Goals galore!

Three of our Pitching In Isthmian North matches were washed out, but that still left us with six, including most of the top five.

Leaders Felixstowe and Walton United welcomed an Enfield side who had a number of new names in their squad- but the Seasiders, unbeaten at kick off, looked to have the points sewn up within half an hour, Callum Harrison putting them ahead on twelve minutes before Charlie Warren made it two. Within six minutes of the restart the match was effectively over, Harrison adding a third and Sam Ford making it four-nil, and Harrison clinched the match ball on sixty eight minutes, making it five-nil from the spot. Four minutes from time the E’s got a goal back, Callum Taylor with the consolation, but a consolation was all it was and the Seasiders stay two points clear.

Lowestoft Town looked to have a tough match, Heybridge Swifts their visitors, but it looked less tough rather quickly as it took them only five minutes to go two goals up. The ever-reliable Jake Reed put them ahead after three minutes, his fourteenth of the season, Kyle Haylock quickly delivering the second.

The third goal arrived soon after the restart, Adam Hipperson making it three-nil, and an own goal soon made it four. Into the last five minutes and the Trawler Boys were relentless, Tom Fitzgerald with a fifth and Reed topping and tailing the afternoon by making it six-nil right at the end. That’s eight matches in a row in which Reed has scored, and his side stay second.

Image from Shirley Whitlow.

Brightlingsea Regent had won only one of their previous five, whilst visitors Grays Athletic hadn’t managed a win all season- and that run for the visitors looked as if it was going to continue as two goals on the approach to half time left Regent with a clear advantage. Jake Thompson got the first on thirty eight minutes, and five minutes later an own goal left the visiting fans deflated at the break. They would have been happier when a Sam Bantick penalty got them back into the match just after the hour, but the equaliser didn’t arrive, Regent staying in fourth place, Athletic eighteenth.

Basildon United and Redbridge didn’t manage a goal in the first half, but the Bees broke through with sixteen minutes left, substitute Michael Bareck putting them ahead on his debut- only twelve minutes after emerging from the bench. The Bees added a second five minutes later, Samir Ali making it two, but with six minutes to go James Barlow made things interesting, getting a goal back for the Motormen. The Bees held on, and are third.

Maldon & Tiptree, having won four of their previous five, knew that another win could put them into the top five, and their man of the moment, Louis Britton, put them ahead against Wroxham just after the half hour- his ninth goal in seven matches. George Smith doubled the Jammers lead six minutes into the second half, and Smith made quite sure of the points by adding a third on sixty six minutes, this one from the spot. Wroxham then looked to make a game of it, Rio Abodunde getting a goal back, but they were quickly four-one down, Harry Phillips with the fourth for the Jammers. Smith got his hat trick two minutes from time to make it five-one, and that was that, Maldon into the top five.

Ipswich Wanderers revival under Glen Driver has been remarkable, and they looked to continue their climb up the table by defeating Bury Town in a Suffolk derby. An own goal separated the sides in Wanderers favour at the break, and something else in their favour was a red card for Town’s Ryan Holland six minutes before half time. Wanderers wrapped up the points right at the end, Cameron Brown making it two-nil and lifting his side to thirteenth.

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