Geordies and Jammers hit six, Swifts go top, Worthing and Hastings maintain their advantage with late winners

Premier Division

Saturday October 5th was the last time that leaders Worthing had suffered league defeat, but they fell behind at Carshalton Athletic after only nine minutes, when Lewis White put the Robins ahead. Was their unbeaten run about to come to an end? Jasper Pattenden decided it wasn’t, equalising after thirty three minutes, and then the leaders did what the best sides always do and grabbed a winner in the very last minute, Lloyd Dawes scoring from the spot.

Folkestone Invicta, two points behind, knew that victory could take them back to the top if Worthing failed to win- but they also had a potential banana skin, as they travelled to face East Thurrock United, the Rocks six matches unbeaten. The opening goal came just before the break, and it came to the visitors, Ira Jackson with his TWENTY THIRD of the season in all competitions, twentieth in the league. If the score between Worthing and Carshalton remained the same then one more goal could put Invicta top on goal difference, and Scott Heard scored it four minutes after the break, before Jerson Dos Santos made it three with nineteen minutes to go. Frankie Merrifield got one back for the hosts, and by the end Worthing had their late victory and Invicta remained two points in deficit.

Our match of the day saw third play fourth as Cray Wanderers hosted Horsham- and it was ten v eleven after only a few minutes play as Ben Mundele picked up a red card for the hosts. It didn’t seem to matter much, as Wands took the lead on twenty four minutes through a Joe Taylor penalty and doubled it on twenty seven through Rhys Murrell-Williamson, but the Hornets halved the deficit soon after wards, Lee Harding making it two-one. Could the ten men hold on? They could, and stayed third, whilst the Hornets slipped to fifth.

Fifth hosted seventh as Hornchurch took on Enfield Town. The Urchins had lost their first match in ten last time out as they fell to defeat against Folkestone Invicta, and were quickly into their stride this time out, Chris Dickson putting them ahead after a quarter of an hour. The floodgates then opened, the Urchins putting the Towners on the rack and scoring three more before half time, Adam Cunnington, Mickey Parcell and Jordan Clark making it four-nil. They had a rest in the second half and the scoreline remained unchanged, Hornchurch up to fourth.

Four points off the playoff spots, Bognor Regis Town, in ninth, hosted eleventh place Kingstonian. The K’s started the day nine points behind the Rocks, but with three matches in hand, and with only one defeat from their last ten- and they were ahead in this one after twenty eight minutes, Tom Kavanagh scoring from the spot to the annoyance of most of the six hundred and twenty three in attendance. They were cheered up in the seventy-sixth minute when Dan Smith got the equaliser, and both sides settled for a point.

Tenth place Leatherhead travelled to Cheshunt, who started the day in eighteenth place but only three points above the bottom two. The Tanners had slipped of late, with only one win from their last five, whilst the Ambers had won two matches during the same period but none of their last three. After a goalless first half Zach Robinson put the Tanners ahead on sixty-two minutes, and a minute later it was two, Charlie Hester-Cook doubling the lead. The next goal was crucial, and again it came to the visitors, Robinson getting his second- and although Ryan Moss got one back for the Ambers it was no more than a consolation.

Potters Bar Town strengthened their squad this week- you can read about that on the transfers page- and travelled to face a side who did the same, Brightlingsea Regent. Regent started the day only one point above the bottom two, but defeated Bishop’s Stortford in midweek and had only lost one of their last five. Neither could score, and both took a point.

Margate travelled to Merstham. Gate have been a great enigma this season, either fabulous or awful- indeed they’d managed both in the last seven days, defeating Haringey Borough four-two before losing three-nil to Enfield Town. The Moatsiders had put a string of defeats behind them with a win over Horsham and a draw with Leatherhead in their last two, and they looked to continue that improved form as Calvin Ekpiteta gave them the lead from the spot after twenty one minutes. That turned out to be the only goal of the match, Merstham up to eighteenth.

Fourteenth played fifteenth as Haringey Borough hosted Bowers and Pitsea. Bowers took the lead just after the break, Danny Norton with the breakthrough to the disappointment of most of the four hundred and twenty eight in attendance, but Borough drew level eight minutes from time, Anthony McDonald cheering up the Bell End. The two will meet again in ten days time.

Bishop’s Stortford, in sixteenth, hosted bottom side Wingate & Finchley. The first set of Blues didn’t have a win in six matches, whilst the travelling set of Blues had last won a league match on Saturday November 9th, and were accordingly five points from safety- but to the joy of the visiting supporters Bilal Sayoud got the opening goal of the game- and the winner- in the very last minute.

Finally, second bottom Corinthian-Casuals hosted seventeenth place Lewes. Casuals had seen their form improve of late, with three wins a draw and three defeats from their last seven; whilst the Rooks would just have been pleased to be on the road as they had been far better away from home than at the Dripping Pan. The opening goal was a long time in coming, and it went to the side in pink and brown after eighty one minutes, Benjamin Checklit puncturing the Rooks rearguard. That win takes the hosts up to nineteenth.

North Division

Our morning leaders, Aveley, travelled to Histon. The Millers started the day with a one point advantage over Heybridge Swifts and three over Maldon & Tiptree, and had lost only one away match all season, but were quickly behind as Ed Rolph scored for the hosts in the ninth minute. They levelled just before the break, Shad Ngandu with his thirteenth of the campaign, but couldn’t find a winner, dropping to second.

Second place Heybridge Swifts travelled to Soham Town Rangers. Swifts lost to Basildon United last time out, that putting to an end a run of three consecutive victories and seeing them lose top spot. Rangers, in contrast, had put their poor run behind them and won their last three matches, and started the day in twelfth place. The visitors took the lead with half an hour to go, Emmanuel Osei-Owusu with the opening goal, and it was Teniola time on seventy four minutes as Swifts went two up and sealed a return to the summit.

Maldon & Tiptree lost to Tilbury in their last league match a fortnight ago, and since then had lost in the County Cup before knocking Premier Division Merstham out of the Velocity Trophy on penalties in midweek, after a goalless draw. They hosted Felixstowe and Walton United and were quickly ahead, Jorome Slew opening the scoring in the sixth minute- and doubled their advantage with an own goal midway through the first half. The Seasiders were not going to let the Jammers have it all their own way, and Ollie Canfer scored for the fifth time in seven matches to halve the deficit- but hope lasted only sixty seconds, Ryan Charles restoring the hosts two goal advantage-and it was soon four-one, Slew with his second of the match. George Clarke hit back for the Seasiders, but it was five-two as Charlee Hughes found the net for the hosts, and there was still time for Hamza Kaid made it six. The Jammers stay third, two points from the top, but with seven matches in hand over their neighbours and four over the second place Millers.

Before the match the Jammers received two special awards from Phil Annets of FA Cup Factfile, the ‘Performance of the FA Cup’ Award for their win at Leyton Orient, and ‘Team of the FA Cup’ for reaching the Second Round for the first time in their history- which explains our headline image. If you love the FA Cup then FA Cup Factfile is the place for all your needs, and you can find it here.

Bury Town and Dereham Town met at Ram Meadow with the visitors buoyant after three consecutive victories- over Basildon United, Canvey Island and- last weekend- Coggeshall Town. Bury had lost to Tilbury last time out- everybody seems to these days- and their injury hit squad had only have one win from six so wanted to put that right- but they fell behind on the stroke of half time, Adam Hipperson scoring for the Magpies, his fourteenth of the season. With five minutes to go it seemed as if the Magpies would take the points, but an equaliser from Ryan Stafford and then a late, late winner from Cemal Ramadan decided otherwise.

With only two wins from their last ten matches Coggeshall Town had slipped down to ninth. They’d drawn six of that ten, and would have been hoping to bounce back and defeat Cambridge City, but didn’t start well, Jarid Robson giving the visitors a ninth minute lead. Their task looked easier midway through the half when City’s Dan George took an early bath, and they took advantage to equalise twelve minutes from time, Josh Pollard with the goal. Would there be a late winner? There was, Nnamdi Nwachuku grabbing it in the last minute before Ryan Ingrey for City and Ashlee Jones for the Seed Growers saw red. Town climb to sixth.

Great Wakering Rovers had slipped from the top five to tenth in recent weeks, having lost their last three matches. They travelled to Witham Town, who had also lost their last three matches and also lost centre back Jake Thompson to Brightlingsea Regent this week, and the visitors took the lead seven minutes after the break, Jake Gordon with the goal. That turned out to be the only goal, and Rovers ended the day up to eighth.

Grays Athletic were another side who had slid violently down the table, but they’d began putting that right with a win and a draw from their last two, and would have hoped to haul themselves further up the table with victory over Romford in front of three hundred and eighty one at Parkside.. Romford had only been able to play four matches in two months due to postponements, and desperately needed some points- and they got some; well, one, as the match ended goalless. They are eight points adrift at the bottom, albeit with six games in hand.

South Central

Ware started the day back on top of the South Central Division, but looked far from secure as they had Hanwell Town and Westfield breathing down their necks- and so it proved. The Blues knew that to ensure they remained in pole position they had to defeat fourth place Uxbridge at Wodson Park, and they also knew that wouldn’t be easy against a side with only one defeat in ten. The opening goal came six minutes from half time, Liam Hope scoring his TWENTY FIFTH of the season in all competitions, but they were pegged back twelve minutes after the restart as Ryan Haugh levelled for the Red Army, and then fell behind seventeen minutes from time as Mark Bitmead made it two for the visitors. Could Uxbridge hold on for victory? It looked likely, but this season’s Ware never know when they are beaten, and Josh Williams grabbed an equaliser with a minute to go- but the Blues slip to seventh.

Second place Hanwell Town had their chance to return to the top denied by Uxbridge in midweek, the sides playing out a goalless draw. The Geordies hosted Staines Town, a side who had only three points from their last twenty four- all from draws- and found themselves ahead eight minutes before half time, Ogochuckwu Obi opening the scoring. It was two five minutes after the restart, Joel Jacobs doubling the advantage, and three as Obi got his second four minutes later- and then game over as Rob Laney made it four-nil by scoring the Geordies third goal in six frantic minutes. On the hour mark Brendan Matthew made it five as the Swans fell to pieces, and it was six eight minutes from time, Jack Hutchinson with the last goal of the game. That was more than enough to send the Geordies back to the summit.

Westfield saw their long unbeaten run end at home to Barking last time out, and travelled to face the tough challenge of Marlow. They learned just how tough very early on, as Curtis Ujah put the hosts ahead after only five minutes, and it got tougher still as Jordan Brown doubled the Marlow lead from the spot eleven minutes before the break- but then it should have got somewhat easier, as Marlow went down to ten men, Devontae Romeo picking up a red card. It didn’t- Adam Richards made it three-nil to the hosts, but approaching the end Marlow went down to nine, Kameron English the next to take an early bath. Once more Westfield were unable to take advantage, and the visitors slipped five points off top spot- but with two matches in hand.

We had a cracker in prospect at Imperial Fields, as Tooting and Mitcham United, in sixth place, took on fifth place Waltham Abbey. The Terrors have three matches in hand over four of the five teams above them, but defeating the Abbotts would not be easy, the visitors with only one defeat from ten. It was an own goal which first separated the sides, and the beneficiaries were the Terrors, three minutes before half time- and the hosts doubled their advantage one minute after the break, Danny Bassett getting his seventeenth of the season. Bassett got number three/eighteen soon afterwards, and that’s how it remained, the Terrors jumping over Uxbridge into fourth.

Barking, who defeated former leaders Westfield last time out, hosted FC Romania at Mayesbury Park. The Blues had lost only two of their previous ten, whilst the Wolves had one victory and nine defeats during the same period- but the match didn’t start as the form might suggest, with the visitors taking the lead in the second minute through Petrov German. It didn’t end as the form might suggest either, as that was the only goal of the match- and FC Romania climbed to seventeenth.

Chertsey Town seemed to have returned to their early season form of late, taking seven points from their last nine and walloping Hertford Town six-one last weekend- and they carried on it that fashion as they looked to inflict an eighth consecutive defeat on Northwood, the visitors taking a fourteenth minute lead through Jonathan Hipployte. Lewis Jackson got the Curfews second four minutes before the break, but eight minutes after the restart Eric Lopes scored to give Woods fans hope. That hope was soon extinguished as Jake Baxter made it three-one, and when Scott Day made it four twelve minutes from time it was game over. The Curfews went seventh, Woods slipped to the bottom of the table.

Bracknell Town, who started the day six points away from the top five with two matches in hand, hosted Chalfont St Peter at Larges Lane. The Robins were unbeaten in six, and started like an express train, Max Herbert putting them ahead in the first minute- but after that both sides seemed to hit the buffers, as that turned out to be the only goal.

Chipstead, unbeaten in eight and with six victories, hosted another side who had been in good form, Bedfont Sports- but it was the Chips who went ahead fourteen minutes from time, Sam Clayton scoring from the spot. That was the only goal of the game, and the Chips go tenth.

Harlow Town, who announced four Friday signings, travelled to Hertford Town. This was a battle between two sides struggling for form, the visiting Hawks with only one win in ten, Hertford having won three and lost seven during that period, including four of their last five. The Hawks took the lead on the half hour, Tayo Oyebola with the goal, and made sure of the points when Christian Adu Gyamfi made it two five minutes from time.

Bottom side Ashford Town made three signings this week, and put them to the test as they hosted South Park. Hafid Bounayafe gave the Tangerines the lead in the nineteenth minute, and they doubled it ten minutes after the break through Sam Humphreys. The points were coming home when Rob Mundow made it three twelve minutes from time, and they climbed off the bottom as a result.

South East

Our leaders Hastings United came into their match with VCD Athletic at Pilot Field on the back of two consecutive draws, but with no panic, as they’d actually increased their lead despite not winning. The Vickers arrived at Pilot Field on the back of three consecutive defeats and with only two wins from their last ten matches, and were soon behind in this one, Craig Stone bringing joy to the six hundred and seventy two in attendance when giving United the lead in the twenty second minute. Four minutes later it was two, Ben Pope scoring from the spot, but shortly after the break Athletic tried to make a contest of it, Bode Anidugbe getting a goal back from thirty yards-and then they did exactly that, Ayman El-Mogharbel getting an equaliser for the visitors. Were Hastings going to draw again? No. Six minutes from time Ben Pope got his second of the afternoon to put his side ahead once more, and this time they held their lead.

Second place Ashford United hosted bottom side East Grinstead Town. The Wasps had yet to pick up a victory this season, whilst a six game winning run came to an end for the Nuts and Bolts last time out- but they started as if they meant to begin another impressive run, Jay May putting them ahead after only five minutes. Ten minutes before the break it was two, Aaron Condon doubling the lead, and when David Smith made it three ten minutes after the break the outcome was no longer in doubt. Aaron Condon made it four nineteen minutes from time, before the Nuts and Bolts went down to ten men as Mo Kamara was dismissed- but it didn’t matter as the ten men made it five, the returning Adrian Stone able to celebrate.

Whitehawk got back to winning ways against Whyteleafe in midweek, and travelled to face Phoenix Sports a point behind Ashford. Sports have won their last two and started the day in seventh place, so were going to be no pushovers- and it took eighty five minutes for the visitors to make the breakthrough, David Martin with the goal. They got a second just before the end, Ahmed Abdulla with that one.

Fourth travelled to sixth as Whyteleafe hosted Cray Valley PM. The Millers seemed to have put their period of uncertain form firmly behind them, their defeat of Ashford United being followed by a five-nil thumping of VCD Athletic; whilst that defeat for Leafe at the Hawks- a match they ended with eight men- saw a promising run come to an end for them. It took until the fifty third minute for either side to trouble the scoresheet, and it came to the visitors, Ali Tumkaya opening the scoring. Gavin Tomlin doubled the advantage on sixty four minutes, and Denzel Gayle got the third two minutes later, before Tumkaya made it three goals in nine minutes as the hosts fell to pieces, Cray going four-nil up and moving six points clear of their hosts.

Fifth place Herne Bay earned a useful point at Hastings in midweek, and travelled for a clash of two form sides as they headed to Hythe Town. Bay had only one defeat from their last ten matches, but the Cannons have won six of their last seven and weren’t likely to be overawed. An own goal was the first score of the afternoon, and it went in favour of the visitors, but the Cannons were level fourteen minutes from time, Frannie Collin with the equaliser- and that’s how it stayed. Bay stay fifth, Hythe are eleventh.

Our early kick off saw Guernsey host Sittingbourne in front of a crowd of seven hundred and eighty in the Channel Islands. It took the Green Lions nine minutes to go ahead, Robbie Legg with the first Isthmian goal of the day, but they weren’t ahead for long, Johan Caney-Bryan drawing the brickies level three minutes later. Matt Loaring restored the home lead on twenty five minutes, and the hosts made the match safe when Will Fazakerley got their third twenty minutes from time. Guernsey climb to seventh.

Sevenoaks Town, who started the day in ninth, travelled to Faversham Town. The two had both taken ten points from their last ten matches, and both had only two wins from that period, but it was the visitors who were quickly ahead- Tyrell Richardson-Brown opening the scoring in the eight minute. On twenty five minutes Oaks were two up, Frankie Sawyer with his ninth of the season, and they then held their hosts at bay to keep a clean sheet and climb to eighth.

Whitstable Town welcomed Burgess Hill Town to Belmont. The Hillians had just strengthened their squad with two new signings, and had two recent victories on trips to the Kent coast, defeating Herne Bay and Ramsgate, but were soon behind in this one, Harry Stannard opening the scoring. Whitstable had won their last two and were unbeaten in four, but they were pegged back when they scored an own goal in the sixty-eighth minute- but not for long, as Aaron Millbank put them back in front three minutes later. The Oysterboys end the day in tenth, the Hillians sixteenth.

Finally, nineteenth hosted eighteenth as Three Bridges travelled to Ramsgate. The Rams came from behind to beat relegation rivals East Grinstead Town last weekend, picking up their first three points in a long time after five successive defeats, and they soon realised they would have to do it again as Bridges were two goals up by the middle of the first half, Dean Gunner with the first and Giani Ashley with the second. On this occasion there was no miraculous comeback, and Bridges put three points and a superior goal difference between themselves and their hosts.

Chichester City saw their match with Haywards Heath Town postponed, but they did have something to celebrate as Sussex photographer extraordinaire David Bauckham made the trip to the cathedral city to present two FACTA Awards on behalf of FA Cup Factfile. City won the Special Team Award and the Surprise of the FA Cup Award. David’s image can be seen above.