Marlow confirm home advantage, whilst the Chips cling on by their fingernails

South Park (Reigate) were looking to undermine Marlow’s grip on second place, and the Sparks broke the deadlock on nineteen minutes, Craig McGee with the opener- but they weren’t ahead for long, Ben Mulley scoring for the third match in a row for the visitors. That looked to be that, but this Marlow side never seems to give up, and six minutes into added time Chris Ovenden made it two-one and three points to the visitors, whose goal difference will surely ensure that they finish second.

Hanworth Villa welcomed a Leatherhead side who were searching for three points and hoping for second place, but it was the Villains who went ahead just after the hour, Kyen Nicholas opening the scoring. Villa then broke through the best defence in the division a second time on sixty seven minutes, Sam Mead making it two-nil, but Tanners skipper Kenny Beaney quickly got his side back into the match from the spot. That turned out to be the limit of their comeback, however, and they are three points behind Marlow with only one match left, and such is the goal difference advantage held by their rivals that third will be the best the Tanners can manage.

Hartley Wintney played host to fourth place Southall, the Row on a run of one win from ten- and it looked rather like they were about to add another negative result to that list as Jaden Thompson-Brissett gave the All the lead after just eight minutes. The same player doubled the lead just after the half hour, and ten minutes from time victory was confirmed as William Montague added a third. The All have confirmed their play off spot- and could yet finish third.

Ashford Town (Middx) and Westfield both needed points, albeit for different reasons, and it was the fifth place visitors who broke the deadlock twelve minutes into the second half, Jordan Alves with his thirteenth of the season, certainly unlucky for the Tangerines. Westfield went two up seven minutes from time, Alfie Huckle giving them some daylight, and they held onto that lead to ensure they held onto fifth place, now two points ahead of sixth place Raynes Park Vale with a game in hand. The Tangerines are only three points clear of Chipstead in the battle to avoid relegation, although they have a better goal difference.

Binfield had climbed out of the bottom two for the first time since September with a fourth win from five in midweek, whilst visitors Raynes Park Vale had slipped out of the top five, so both sides needed victory in this one. As it turned out, neither side managed victory, and neither side managed a goal, which suited the Moles more than their visitors. Binfield are now three points clear of Chipstead, so a draw in their final match will ensure their survival.

Chipstead, who had fallen into the bottom two after Binfield’s great escape efforts, needed to win against Thatcham Town at High Road- but the Chips had a disastrous start, Jordi Ebanda putting the Kingfishers ahead after just six minutes. It quickly got worse, William Ramirez making it two-nil four minutes later, and on thirty three minutes the Chips certainly looked down, Sam Tanner with a third for the visitors. That was how it ended, and it sees the Chips hanging on by their fingernails, needing to win at Southall next weekend whilst hoping that Binfield lose against Uxbridge- or that Ashford Town are hammered at Met Police, or that Guernsey lose each of their final three matches.

Corinthian-Casuals already knew that they were relegated, and it looked to have relaxed them in the early stages against Uxbridge, Quade Taylor opening the scoring for the side in pink and brown on twelve minutes. The hosts looked as if they’d reach the break ahead, but Uxbridge had other ideas, and levelled in added time through Andrio Brandao. Casuals restored their lead just after the hour mark, Aderi Arthur-Dede with his eighth in thirteen matches, and the hosts received a further boost when George Legg was dismissed for the visitors. They made the most of that, adding a third and a fourth in added time, Taylor and Arthur-Dede both completing a brace to make it four-two, Mahlondo Martin scoring for Uxbridge in between those strikes.

Ascot United played host to a Metropolitan Police side who weren’t quite safe, but the Boys in Blue struck first and struck early, Mason Galloway opening the scoring on twelve minutes. Galloway had another six minutes before half time, and the visitors held onto that lead to ensure their survival.

Sutton Common Rovers welcomed champions Chertsey Town, the Curfews finally making the breakthrough just after the hour, Chad Goulter with the goal- and they quickly had another, Reece Robins making it two. That takes them to ninety seven points, with only Badshot Lea standing between them and a century!

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