Goals galore in the North!

Felixstowe & Walton United welcomed New Salamis in our North Division ‘big match-’ and what a one-sided big match it turned out to be. Both sides had unbeaten league records, but The Seasiders were far too strong for their visitors and fired home five goals without reply. They were given some assistance by a Jandir Jose red card on twenty two minutes, but they were a goal up by then, Callum Harrison putting them ahead on seven minutes. The rest of the match was the Ollie Canfer show, as he entered the fray from the bench on thirty five minutes, scored immediately, and later added two more. Another strike from Harrison- just after the break and his sides third- was the additional goal in five.

Lowestoft Town retained their one hundred percent record- the only side in the Division to have won every game- with a comprehensive four-nil win over Coggeshall Town. After thirty two minutes without a goal we then had three in the next ten, Kyle Haylock, Chris Henderson and Jake Reed making it three-nil at half time. Haylock added another on sixty nine minutes, and the Trawler Boys are up to third.

Below the Seasiders and above the Trawler Boys sit the landlocked Witham Town, after another fine victory. Town travelled to Great Wakering Rovers and hammered home four goals without reply, two in each half- that’s four wins from five and thirteen goals scored, with only Felixstowe more potent in front of goal. Adam Vyse got the first and the fourth, the opener on thirteen minutes and the last goal in the last minute, whilst in between Ramiah Mills and Robinson Wokoma added the other two. That’s seven for the season for Vyse, and six for Mills.

Hashtag United are up to sixth following a three-one win over Tilbury, ending the Dockers unbeaten league record in the process. It looked promising for the Dockers when Chris Millar gave them an early lead, but Kojo Apenteng soon had the Tags level, and after the break they added two more, Harry Haysom with his first Hashtag goal and Pedro Carvalho with his third of the campaign.

Bury Town remain unbeaten in the League, and picked up a second victory with the only goal of the game against Basildon United. It came deep into added time and after the Bees had been reduced to ten men- Kye Jude seeing red nine minutes from the end- and it came to Carlos Edwards, sending the home fans into paroxysms of delight.

Brentwood Town finally got their season started as they welcomed new boys Gorleston. Matt Price got his first two goals of the season in the twenty third and eighty fourth minutes, and in between those Sam park got the second for Town after twenty eight minutes. Gorleston’s wait for their first win continues, and they end the weekend second from bottom- Town climb to thirteenth.

EMIRATES FA CUP

East Thurrock United may have struggled to win in the league but their cup form had been entirely positive as they entered their tie with Biggleswade Town- however that came to an end. The visitors won by three goals to nil.

Grays Athletic faced Shefford Town & Campton of the Spartan South Midlands League, and were the victims of a giantkilling, losing three-one. They fell behind nine minutes before the break, and although Anointed Chukwu drew them level from the spot just after the restart that was the high point for the home faithful, as the visitors added two more.

Heybridge Swifts hosted National League South Braintree Town, and got off to the perfect start, Andrew Fennell putting them ahead after just three minutes. They were within touching distance of the next round when the equaliser arrived five minutes from time, and now they face a replay.

Maldon & Tiptree defeated Premier Division side Haringey Borough in the last round so they would have been confident as Hornchurch arrived. That confidence would have taken a hit early on, however, as Sam Higgins scored on six and ten minutes to take his tally for the season up to seven, and although the Jammers kept the Urchins out until right before the end, Liam Nash made it three. Laste Dombaxe saw red for the hosts late on.

St Albans City welcomed an AFC Sudbury side who made it all the way to the First Round last season and sit top of the North Division. Nnamdi Nwachuku has been in scintillating form and looked to have given the yellows another famous victory when he opened the scoring on eighty three minutes- his tenth of the campaign- but right at the end the hosts grabbed an equaliser, so we’ll do it all again in midweek.

Follow the Pitching In Isthmian League on Instagram. Head here or search for theisthmianleague on your app. We're also on Facebook and Twitter.