Invicta emerge victorious, Jammers hit the top, Hastings wallop City whilst the South Central has goals galore

On Tuesday night Folkestone Invicta replaced Horsham at the top of the Premier Division table with a point against Kingstonian, but the Hornets had the chance to regain their place at the summit as they travelled to the BuildKent Stadium in a clash of our top two. Dom Di Paola’s side had won seven of their nine matches on their travels and lost only once on their travels this season, but Invicta had been almost invincible at home, so it was too close to call. Five hundred and thirty six- including two Horsham fans sharing a large pair of bright yellow y-fronts- came to watch the action, and the home fans were given something to cheer when Ira Jackson put Invicta ahead from the spot in the sixty-sixth minute. Another Jackson goal twelve minutes from time doubled their advantage, but Gary ‘Zorro’ Charman pulled one back almost immediately to set up a grandstand finish. Invicta held on to extend their lead to three points, whilst the Hornets drop to third.

Worthing, starting the day in third place, hosted Margate, conquerors of Horsham last weekend and hoping their second trip to Sussex in quick succession would have a similar outcome. The Mackerel Men were unbeaten in nine matches in the league, so weren’t likely to make it easy for their Kentish visitors, and they took the lead on the quarter hour through Callum Kealy. Alex Parsons made it two just before the break, and the Mackerel Men got a further boost when the visitors were reduced to ten men- to the undoubted delight of most of the seven hundred and twenty seven present. The ten men got a goal back with twenty one minutes remaining, Noel Leighton scoring- his ninth of the season- but it didn’t change the outcome, Worthing climbing to second.

Hornchurch, in fourth place, travelled to Wingate and Finchley unbeaten in five matches. Their hosts had only six points from their last thirty and were desperate for a win, but they didn’t have the best of starts, Chris Dickson putting the Urchins ahead from the spot after only five minutes. Dickson got his second eleven minutes later, this time without needing a spot kick, but the lead was halved six minutes later when Charlie Ruff scored for the Blues- and eight minutes before half time Alphanso Kennedy made it all-square.
The Urchins were ahead once more five minutes after the break- and it was Dickson once more, confirming his hat trick- and they held on for victory.

Enfield Town had been inconsistent of late, with only have one win- and three draws- from their last six. They were hosting a Bowers & Pitsea side looking for two wins in a row- and the visitors got themselves ahead early on, Lewis Manor scoring after twelve minutes. The visitors got their second just before the half hour, Max Cornhill getting onto the scoresheet, and Manor’s second just after the hour surely made the points safe. Jamie Dicks made it four with twenty three minutes to go, and that’s how it ended, an abject afternoon for the Towners seeing them slip to seventh whilst Bowers are seventeenth.

At Colston Avenue Carshalton Athletic hosted Bognor Regis Town. The visiting Rocks came into this match as our form side, with only one defeat from their last ten; but the Robins had the same number of defeats, the only difference being that they had five draws during the same period. After thumping Cray Wanderers last time out Athletic must have been confident, and they took the lead in the twenty fourth minute through Kershaney Samuels. That turned out to be the only goal of the game, and it sees the Robins go fifth.

Wanderers were hoping to get back to winning ways as Potters Bar Town arrived at Hayes Lane, and Andre Coker put them ahead midway through the first half. Lee Lewis made it two-nil before the break, and within eleven minutes of the second half they’d added two more, Joseph Taylor and Karl Dent finding the back of the Scholars net. The result sees Wands end the day in sixth place.

It was an emotional day for all at Rookery Hill, where East Thurrock United hosted Haringey Borough. The Rocks recently announced the sad passing of former owner Ben Bennett, the man who guided them from near extinction two decades ago to unprecedented success, and paid an emotional tribute to him before the match.

It was the visitors who got their noses in front after twenty four minutes, Anthos Solomou opening the scoring, but the Rocks soon hit back, Darren Foxley drawing them level before Amos Nasha put them ahead four minutes before the break. Frankie Merrifield made Rookery Hill rock as he made it three just before the break, and it was four just after the hour, Mitchell Gilbey adding the next one.

Chiduben Onokwai got one back for Borough with ten minutes to go, but it was no more than a consolation. The Rocks end the day in eighth.

Fresh from midweek victory over East Thurrock United, Bishop’s Stortford seemed to have turned around a period of poor form as they travelled to Cheshunt, a side also on the up after a victory and a draw in their last two matches. The Blues took an early lead, Jamie Cureton, as always, with the goal, and when the Ambers went down to ten men in the second half it gave the Blues the opportunity to see the game out with no further goals scored. Stortford are up to eleventh.

Kingstonian, who earlier this week were named as winners of each of our three monthly awards for Premier Division clubs, hosted Merstham, a side who couldn’t pick up a win no matter what they do, and had only one point from their last thirty. Both sides announced the arrival of new strikers over the last twenty four hours, but it was a defender who opened the scoring, former Moatsider Ollie Cook finding the target for the K’s after just six minutes. It was two on the quarter hour, Louie Theophanous the next to find the back of the Merstham net, and forty two minutes later the home side were out of sight, Dan Bennett making it three. They got further out of sight with nineteen minutes remaining, Theophanous with his second of the day, and that was how it ended.

Merstham have one draw and eleven defeats from their last twelve matches- and face the K’s again in midweek in the Velocity Trophy.

Sixteenth played fourteenth as the Rooks of Lewes took on the Tanners of Leatherhead. When the two sides met at the end of August at Fetcham Grove, Lewes inflicted a four-one defeat on their hosts, so the green hordes travelled to East Sussex with revenge on their minds- and they were given something to shout about after only four minutes, Simon Mensah putting them ahead. Five hundred and twenty four watched this one, and as there were no further goals most went home unhappy.

Finally, our bottom two met at the Taydal. Brightlingsea Regent, who had only two points from their last thirty, took on Corinthian-Casuals, who have five from the same period. Regent announced four new signings in the lead up to this match, and one of them- Lewis Hewitt- put them ahead ten minutes before the break, but Casuals were level twenty three minutes from time through Nathaniel Pinney.

Casuals didn’t have parity for long, however, as Pip Boyland put the home side ahead once more, and that was how the score remained as Regent got their first victory since August 31st- incidentally, also over Casuals. Regent climb to nineteenth.

North Division

The top end of the North Division table was so tightly packed at kick off that any of six sides could have been at the summit by full time. Leaders Bury Town travelled to eighth placed Histon knowing that they’d stay top with victory, but they didn’t have the best of starts, Simon Swinton putting the hosts ahead. Ed Rolph made it two-nil to Histon thirteen minutes after the break, and Rolph got their third fifteen minutes from time.

Heybridge Swifts, level on points with the side from Ram Meadow, welcomed back old favourite Sam Bantick and his new club Canvey Island. They made him too welcome early on, as he put the Gulls ahead in the fourth minute with the first goal of the afternoon across all four divisions, and he got his second nine minutes later to double the visitors advantage. Swifts were back in it before the half hour, Jordan Cox pulling a goal back, but the next goal also went to the Gulls, Jason Hallett getting it in the sixty second minute. Alex Teniola pulled it back to two-three with thirteen minutes remaining, but that was that and Swifts fall to fourth.

Third placed Coggeshall Town travelled to face Grays Athletic, who started the day in fifth place The Seed Growers faced their former skipper, Dexter Peter, who signed for Athletic earlier this week- and they couldn’t get past him, but Grays couldn’t score either and the match ended goalless.

Maldon & Tiptree started the day in fourth place, but with three matches in hand over Bury Town, and five over the other three sides in the top five. They travelled to face sixteenth placed Hullbridge Sports and found the home side difficult to break down, but finally managed it twelve minutes from time, Charlee Hughes getting the opening goal- and indeed the only goal. The Jammers climb to the summit.

The side in sixth place, Aveley, hadn’t lost a league match since October 19th- but then they hadn’t really played very many as they’ve been sweeping all before them in the FA Trophy, knocking out three higher level sides and scoring goals for fun. The Millers headed to Great Wakering Rovers, and went into the break ahead, George Sykes opening the scoring in the forty fourth minute. That was the only goal of the game and saw Aveley climb into second place.

Dereham Town are another side who haven’t been able to stop scoring of late, and their manager Adam Gusterson picked up our manager of the month prize this week. The Magpies undefeated in seven, welcomed Tilbury, and the Dockers were soon ahead, Brian Moses scoring after seven minutes. It was two before half an hour had been played, Lee Burns getting the second- and the Magpies well and truly had their wings clipped when David Knight made it three from the spot. Adam Hipperson got one back for the hosts thirteen minutes from time, but there was no comeback this weekend.

AFC Sudbury, on the back of a three game unbeaten run, entertained Cambridge City- and it was the visitors who broke the deadlock after twenty one minutes, Derek Ubah with the goal. Ubah was on the scoresheet again three minutes after the break, doubling his own tally and his side’s advantage, and that’s how it ended, with City in eleventh palce.

Bottom side Romford travelled to Felixstowe and Walton United, the hosts smarting after turning a two-nil lead into a three-two defeat when Dereham Town visited last weekend. The Boro didn’t have a win since new owner/manager Glenn Tamplin took over, but they took the lead at the seaside, Dominic McHale with the opening goal. They couldn’t hold onto it, however, Armani Schaar equalising four minutes before the break- but were ahead again before the referee could signal the end of the first half, Adam Morgan restoring their advantage. That’s how it ended, although Romford remain in bottom place- four points behind today’s hosts.

Basildon United, three matches unbeaten in the league, entertained a Witham Town side who had picked up of late with four points from their last six and started as if they meant business, Scott Kemp putting them in front after only four minutes. The Bees were level after twenty minutes through Adam Vyse, but nine minutes from time Marcus Bowers made it advantage Town once more, and Kemp’s second three minutes from time sealed the win. Witham climb to thirteenth.

Brentwood Town, with only two points from their last fifteen, hosted a Soham Town Rangers side who only had one point from the same period. Which one was going to get back to winning ways? Brentwood. Sewa Marsh put them ahead in the sixty seventh minute, and got their second nine minutes from time- and although Ryan Auger made the last few minutes interesting Rangers couldn’t find an equaliser.

South Central

Our leaders Hanwell Town had gone badly off the boil of late, picking up only three points from their last twelve- so perhaps it wasn’t a good time to take on Barking- who had won their last five matches and handed manager Justin Gardner our manager of the month prize. The Geordies started very well, Gianni Crichlow opening the scoring after just three minutes, and when Barking were reduced to ten men before the break looked to have the points wrapped up. They actually wrapped them up nine minutes from time when Harry Rush made it two, and there was still time for Tayshan Hayden Smith to make it three- and for Crichlow to get two more for his hat trick as the Geordies ran out five-nil winners and stay three points clear.

Ware were handily placed to take advantage of any Hanwell slip up, and did all they could to do just that. The Blues had scored six goals in each of their last two matches, and entertained an Ashford Town side who have improved of late but still had only two wins from ten. The hosts took the lead after just seven minutes, Joshua Williams with the goal- and it was two eleven minutes later, Harry Watkins doubling their advantage. Liam Hope made it three a minute before half time, and Watkins second ten minutes after the break made it four. Louis Rose made it five-nil with twenty one minutes remaining. Could they score six once more? They did, as Williams got his second, and the match ended six-nil. Good things do come in threes. Or sixes.

Third faced fourth as Uxbridge, who started the day two points behind Ware and five from the summit, hosted Harlow Town. After a goalless first half Alex Paine gave the red army something to cheer on fifty six minutes, and Mark Bitmead doubled their advantage twelve minutes from time. Harlow weren’t done, and Tayo Oyebola got one back with nine minutes remaining, but the home side held on and remain five points behind Hanwell.

Fifth hosted sixth as Chertsey Town entertained Tooting & Mitcham United. Neither had been in the best of form of late, but it was the Terrors who got their noses in front, Hady Ghandour scoring after nineteen minutes. Ghandour got his second just before the half hour, and his third with thirteen minutes to go killed off the game. There was still time for Ghandour to get a fourth, too, and for the Terrors to get a fifth- David Castanho getting that one as United soared back to form in some style and climbed to fourth.

A five match unbeaten run had taken Waltham Abbey to the edge of the playoff places. The Abbotts hosted Staines Town, and improved form for the seventeen placed Swans, with seven points from their last nine, made this rather difficult to predict. Prince Domafriyie opened the scoring for the Abbotts in the fourteenth minute, but the Swans were soon level through Dara Dada-Anite. The visitors took the lead in the sixty sixth minute, Joey Taylor firing home, but were pegged back almost immediately through Leonne McKenzie.
The Swans weren’t done, and went ahead again through Klajdi Cani, but once more the Abbots came back, McKenzie with an equaliser once more- and then, right at the end, Charlie Edwards gave the home side all three points when making it four-three and put his side into the top five.

Westfield hosted Chalfont St Peter on the back of four successive two-two draws, but got themselves on the way to three points after Matt Steer put them ahead. Elijah Simpson doubled their lead just before the half hour, and Gregory Hayden got the third just after the hour. Charlie Postance made it four just before the end. Field end the day in sixth place.

Bracknell Town looked to bounce back after their hammering at home to Ware last weekend as they travelled to South Park, but it was the Sparks who struck first, Andrew Herring opening the scoring on twenty minutes. They struck second, too- Jamil Awoyejo scoring twelve minutes before the break, but two minutes after half time Nathan Minhas hauled the Robins back into the game. They had a mountain to climb once more nineteen minutes from time, Great Evans making it three for Sparks, and Evans had his second, and his side’s fourth, two minutes later. Seb Bowerman reduced the arears to four-two, but that was the end of the scoring as Sparks ended the day in fourteenth place.

Marlow hosted Hertford Town at Oak Tree Road. The hosts had found goals difficult to come by this season, but former Coggeshall Town goal machine, Nnamdi Nwachuku, scored on his debut to put them ahead with eighteen minutes remaining- and they held on for victory.

Northwood travelled to Bedfont Sports. Woods had three wins from their last four, whilst Sports had gone four games unbeaten and made a great start in their quest to make it five, Ezekiel Bademosi opening the scoring after eleven minutes. Bademosi got his second ten minutes before the break to double the home advantage, and when Mekhail McLaughlin made it three seven minutes after the restart it was surely game over. That was certainly the case when Lucas Sinclair made it four on fifty six minutes, although Tyrone Pink was able to pull a goal back.

Finally Chipstead hosted bottom side FC Romania, and it was the Wolves who made the breakthrough, Vladut Sighiartau scoring eight minutes before the break. Sam Bell drew the Chips level in the second half, and in the very last minute Tom Collins put the Wolves to sleep with a winner.

South East

We got new leaders in midweek, as Hastings United took over at the summit. The only unbeaten side in the division, United put that record to the test once more as they hosted Chichester City, the visitors getting back to league action after their FA Cup exploits. Within twenty minutes the hosts were two up, Davide Rodari and Sam Adams with the goals, and it was three with only twenty four minutes on the clock, Daniel Ajakaiye getting onto the scoresheet. Rodari got his second and his side’s fourth six minutes before the break, and within six minutes of the restart there had been two more goals- one for each side. Corey Heath got one back for Chi, before Ryan Worrall made it five-one from the spot, warming the hearts of most of the six hundred and two inside Pilot Field.

There were no more goals, and United stay firmly at the top.

Cray Valley PM, in second place, hosted East Grinstead Town. Given the visiting Wasps hadn’t won a match all season the Millers started as clear favourites, and were ahead after ten minutes through Hassan Ibrahiym- but ten minutes later the Wasps were level through Thomas Bramble. They didn’t stay level for long; Warren Mfula made it two-one to the home side after twenty five minutes, and Kevin Lisbie made it three nineteen minutes from time.

Whitehawk were another side who could have been at the top of the table at 5PM had Hastings and the Millers slipped up. Manager Jude Macdonald picked up our manager of the month award this week after his side recorded five consecutive victories, and they hosted Ramsgate, who drew against Phoenix Sports last time out, ending a run of four consecutive defeats. The Rams didn’t have an away win this season, and their away form continued to desert them as Lucas Rodrigues put the home side ahead after nineteen minutes- and then got a second just a minute later.

Tyrell Mitford got one back for the Rams after sixty seven minutes, but that spurred the Hawks into action and Kacper Lopata restored their two goal cushion four minutes later.

Our headline image, from the lens of Kyle Hemsley, shows a Rodrigues celebration. We're not sure which one!

Ashford United travelled to Haywards Heath Town still smarting from a midweek home defeat against Guernsey. Heath had only one defeat from their last six, but they only had one victory, too, so were desperate for another- and were in front two minutes before the break, Kieran Rowe with the goal. It was the only goal of the game, and Heath climb to fourteenth, whilst the Nuts and Bolts slipped to fifth.

Sevenoaks Town hosted Sittingbourne. Oaks had hit a sticky patch of late with only one win in five, whilst the Brickies had followed a four match unbeaten run with narrow defeats in their last two. It was the hosts who struck first, and they struck early- Louis Collins scoring after only four minutes. The Brickies were back in it after twenty two minutes when Kane Phillip equalised, and took the lead twelve minutes after the break through Sid Sollis. The Brickies held on for victory and climbed to thirteenth.

Whyteleafe headed to Faversham Town on the back of three successive victories- but they couldn’t make it four, as the match ended goalless. They went into fourth place nonetheless.

VCD Athletic entertained Herne Bay hoping for a victory that would propel them back into the top five, and Charlie MacDonald gave them a perfect start, scoring from the spot after five minutes. It was two-nil twelve minutes before the break, Dominic Odusanya getting the second; but the lead had been cancelled out before half time, Kieron Campbell pulling one back and Zak Ansah drawing them level- two goals in two minutes for the visitors. The comeback was complete five minutes after the break as Ansah got his side’s third, and Ryan Cooper made it four in the last minute.

The Green Lions of Guernsey entertained Hythe Town, and were full of confidence after only losing two of their last ten. It was two defeats in eleven by full time, but they couldn’t break the deadlock as the Cannons took a point in a nil-nil draw.

Three Bridges, with only two wins from ten matches, hosted Burgess Hill Town. Bridges could perhaps have taken comfort from the fact that away from the Green Elephants Stadium Hill had picked up only one point all season, but they’d doubled that by full time as the game ended without a goal.

Finally, Whitstable Town played host to Phoenix Sports. The Oysterboys took an early lead through Aaron Millbank, only for Jack Hopkins to draw the visitors level twelve minutes after half time. Millbank had the last word, however, getting the winner ten minutes from time.