Hawks hit eight, Terrors get five, and the Jammers stay fourteen clear

Worthing hadn’t been in the best of form of late, with only one win from their last five, and yet despite that had still managed to establish a seven point lead at the top of the table. Could they extend it? They hosted a resurgent Wingate and Finchley, undefeated in six matches, and the visitors took an early lead, Toby Bancroft putting them ahead in only the twelfth minute. The lead didn’t last for long, Aarran Racine getting the leveller six minutes later, and soon the hosts were in front, Dayshonne Golding scoring his first goal for the club after his move from Lewes. After the break Ollie Pearce made it three-one, and when Kieron Pamment got number four six minutes from time it was game over. Great Evans got one back just before the end, but most of the nine hundred and fifty one in attendance were in party mode by then.

Hornchurch, starting the day in second place on goal difference, were at Corinthian-Casuals. They fell behind after twenty minutes, Nathaniel Pinney scoring from the spot, but drew level twelve minutes later, Jordan Clark with the equaliser. The sides couldn’t be separated, a point perhaps more valuable for the hosts, who are eighteenth.

Folkestone Invicta strengthened their strikeforce in midweek with the signing of Sittingbourne striker Roman Campbell, and gave him his debut, but were soon behind against Enfield Town at the BuildKent Stadium, Billy Bricknell opening the scoring. They weren’t behind for long, however, Ira Jackson’s twenty fifth of the season drawing them level in the twenty first minute, but the third goal of the match wasn’t coming and both had to settle for a point.

Cray Wanderers came into their match with Brightlingsea Regent as our form side- still unbeaten this decade. Wands had taken twenty four points out of the last thirty on offer, and struck first through perhaps the League’s form player, Joseph Taylor with his thirty second goal of the season in the ninth minute. That turned out to be the only goal of the game, and it saw Cray jump into second place, two points ahead of Hornchurch, Invicta- and Carshalton Athletic, who all have sixty two points.

Athletic bounced back after two matches without a win to wallop Horsham last weekend, and went ahead against Cheshunt five minutes before the break, Lewis White opening the scoring for the hosts. It took them until ten minutes from time to make things safe, Christie Pattison making it two .

Horsham welcomed Potters Bar Town to the Camping World Community Stadium- winner of a ‘Groundtastic’ magazine award in midweek- hoping to bounce back after a heavy defeat at Carshalton last time out. It took them until eighteen minutes from time to open the scoring, Joe Shelley with the goal that delighted most of the five hundred and forty present. They were more delighted a minute from time as Greg Cundle made it two. They remain sixth, five points away from the playoffs.

Bognor Regis Town headed to Merstham talking of their playoff ambitions, but were two goals behind within thirty eight minutes, Bobby Mills and Mitchal Gough doing the damage. They did get one back before the break, Dan Smith with the goal, and then drew level with twenty two minutes remaining, Ashton Leigh with the equaliser.

Ninth took on tenth as Leatherhead hosted East Thurrock United, and the Tanners struck early, Ibrahim Olutade with his sixteenth of the season in all competitions. They doubled the lead through Zach Robinson midway through the half, and were running riot after half an hour as Izunna Ikebuasi made it three. The next sixty minutes saw no additions to the scoreline, and the Tanners climbed to eighth.

Kingstonian travelled to Lewes, who hadn’t won a home match until mid October and were quickly undone by a former Rook, Gus Sow opening the scoring on the quarter hour mark. The K’s doubled their advantage after twenty seven minutes, Dan Bennett with his fourteenth of the season, but after the break the hosts got back into the match, James Hammond reducing the deficit. The equaliser didn’t come, and the K’s end the day in tenth, the Rooks in sixteenth.

Bowers and Pitsea were in confident mood as they travelled to Margate unbeaten in five, and it looked like they’d be unbeaten in six, but Elliott Reeves popped up to win the match for the hosts one minute from time.

Finally, Bishop’s Stortford hosted Haringey Borough in a battle between two sides who hadn’t had much to shout about of late. Borough had taken nine points from their last thirty, whilst the Blues had only three points from the same period- but were quickly ahead in this one, James Baker opening the scoring after only seven minutes. The equaliser came just before the hour mark, and it came from Michael Ademiluyi, and a minute from time Chiduben Onokwai completed the comeback, giving the visitors victory from the spot.

North Division

In recent weeks Maldon and Tiptree hadn’t looked like the all-conquering heroes they were earlier in the season, but- defeat against Romford apart- they’d still been grinding out victories, their last four by the same score, two-one. Our leaders were on the road this weekend as they travelled to Histon, who had only one win from their last ten- and it took them seventy six minutes to make the breakthrough, Jake Cass with the goal. That turned out to be the only goal of the game, but it left the Jammers fourteen points clear.

Neighbours Heybridge Swifts were at home, as they welcomed Histon’s current tenants, Cambridge City. The visitors delivered a five-nil thrashing of Hullbridge Sports in midweek and were in their best form of the campaign, with four consecutive victories- whilst Swifts had taken only two points from the last nine. It was City who made the breakthrough, Luke Knight firing home just before the hour, and that turned out to be the only goal, City climbing to ninth, Swifts falling to third.

Bury Town were back at Ram Meadow as they hosted Hullbridge Sports, for whom that thrashing against Cambridge was their fourth defeat in a row, a period when they have conceded sixteen goals. That went up to seventeen in five as Town took the lead just after the break, Cruise Nyadzayo opening the scoring, but when the visitors equalised with five minutes to go through Emmanuel Okunja they must have thought they’d grabbed a point. But the Ram Meadow faithful weren’t stunned into silence for long, as Ross Crane went back up the other end and restored the lead for Town- although their joy was once again soon dampened, as a stoppage time goal by Mike Agboola meant that Sports got their point after all.

Aveley were back in league action after the end of their glorious FA Trophy run at Notts County last weekend. The Millers had drawn their last four matches, and fell behind at Soham Town Rangers after a quarter of an hour, Sam Mulready- it can’t always be Sam Mulready, but it feels like it- with the opening goal. Shad Ngandu got an equaliser five minutes from time, but that was that, as Aveley drop to fifth.

In fifth place at the start of the day, Tilbury travelled to Basildon United- only they didn’t, as the match was played at Parkside, home of Aveley. It had a kick off time of 11.30 AM, and by half past one the Dockers had climbed to second in the table as they came from behind to defeat the Bees, two goals from Thomas Barton and one from Brian Moses more than cancelling out Khadean Campbell’s seventh minute opener. They were still second at five o’clock.

Great Wakering Rovers, in seventh place, travelled to face ninth place Canvey island. Two wins had seen Rovers end their sticky patch and climb up the table, and they soon looked on their way to a third as Billy Johnson and Martin Tuohy struck in the five minutes before the break. That was how it ended, Rovers five points off a playoff place.

Dereham travelled to face Brentwood Town at Sudbury, and ended a run of five games without a win by winning this one by three goals to one. Nathan Stewart and a double from Ryan Crisp did the damage, Jack Edwards goal for the ‘hosts’ no more than a consolation.

Finally, Grays Athletic hosted Felixstowe and Walton United at Parkside. This was an important match for both sides, Athletic because they’d lost their last six matches and were now closer to the relegation places than the playoffs, the Seasiders because they were off the bottom only on goal difference. The opening goal came on the stroke of half time, and it went to the hosts, Tony Stokes forcing it home, but the visitors equalised six minutes from time, Armani Schaar giving their fans something to cheer- and they had even more to cheer soon afterwards, as Ollie Canfer’s goal gave them all three points and lifted them above Basildon, who drop to nineteenth.

South Central Division

Our leaders Ware started the day three points clear and eight games unbeaten, but fell behind in their derby match at Hertford Town when Chris Gosling struck for the hosts after twenty six minutes, to the delight of most of the six hundred and eight in attendance. They’d have been less delighted ten minutes after the break when Harry Watkins got an equaliser, and far from cheery when Josh Williams gave the Blues the lead with twenty two minutes remaining. Liam Hope made the result certain ten minutes from time, opening up a six point gap.

Hanwell Town hosted a Tooting and Mitcham United side who had only one point from their last five matches, but took the lead early on through Dan Williams, scoring his fourth goal in five matches. The Geordies this week picked up Manager of the Month and Performance of the Month for February, and their supporters must have hoped that those prizes didn’t come with a curse attached, but might have been looking for a priest when the Terrors doubled their lead after twenty three minutes, Daryll Coleman with number two. Ogo Obi halved the arrears thirteen minutes before the break, but Danny Bassett restored the visitors two goal cushion eight minutes after the restart. Joel Jacobs gave the Geordies hope of a salvage job with fourteen minutes remaining, but it was soon firmly extinguished as Dan Williams added a fourth for the Terrors and Klajdi Cani made it five.

In third place at start of play, Westfield hosted our match of the day as fourth place Chertsey Town arrived in Woking Park. The Curfews were eight games unbeaten and had won six of them, and took the lead in this one midway through the opening half, Jonathan Hippolyte with the goal. Hippolyte had his second five minutes after the break, and on fifty-six minutes Jake Baxter made it three and effectively ended the contest as the two sides swapped places.

Uxbridge, in fifth, had a Piccadilly Line derby as they travelled to Bedfont Sports. The visitors had won more matches on the road than any other side in the Division, and showed why when taking the lead after thirty four minutes, Mark Bitmead with the goal. Sports are tough opponents, especially at home, and drew level just after the hour through Nathan Wood, but once more the visitors got their noses in front, Mahlondo Martin restoring the lead three minutes later. Callum Bunting made it four three minutes from time.

Bracknell Town, our form side, came into their match with Harlow Town unbeaten since early December and with eight wins and two draws from their last ten- and were ahead after just four minutes, Nathan Minhas with the opener. Within a quarter of an hour they were two up, Daniel Bayliss doubling the advantage, and got number three just after the half hour, Joy Mukena leaving the Hawks featherless. When Michael Atkinson got the fourth four minutes before the break visiting fans must have wondered whether they might get home for Final Score if they left immediately. They were given something to cheer about when Christian Adu Gyamfi got one back just before the hour, but Bracknell had the last word, Nebay Haile getting their fifth just before the end.

It’s difficult to know what to make of Waltham Abbey, who conceded six goals last time out, just a week after they scored seven of their own. The Abbotts, who had slipped to seventh, travelled to face FC Romania, and took the lead just before half time through Aron Gordon before still finding time to double it before the break, Robert Clark making it two. The Wolves then made it difficult for themselves with two red cards in quick succession, and it was no surprise when Clark added the third, nor when Prince Domafriyie made it four. Vladut Sighiartau did get a consolation for the home side, but that was all it was.

Marlow hosted Chipstead. The Chips lost an unbeaten run that stretched back three months with defeat at Hertford last time out, whilst Marlow had only lost one of their last nine matches, so it looked likely to be close- but the hosts went ahead from the spot in eighteen minutes, Chris Ovenden with the goal. They couldn’t hold on, however, Jacob Sewell equalising for the Chips in the last minute- and then disaster for Marlow as Sam Clayton still had time to complete a smash and grab victory from the spot.

Barking, who started the day in tenth place, six points off the playoffs, hosted South Park at Mayesbury Park. The breakthrough took eighty one minutes, and it came to the Blues, Jack Hayes giving them victory.

Chalfont St Peter hosted Staines Town, the rock-bottom Swans without a win since November 19th- but the much-changed visiting side took the lead just after the half hour through Tayo Oyebola and then doubled it just before the break, Jamie Splatt hitting the back of the Saints net. Eight minutes after the break Okem Chime got one back for the hosts- would the Swans crumble? They did, Riccardo Alexander-Greenaway getting an equaliser from the spot on sixty five minutes, and then Wraynel Hercules breaking the visitors hearts with a winner one minute from time.

Nineteenth hosted seventeenth as Northwood welcomed Ashford Town. Both sides had shown improvement of late, and the visiting Tangerines made the breakthrough just before half time, Max Webb opening the scoring. The Woods struck back after sixty three minutes through Ahmed Elsahib, and then took the lead with eighteen minutes left, Jaden Sharman finding the net. The Woods are up to seventeenth.

South East Division

Ashford United looked to have a difficult trip in prospect, as they travelled to face an unpredictable VCD Athletic, and it looked even more difficult as Ainsley Everett put Vickers ahead after twenty three minutes, then a real uphill struggle as Charlie MacDonald made it two. George Purcell halved the deficit from the spot four minutes before the break, but soon after the restart Alex Gaggin made it three for VCD.

Hastings United got back to winning ways after their defeat against the Nuts and Bolts early last month, defeating Sittingbourne and Burgess Hill Town comprehensively in their last two matches. They entertained Whitstable Town at Pilot Field, and the Oysterboys took the lead four minutes after the break through Ollie Rowe. They couldn’t hold onto it for long, Ben Pope equalising for the hosts from the spot, and they got another spot kick soon afterwards and Pope was there again to give them the lead. They held onto it, and went back to the summit.

Whitehawk, in third, started the day six points behind the two United’s, but with two games in hand over Ashford. They put their eight match unbeaten run to the test against Three Bridges at the Enclosed Ground, and were given an early boost as the visitors had Keiron Thorp sent off. They quickly took advantage, Ahmed Abdulla opening the scoring from the spot, and the same player doubled their lead after twenty minutes then notched his hat trick ten minutes later to make it three. It was four before the break, Abdulla having a rest and letting Marvin Hamilton get one, and five before the hour, Luke Emberson delighting the home faithful. Bridges then got one back, Nathan Crabb scoring with twenty five minutes remaining, but that just annoyed the hosts who added number six through Lucas Rodrigues, and the same player then got number seven before a second from Hamilton made it EIGHT-ONE.

Cray Valley PM, who started the day in fourth place, had won their last six matches and must have been confident as they kicked off against Ramsgate. They were quickly behind against their third-bottom visitors, however, Ashley Miller breaking the deadlock after only ten minutes, but drew level just before the break courtesy of new signing Lee Noble, newly arrived from Dartford. The Millers were ahead eight minutes after the restart, Liam Hickey giving them the advantage for the first time, and soon had a two goal cushion as Francis Babalola made it three. They didn’t have that cushion for long, Henry Arnold pulling one back for the Rams, but restored it twelve minutes from time, Hassan Ibrahiym making it four, and Ryan Flack got number five six minutes from time. Mitchell Chapman reduced the arrears to five-three a minute from time, but it made no difference to the outcome.

Fifth place Herne Bay hosted Sittingbourne. Bay got back to winning ways last time out after two matches without a victory- whilst their visitors were in terrible form, taking only one point from their last nine matches; so it was perhaps no surprise when the hosts took the lead after twenty one minutes through Zak Ansah. Bay didn’t help themselves when Daniel Carrington saw red after the break, but the ten men managed to double their advantage twelve minutes from time, Ansah getting his second from the spot. Stephen Okoh did get one back for the Brickies just before the end, but it didn’t dampen the spirits of most of the four hundred in attendance. The host’s victory is even more impressive when you consider that they played most of the match without a goalkeeper after George Kamurasi got injured, and that his replacement managed to save a penalty!

Whyteleafe, who started the day in sixth, had closed to within three points of the playoffs with a game in hand over Herne Bay, but visitors Hythe Town decided to help their Kentish rivals by striking twice early on, Frannie Collin with both goals. The dismissal of Alex Flisher for the Cannons might have given Leafe some hope late on, but it made no difference to the outcome.

Prior to defeat against Ashford United on Tuesday night Chichester City had won four in a row, and they were quickly out of the blocks today, former Worthing man Matt Axell putting them ahead after only three minutes. Oaks equalised after twenty seven minutes through Frankie Sawyer, but parity was lost only two minutes later as Lloyd Rowatt restored home advantage. Ryan Davidson gave Chi a cushion with their third twelve minutes from time, a result which saw them climb to sixth- and they have three games in hand over Herne Bay, six points ahead.

Haywards Heath Town had climbed quietly up the table in recent weeks, and sat in eighth place at kick off, nine points from the playoffs. They faced Phoenix Sports at Hanbury Park, and the first action of note was a home red card, Josh Spinks departing the fray. Sports took advantage, and Lauris Chin got their winner eight minutes from time. Heath fall to eleventh, Sports are up to ninth.

Two struggling sides met at the bottom, as Faversham Town, without a victory since January 4th, hosted East Grinstead Town, who had only one win all season. The Lilywhites struck just before the break, Donvieve Jones with the opening goal, and doubled their lead just after the hour through Kelvin Ogboe, perhaps helped by Drew Coney’s red card for the Wasps- although Faversham then also went down to ten as Stefan Wright did Wrong.

Follow the BetVictor Isthmian League on Facebook and Twitter to ensure you're always up to date with the latest news.