Goals galore in the Premier!

Pitching In Isthmian Premier Division

We had a very quick start in the Premier Division this afternoon, the first ten minutes bringing eight goals across six matches.

Bowers & Pitsea hosted leaders Kingstonian, who knew that anything other than a win would likely see them deposed at the summit. The first goal took seventy six minutes to arrive, but when it did arrive it went to Daniel Ajakaiye for the K’s- his ninth of the season- and Kingstonian remain a point ahead at the top.

Bognor Regis Town have been climbing the table of late, and started the day in second place. They travelled to Cheshunt, and took the lead three minutes before the break when Ashton Leigh got his fifth of the campaign. The Ambers were given hope when Rocks Jordy Mongoy was dismissed seven minutes from time, but didn’t have time to make their man advantage count and Bognor held on for victory.

Corinthian-Casuals have been in fine form of late, but visitors Merstham didn’t care a jot about that when Dylan Adkei-Hersey put them ahead after just four minutes. It took until the last minute for the next goal- and we got two, both for the Moatsiders- John Ufuah and Tahjae Anderson making it three-nil.

East Thurrock United have something of an injury crisis, and fell behind midway through the first half when Joe Christou opened the scoring for visitors Hornchurch. The Rocks were soon level through Jon Benton, but when Liam Nash got his eighth of the season five minutes before the break it was advantage Urchins once more. The Rocks weren’t finished, and the impressive Alex Hernandez drew them level soon after the restart- his seventh goal of the season- but the next goal looked all-important, and it went to the visitors, Charlie Ruff with his fourth of the season but his first in the League.

As it turned out it wasn’t all that important after all. Three minutes from time Ben Wyss made it three-all, and the Rocks took all the points in the very last minute when Tom Barton got the winner!

Folkestone Invicta, unbeaten as they welcomed Brightlingsea Regent, knew that they had a chance of going top with victory- and they couldn’t have had a better start, Alfie Paxman putting them ahead after only three minutes. They doubled their advantage when Scott Heard scored on half an hour, impressing the vast majority of the nine hundred and eight in attendance, and made it three ten minutes after the break, David Smith with that one- his seventh of the season.

Alfie Paxman got his second of the game- and Invicta’s fourth- just after the hour, and although Reggie Gregory got one back for Regent with fifteen minutes left the last word went to the hosts, Ollie Freeman with number five right at the end. Invicta are fourth.

Haringey Borough were quickly ahead against Cray Wanderers, with Scott Mitchell scoring after just eight minutes at Coles Park, but they couldn’t hold on to their advantage and Jamie Yila equalised for Wands on sixty two minutes. A point each was the outcome.

Horsham, fresh from their midweek cup heroics, continued in similar fashion against Potters Bar Town with Harvey Sparks putting them ahead after only five minutes. They weren’t ahead for long, Nathan Livings equalising from the spot for the Scholars just three minutes later, and the visitors struck next, too, taking the points when Kaziah Sterling and Samson Esan got two in ten minutes towards the end. The Scholars are up to twelfth, the Hornets one place from the bottom.

Leatherhead, without a league win since the opening day, welcomed Enfield Town to Fetcham Grove. The visitors, who defeated league leaders Kingstonian in midweek, were two up by half time, Muhammadu Faal scoring from the spot on twenty nine minutes and Percy Kiangebeni doubling the advantage ten minutes later, and got their third and sealed the points seven minutes from time, Adam Cunnington with the goal. The Towners end the day in third, the Tanners hold up the rest.

Margate and Lewes started the day separated only by goal difference, but they were quickly separated by a goal as Daniel Thompson put the Blues ahead after just four minutes. They weren’t ahead for long, Joe Taylor replying within four minutes with his ninth of the season, but regained the lead very quickly, Sam Blackman with the third goal of the afternoon after just sixteen minutes. Margate’s lead disappeared nine minutes after the break, Taylor Maloney equalising for the Rooks, and the visitors then took control, Maloney getting number three on fifty eight minutes and Ollie Tanner making it four two minutes after that. The next goal also went to the Rooks, and again it went to Tanner, and when Maloney got his hat trick seven minutes from time to make it six-two it was certainly a Jolly Boys outing for the visiting fans. The Rooks are sixth, and have the best scoring record and goal difference in the division.

Wingate & Finchley welcomed Carshalton Athletic to Summers Lane, and were rather too welcoming, the Robins going ahead on five minutes through Lewis White, but got themselves level sixteen minutes from time, Ibrahim Meite scoring from the spot. A point each was the outcome.

Worthing took on a Bishop's Stortford side who were hoping that there wouldn’t be a Manager of the Month curse, but it looked as if there might be when first Marvin Armstrong and then Dayshonne Golding put the Mackerel Men two up before the break. The curse was confirmed when Golding got his second- and his sides third- eleven minutes after the restart, and although James Baker got one back to silence, at least for a moment, the one thousand, two hundred and forty four watching on, the hosts held on for victory and end the day in fifth.

Buildbase FA Trophy

Most of our clubs were in FA Trophy action, and they all knew that they would win or lose today because each match was straight to penalties if level at ninety minutes.

AFC Sudbury and Cray Valley PM ended up with a penalty shotout after neither could score. From the spot the hosts triumphed, three-two.

Aveley hosted Uxbridge, and their hotshot striker Anthony Mendy. It took sixty seven minutes for a breakthrough and it was no surprise that it went to Mendy, his twelfth of the season coming in his twelfth match- and Mahlondo Martin gave them a cushion when he doubled their advantage ten minutes later. Alex Akrofi pulled one back for the Millers four minutes from time- could they pull off another late recovery? They couldn’t, and it was the Red Army that marched on.

Chipstead travelled to Aylesbury United, and went ahead midway through the first half, Andy Kabuikusomo with the opening goal, but they couldn’t hold onto their advantage, the equaliser coming in the fifty first minute. Off we went to penalties, and the Chips triumphed four-two from the spot.

Bedfont Sports, fresh from yet another cup victory, welcomed Romford- and it was the North Division side who went ahead, Patrick Campbell opening the scoring. They were ahead for only two minutes, however, before Ricardo Andre drew the hosts level, and Sports were ahead by the break, Darryl Sanders getting his sixth of the season. They made sure of progression right at the end, Charlie Postance getting their customary late goal.

Bracknell Town welcomed former South Central rivals Hertford Town, and went ahead early on, Seb Bowerman scoring from the spot on eight minutes. They weren’t ahead for long, the equaliser coming on the quarter hour, but restored their lead through Duncan Culley three minutes before the break. The next goal was a long time in coming, but it came to the Robins, James Clark with number three ten minutes from time. Bracknell still weren’t secure, the visitors pulling one back a minute from time, but held on to progress.

Burgess Hill Town, without a win in the League all season, hoped for better as Sevenoaks Town came to call- but Oaks took the lead four minutes after the break, an own goal doing the damage for the Hillians. Hill have been much better in cup competitions than in the South East Division, and drew level twenty two minutes from time, Michael Uwezu with equaliser. The match went to penalties, and the hosts triumphed three-one from the spot.

Image courtesy of Kyle Helmsley.

Bury Town hosted Wisbech Town and fell behind just before the break. The next foal also went to the visitors, and that was that.

We had a South East v North battle as Chichester City hosted Great Wakering Rovers, and it was first blow to the North side as Rovers Jake Gordon scored after just nine minutes. Second blow went to Rovers, too, George Cox doubling their advantage a minute before the break, but City struck back fifteen minutes from time to set up a grand finale, Tyrone Madhani giving them hope. It was forlorn hope, however, and Rovers will have a happy trip back to Essex.

Colney Heath welcomed a newly-strengthened Basildon United- see our transfer news from this morning- and the Bees went behind on twenty five minutes, but equalised three minutes later, Luke Hirst with his fourth of the campaign. One of the new arrivals, Walter De Rocha, put them ahead just before half time, and just after the restart Bertie Brayley made it three. Brayley got his second and the Bees fourth soon afterwards, and although the hosts hit back to make it two-four Hirst’s second of the match- and his side’s fifth- made sure nine minutes from time.

The ‘Under New Management’ signs went up at Brentwood Town yesterday, but new boss Rod Stringer couldn’t get to their match at Corinthian. The side looked to impress him from a distance, however, as Rob Harvey put them ahead after only three minutes, and they doubled their advantage right on half time as Josh Gray made it two. Corinthian hit back twelve minutes after the restart, Andres Tobin halving the arrears, but the equaliser didn’t arrive and Town move on.

East Grinstead Town welcomed a former Isthmian club, Waltham Abbey, and Kie Douglas made the Abbotts fans resort to prayer as early as the fourth minute as he put the Wasps ahead. It worked, as they equalised on the quarter hour, and then went ahead just before half time. The Wasps stung next, Frants Bakalis equalising on fifty eight minutes, and the match went to penalties, Abbey triumphing four-two.

Faversham Town hosted a South East v North encounter, and Tilbury went ahead through Jordan Peart on twenty five minutes. Just before half time the Lilywhites drew level, Jono Richardson with the equaliser, and just after it they were ahead, Dean Grant with goal number two. Emmanuel Oluwasemo made it three on sixty four minutes, but the Dockers set up an exciting finale when Joe Wright got one back five minutes from time. The hosts held out, and progress to the Third Qualifying Round.

Another of our former clubs, Harlow Town, welcomed Phoenix Sports. Sports were two down within fifteen minutes, but Oliver Andrews got one back ten minutes before the break to give them hope. That hope was dashed right at the end when Town got a third.

Hastings United’s Kenny Pogue got the winner in the cup last weekend, and opened the scoring against Ashford United just before the half hour. It was two nine minutes after the break, James Hull scoring from the spot, and that was how it ended.

Heybridge Swifts and Barking met at Scraley Road, and Swifts Dylan Logan broke the deadlock after thirty two minutes. The next goal also went to Swifts, Andrew Fennell with his fifth in six matches thirteen minutes from time sealing victory.

Hullbridge Sports went into their encounter with Hanwell Town still searching for their first win of the season, and it didn’t look likely today when Ogo Obi- his ninth of the season- and Harry Rush put the Geordies two up midway through the first half. They struck back just before the break, Tony Stokes getting his second in two matches, but the two goal advantage was soon restored, Harry Rush with the third for Town-and then it was four, Brendan Matthew with the fourth confirming a happy Geordie weekend at both ends of the country.

Maldon & Tiptree hosted Felixstowe & Walton United and the seasiders struck first, Ollie Canfer putting them ahead after twenty four minutes. The equaliser took until twenty minutes from time to arrive, and it went to Sam Cornish, but the penalty shootout went the way of the visitors, who won seven-six.

Marlow took seventy five minutes to find the net against FC Romania, but as always- or so it seems- Nnamdi Nwachuku came up trumps- his seventh of the season. Marlow played most of the match with ten men after Adam Richards dismissal,

Basingstoke Town travelled to Melksham Town and as always Conor Lynch was on the scoresheet, his eleventh of the season coming after ten minutes. The hosts equalised eleven minutes before the break, and then went ahead soon after it, and when they made it three-one just before the hour it looked a long way back for Stoke. They fought back, however, Brad Wilson getting their second, but the equaliser didn’t arrive.

Binfield travelled to North Leigh and didn’t have the best of starts, falling behind in the sixth minute. It got worse on twenty minutes when the hosts doubled their advantage, but Jack Thompson-Wheeler got them back in the game, halving the arrears two minutes before the break. The equaliser came on sixty eight minutes, Callum Bunting with it, and the match went to penalties, which the Moles won four-one.

Northwood and Haywards Heath Town couldn’t manage a goal between them, but the hosts triumphed four-three from the spot.

Sittingbourne have been in fine form, inspired- apparently- by the fact that our supporters predicted they’d finish at the bottom of the league! They had a Kentish derby against a South East rival, Herne Bay, and Johan Caney-Bryan put them ahead early on, his sixth of the season. Bay weren’t behind for long, Adem Ramadan equalising on fourteen minutes, and after the break went ahead, Zak Ansah with his seventh of the season. The next goal was crucial, and it went to Bay, Bode Anidugbe making sure six minutes from time.

Managerless Staines Town hosted Three Bridges, and it was the Swans who took this one, David Pitt opening the scoring just before the hour and Noah Amissah doubling their advantage a few minutes later. Brannon O’Neill hit back for Bridges, but Jack Torbett settled matters with a third for the hosts.

Thatcham Town hosted Sholing, who were knocked out of the FA Cup by another South Central side, Bedfont Sports, in midweek. The Kingfishers saw Lamin Ceesay put them ahead midway through the first half, but the Boatmen equalised late on to send the match to a shootout. Town came through that successfully, winning three-two.

Whitehawk have been fabulous in cup competitions this season, and showed Tooting & Mitcham United how, going ahead after only four minutes at Imperial Fields through Henry Muggeridge. The Terrors were soon terrified, as a double from Javaun Splatt made it three nil before the half hour, and it was four on the hour, new arrival Stephen Okoh marking his arrival in style. The hosts got one back through Mark Waters, but that was surely no more than a consolation.

VCD Athletic hosted Chertsey Town, hoping that the Curfews minds were on their forthcoming FA Cup trip to Southend- and it seemed that way as Joe Bingham put Athletic ahead on fifteen minutes. They hit back, however, Jake Baxter with his fifth of the season in the seventy sixth minute, and then got a late, late winner from Ethan Etukodo.

Ware, these days a Southern League side, welcomed an in-form Canvey Island, and the Gulls broke the deadlock seven minutes after the break when Connor Hubble got his fourth of the campaign. They weren’t ahead for long, the equaliser coming five minutes later, but the visitors were quickly back in front, Matt Price firing home his eleventh of the campaign. Ware hit back, the equaliser coming eight minutes from time, and off we went to penalties, which the Gulls squeaked through, seven-six.

Welwyn Garden City hosted our Tangerine dreamers, Ashford Town, but any Wembley dreams were soon dashed as the hosts were two up in twenty two minutes and three up nine minutes from time.

Westfield hosted high-flying South East side Ramsgate. The Rams lost their first league match of the season last time out, but with Jordan Chiedozie flying they always look dangerous and the former Margate man put them ahead in the sixth minute. He doubled his- and their- score three minutes before the break, but the Rams gave the hosts hope when Jake McIntyre saw red midway through the second half. They had even more hope when Caleb Write halved the arrears, and got the equaliser through IK Hill five minutes from time. We were off to penalties- but no! Mergim Qarri popped up with the winner for the hosts right at the end, leave the Rams to think of what might have been.

Image from On-Field Matters.

Witham Town made a quick start against Lancing, Jamahi Godward putting them ahead after only seven minute, and that turned out to be the only goal of the game.

Pitching In Isthmian South Central

After five hundred and ninety five days without a competitive match, Guernsey finally got back into action as they welcomed Sutton Common Rovers, and they started in a hurry. It took only six minutes before Kyle Smith put them ahead, and four minutes later Ross Allen- it's always Ross Allen- made it two. The visitors, playing their second side- and third match- from the Channel Islands this season, hit back just after the restart, Dejarhn Grant making a game of it, but another from Allen ensured that the Green Lions got off the mark in style. Nine hundred and eleven watched the match- our best South Central crowd of the season so far.

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