Horsham leave it late but stay top, Seed Growers spoil the Romford party, and Swans hit six.

Premier Division

Leaders Horsham, with only one defeat in their last ten matches, travelled to Potters Bar Town. The Scholars themselves had only lost two during that period, but they had drawn five so the mathematicians amongst you will have worked out why the hosts were in twelfth place- and it looked like another draw was on the cards as the score was nil-nil with time almost up.

Had things ended that way we’d have had new leaders this morning, but the Hornets weren’t about to let that happen. With four minutes remaining Charlie Harris finally made the breakthrough, and then a minute from time Lee Harding rubbed salt in the wounds by adding a second, to leave Horsham a point clear.

Enfield Town, undefeated in nine matches which had brought them seven victories, entertained second placed Folkestone Invicta- and it was Invicta who were mathematically top with a few minutes to go, as they destroyed Town’s unbeaten record at Donkey Lane. Ira Jackson gave them the lead and Scott Heard doubled it before the break, and although Muhammadu Faal got one back eleven minutes after the break Heard made sure of all three points just before the end. Invicta stay a point behind Horsham, and create a five point gap between themselves and the side in third place.

That third place side is Cray Wanderers. Wands came into their match with Brighlingsea Regent with only one defeat in their last nine, facing opponents who had only a single win during the same period, and that nine games ago. Well it is now ten games since the people of the Taydal had anything to celebrate, as a double from Joseph Taylor midway through the first half gave the points to Cray and left Regent with nothing. They finished the match with ten men, too.

Hornchurch started the day in third, but ended it in fourth after a draw with Corinthian-Casuals. The visitors picked up their first win of the season last weekend, then promptly lost to Leatherhead in midweek, but they picked up a hard fought point on Bridge Avenue, Nathaniel Pinney giving them the lead before Chris Dickson equalised for the Urchins.

East Thurrock United had what appeared to be the unenviable task of hosting Leatherhead. The Tanners arrived in Essex on the back of five consecutive league victories, eight in all competitions, and riding the crest of a green wave- but the Rocks were no respecters of that and delivered what tuned out to be a hammering, two late goals turning a single goal lead into a three goal victory. Frankie Merrifield got the first, midway through the first half, and he got the third too, in the very last minute. Sandwiched in between the two, in the 88th minute, came Darren Foxley’s second. East Thurrock end the day in fifth, the Tanners in eleventh.

Worthing, in sixth, fell to a shock home hammering last weekend against AFC Sudbury, and had gone off the boil a little in the league, too, drawing their last three matches. They travelled to face a Wingate & Finchley side with a new manager, new strikeforce, and new belief after victory at Lewes last weekend- and it showed as the Blues saw Charlie Ruff and Olu Akinsanya put them into a two goal lead. The Mackerel Men weren’t done, however, and Joel Colbran got them back into the match before the break, and after it quick goals Ricky Aguair and Callum Kealy earned them victory.

Another side riding the crest of a green wave- and they didn’t have quite so far to go to find the sea- were Bognor Regis Town. Their defeat of East Thurrock last weekend was their sixth consecutive win in all competitions, and in midweek they made it seven, travelling to the Kent coast and walloping Margate by six goals to one. Yesterday they entertained Merstham, for whom the story had been exactly the opposite- seven consecutive defeats in all competitions and only one win in eleven. Tommy Leigh gave the Rocks a first half lead and with the match ebbing to a close it seemed that was that- but veteran striker Barry Hayles had other ideas, emerging from the bench with seventeen minutes remaining and drawing his side level eight minutes later. Surely the Moatsiders would now take a point?

They didn’t. Dan Smith popped up to break their hearts with just a minute remaining, three points which gave Bognor win number eight and propelled them into eighth place. Rather appropriately, former Merstham goalkeeper Amadou Tangara, who was instrumental in the Moatsiders run to the Playoff Final last year and has been magnificent as the Rocks have turned around their form in the current campaign, was named man of the match.

Haringey Borough’s cup exploits mean that they have played as many as five league matches fewer than some of their rivals, which has seen our former league leaders fall fifteen points off pole position. It looked like that gap would grow yesterday, as Jamie Cureton for Bishop’s Stortford equalised Romoluwa Akinola’s first half opener for Borough, but right at the end Chid Onokwai held his nerve to seal victory from the spot.

Margate have been searching for consistency all season and must have been smarting terribly after their thrashing against Bognor. They travelled to face a Bowers and Pitsea side who ended an eight match winless streak in midweek by defeating Bishop’s Stortford, but Bowers couldn’t start a run of their own, the only goal of the game coming on the stroke of half time and coming to Gate, Reece Prestedge putting the ball past Callum Chafer in the home goal.

Kingstonian, another side playing catch up because of their ongoing cup and trophy heroics, hosted Lewes. The K’s league record coming into this match showed only three league wins in ten, but if you were to include cup matches the only side to beat them in their last eleven outings had been Bognor, who won 1-0. The K’s were in good form and full of confidence, whilst the Rooks were still struggling for consistency- but it was the visitors who took the lead at King George’s Field, Charlie Coppola opening the scoring.

Tom Kavanagh drew the K’s level just after the half hour, and half an hour after that they were ahead, Louie Theophanous continuing his great form. Dan Hector made it three-one with twenty four minutes left, and that’s where the scoring ended. Kingstonian climb to fourteenth.

Finally, Cheshunt- who had lost their last six league matches- entertained a Carshalton Athletic side who had drawn their last five- although away from the league had been excellent in both cup and Trophy. Both sides really needed a win, and it was the visitors who got one, Omar Koroma getting the only goal of the game. The Ambers have really had no luck whatsoever this season- that is the eighth time they’ve lost a match by one goal, and their third one-nil home defeat.

North Division

We’d like to start by looking at the table, but we can’t, really. The eyes of the footballing world were focused on Romford, as their almost entirely new squad, under the ownership and managership of former Billericay Town owner/manager Glenn Tamplin, took on Coggeshall Town at the Brentwood Arena. Admission was free, Glenn bought drinks, five hundred and twenty four turned up to watch- and the Seed Growers spoiled the party with a three-two victory.

Phil Roberts gave Romford an early lead, but they were three-one down by half time as Ross Wall, Euin McKeown and Tevan Allen all found their way past Manny Agboola. In the second half Freddy Moncur reduced the arrears, but the hosts couldn’t find an equaliser and remain bottom of the table. Nobody really expects them to stay there, however.

Now, back to the normal stuff. Our leaders, Bury Town, saw their match at Hullbridge Sports rained off, so we expected Maldon and Tiptree to take over at the top by winning yet another game. But- shock, horror- they didn’t. All credit to Histon, who took the lead at Park Drive with nine minutes to go and almost did what has recently seemed almost unthinkable- Ed Rolph with their goal. Lance Akins equalised for the Jammers two minutes from time, and they stay second.

Third place Heybridge Swifts defeated the old Romford 5-1 last time out, but lost 5-0 to Aveley in their previous match. They headed to Cambridge City, who had won four of their last five, and a close match saw Swifts emerge victorious. Evans Kouassi put the visitors ahead early on, only for City to equalise just before the break through Jordan Gent. Five minutes after the interval, however, Toib Adeyemi restored the advantage for the visitors, and this time they held it.

Great Wakering Rovers, who started the day in fifth, hosted Canvey Island in a local derby. Both left with a point after Albert Levett got a late equaliser for the Gulls. Kojo Apenteng gave Rovers the lead ten minutes before the break. Rovers slipped to sixth.

The side that had started the day in sixth, Grays Athletic, headed to the seaside to face Felixstowe and Walton United. Athletic had only one win from five, whilst Felixstowe would have loved a record like that, as they had only one victory from their last ten. Well it was two from eleven for the Seasiders by the end as the only goal of the game- a spot kick from Callum Bennett- gave them victory.

Aveley, who walloped Swifts last time out and strengthened their defence on Friday, welcomed Soham Town Rangers to Parkside. The Millers are really coming into form and delivered another hammering, scoring five once more. Alex Akrofi was their hero, getting a hat trick, whilst Jason Raad and George Sykes got the other two. Sam Mulready, as usual, scored for Soham, as Aveley went fifth.

Tilbury- with only one defeat in their last eight- hosted managerless Basildon United, who had taken only two points during that same period. That made it a home banker, which of course meant that it turned out to be anything but, Ernest Okoh getting the only goal of the game to give Basildon victory.

AFC Sudbury, buoyed by their FA Cup thumping of Worthing and by victory over Canvey in the league last time out, hosted a Witham Town side who had lost five of their last six. Witham certainly didn’t look short on confidence, however. Marcus Bowers gave them a seventh minute lead, and although Sean Marks equalised for the Yellows Scott Kemp and then Bowers again made it three-one to the visitors. Sudbury weren’t done, and grabbed a point as Callum Harrison and then Tom Dettmar found the back of the Town net, the equaliser coming six minutes from time.

Dereham Town, who were undefeated in four and looking to put together a good run, entertained Brentwood Town, who saw a four match unbeaten run of their own come to an end with a loss against Canvey in midweek. The Magpies continued with their good form, coming back from conceding an early Andrew Freeman goal to score five of their own, Rhys Logan, Toby Hilliard, Ryan Crisp (2) and Adam Hipperson doing the damage. Connor Hogan then got a second for shellshocked Brentwood, but it really made little difference.

South Central

We’ve only had two unbeaten sides left in the South Central Division, and as luck would have it they met at Imperial Fields, as Tooting and Mitcham United, in fourth place, hosted leaders Hanwell Town. By full time we had only one unbeaten side- and it was the Geordies, Gareth Chendlik getting the only goal of the game in the fourth minute to earn his side victory. That’s fourteen this season for the Hanwell number nine.

Any slip up by Hanwell could have seen another Town take over at the top- and that could have been either Harlow or Chertsey. However neither managed victory, so that would have been irrelevant!

The Hawks entertained a resurgent Bracknell Town, but the home faithful found it anything but entertaining as late goals from Owen James, Nathan Minhas and Seb Bowerman- all coming in the last fifteen minutes- gave the Robins a three-nil win. Chertsey also had a difficult task, as they hosted Westfield- and so it proved, as it took a last minute equaliser to earn the Curfews a point. Sam Murphy got that equaliser, after Max Blackmore and Tinashe Nkoma had given the visitors an expectation of victory. Lubomir Guentchev had opened the scoring for the hosts.

Uxbridge started the day in fifth, and the red army had been given had much to cheer of late, winning six of their previous seven league matches. Another victory could have taken them as high as second, but they had rather confident opposition heading their way, as Bedfont Sports- who knocked Step Three Hitchin Town out of the FA Trophy earlier this week- were their visitors- and as the game moved to a close it seemed as if Sports were going to take all three points after completing an impressive turnaround.

Uxbridge were two-nil up and coasting at the break, Mark Bitmead and Callum Bunting doing the damage, but Sports came out fired up and Ezekiel Bademosi pulled one back six minutes into the second half. Darryl Saunders then got a six minute double, leaving Uxbridge twelve minutes to salvage something from the game. They did, but they left it late, James Harper equalising in the very last minute. Uxbridge climb to fourth.

Ware lost their unbeaten record last time out, as they fell to late defeat against Hanwell Town, but hoped to get back to winning ways as they hosted Hertford Town. The visitors had only one win in their last nine, and arrived at Wodson Park on the back of three consecutive defeats- but were no respecters of form and came very close to picking up victory. When Louis Rose gave Ware a first half lead it seemed as if things were proceeding as planned, but they were behind by the break, Ben Herd and Alfie Cue scoring for Town. Three minutes after half time Percy Kiangebeni made it 1-3, and Ware had an uphill struggle. Leigh Rose reduced the arrears with twenty minutes remaining, and then Louis earned his side a point right at the end.

Chalfont St Peter travelled to Staines Town, the Swans still searching for their first League win of the season. They had that win ninety minutes later, and they had it in some style, as the Saints, rather than marching in, were marched upon- Staines running out six-one winners. Town got three goals in each half; Dara Dada-Anite, Arif Hattabi and Klajdi Cani before the break, Cani, Dada-Anite and Isaac Thompson after it, whilst Dan Williams scored for Chalfont when the Swans already had five.

Waltham Abbey, in tenth, hosted FC Romania. The Wolves were buoyed by their first win in ten last weekend, as they defeated South Park by four goals to one, but their confidence was quickly shattered yesterday as the Abbotts hit them for five. Nathan Twum Koranteng put the hosts ahead in the first half, and although Adrian Hurdubei equalised for FC Romania after the break that was the cue for Abbey to go goal crazy, Billy Holland, Prince Domafriyie, Leonne McKenzie and Darrelle Russell adding four more.

South Park had a new management team, and they faced their first test as twelfth hosted eleventh, Barking the visitors to Whitehall Lane. The visiting Blues were just finding form, having won their last two matches- and now it’s three, as they gave new Sparks manager Martin Dynan the worst possible start by winning five-nil. Junior Dadson got the first couple, Eddie Allsopp the third, Michael Dixon and Johnny Ashman the last two.

Chipstead and Marlow got a goal each and a point each at the High Road. Both goals came late in the game, Kyen Nicholas giving the Chips the lead with just seventeen minutes remaining- but the hosts were denied three points by Devontae Romeo’s last gasp equaliser.

Finally, bottom side Northwood travelled to third bottom Ashford Town. Woods had five consecutive league defeats, whilst the Tangerines, like their visitors, had only one league win all season- but by the end one of those sides had an improved record, and it was the Woods- who consequently were no longer bottom! That dubious honour was to go to their hosts, as Northwood won the match three-one.

All the goals came in the first half. Harry Lodovica gave the visitors a very early lead only for Kelvin Adjei to equalise from the spot, but before the break an own goal and a goal from Eric Lopes made it three-one to Northwood, and that’s how it remained until the end.

South East

Our leaders, Cray Valley PM, started the day with a four point advantage at the top of the division, but by the end it was down to two. The Millers came into this match on the back of five consecutive victories, whilst visitors Hythe Town had picked up only two points from their last twelve, but the Cannons took a twelfth minute lead through Kaka Dembele and although Warren Mfula got an equaliser the home side couldn’t find a winner.

Hastings United started the day as our only unbeaten side, and ended it the same way. They hosted fifth place Phoenix Sports, and Jack Dixon gave them the lead on the quarter hour in front of a crowd of five hundred and fifty three. They held that lead until three minutes before the break, Jeff Duah-Kessie equalising, but got back in front through Jake Elliot in the sixty sixth minute, and two minutes later Dixon once more gave them a cushion. They have a game in hand over Cray, and are two points behind.

Sevenoaks Town, who started the day in third, ended it in fourth. They flew to Guernsey for an early kick off, and came back after losing to the only goal of the game- a goal, from Ross Allen (who else), which saw the Green Lions climb to seventh.

VCD Athletic are up to third after hammering Burgess Hill Town. The Hillians are under new management, and whilst Jay Lovett’s reign started very well with a three-nil win over Guernsey, the Vickers showed them no mercy. VCD have been in great form, having only lost one of their last ten, and walloped Ashford United last time out- and two goals in each half saw them run out four-nil winners yesterday. Kelvin Ogboe got a brace, Courtney Barrington and Dominic Odusanya one each.

Ashford United got back to winning ways in midweek with victory over Whyteleafe after three successive defeats, whilst their hosts Herne Bay had won three on the bounce before losing at Sittingbourne last weekend- and it looked as if they’d put that defeat quickly behind them as Tushaun-Tyreese Walters and Zak Ansah gave the home side a two goal half time lead. They held that lead until seventeen minutes from time, when Tashi-Jay Kwayie halved it, and then with a minute remaining David Smith got an equaliser. Ashford ended the day in fifth, Bay in ninth.

Whitehawk played their first league match for a fortnight, hosting Whitstable Town. The Hawks beat Burgess Hill last time out, bouncing back after three consecutive defeats, whilst the Oysterboys were unbeaten in three- but that record didn’t last, as the home side roared into a three-nil half time lead and held onto that after the break. Connor Tighe got a double, Marvin Hamilton a third minute opener.

Chichester City’s FA Cup exploits meant that they hadn’t played a home league match since September 17th. Sittingbourne were hoping that their opponents might be distracted by the cup, but if they were they weren’t quite distracted enough to let the Brickies take all three points, Connor Cody equalising Tommie Fagg’s opener to ensure than honours were even.

Whyteleafe host East Grinstead Town looking to bounce back after picking up only one point from their last two matches, whilst the Wasps were still looking for their first league victory of the campaign, having lost their last seven. Grinstead didn’t lose this one, but they didn’t win it, either, neither side breaking the deadlock.

Faversham Town put their new management team to the test as they hosted Three Bridges. The visitors didn’t have a win in two months, whilst Town were on a run of W-L-W-L so would undoubtedly have liked that sequence to continue; and indeed it did, but goodness they left it late. The only goal of the game came in the very last minute, and it came to Anthony Adesite, sending Faversham up to tenth.

Finally, Haywards Heath Town hosted Ramsgate. Heath had gone six league matches without a win so were desperate for three points, but had already beaten the Rams at Hanbury Park this season- in the FA Trophy- so would have been confident of a repeat. They got it, too, Callum Saunders and Henry Watson scoring in a two-one victory, with Kane Rowland getting one back for the ten men visitors.