and Emmanuel Osei nipped in for what proved to be the final goal of the afternoon with almost half an hour left.

The 9-3 thrashing at Kingstonian might have been the low point in Cray’s fortunes, for they arrested their alarming slump towards the danger zone with a 2-0 victory at Bognor, their first win in ten games.

Michael Power cracked in an 18-yard scorcher to give them the lead after 54 minutes and Alex Stavrinou added the second five minutes later.

Met Police bounced back from their 4-0 midweek defeat at Enfield to move within five points of the play-off spots with a 2-1 victory at Lewes.

Tommy Brewer, one of four debutants in the Sussex side, put the hosts ahead after 28 minutes but Charlie Collins replied quickly and Steve Noakes got the winner midway through the second half.

John Sands took an undisputed lead in the division’s golden boot race when he headed their 11th-minute opener at Wingate and moved two clear when he struck again in the half-hour, his 18th goal of the season.

Spencer Bellotti pulled one back after 62 minutes but Craig Parker put Bury 3-1 up shortly afterwards and that was how it finished. Wingate had to play the last 15 minutes with ten men after a succession of injuries.

Hampton’s home game against Harrow was called off after a pitch inspection in the morning.