Millers hit back to ground Hawks

By Peter Butcher

AVELEY produced the comeback of the night in Ryman North yesterday (Tuesday), wiping out a 3-1 deficit to snatch a 4-3 victory at Harlow.

Reece Dobson gave the Hawks an early lead and, although Paul Burnett equalised three minutes before the break, a fine strike by Aaron Gayle restored Harlow’s advantage before the teams headed for the dressing rooms. When Danny Brown made it 3-1 after 53 minutes Harlow looked comfortable. But Jordan Cox replied three minutes later and also made it 3-3 with nine minutes left. Junior Dadson broke clear to win it in the 88th minute.

The nine matches in the division yielded a total of 38 goals, six of them at Cheshunt where Waltham Forerst went down 4-2 after leading at half-time. The hosts, impressive winners at Sudbury on Saturday, took a second-minute lead though Tony Burke only for Manu Dagher and Courntey White to hit back for Forest. Lee Brennan equalised early in the second half, Burke put the Ambers ahead with a 77th-minute penalty and David Hicks made sure.

Grays lead the table after their 4-1 home win over Brentwood. Junior Baker’s 25th-minute goal (he is pictured at the bottom of the celebrating heap: pic by Mikey Cartwright/ponderosapics.photoshelter.com)put Grays ahead and Craig Pope added another with 17 minutes left. That triggered a late flurry of goals, with Steve Butterworth pulling one back before Jack West and Pope sealed the points for the hosts.

Joining Grays and Cheshunt on maximum points are Witham, for whom Billy Hunt’s 39th-minute effort was enough for a 1-0 victory at Wroxham in the battle of the promoted clubs. That disappointed most in the crowd of 321 for the first Ryman League game ever played in Norfolk.

Two Newson goals are usually enough to send Needham Market fans home happy. Last night, though, it was not their prolific scorer Sam who made his mark. Instead, it was Heybridge’s Ben Newson who scored in the 12th and 22nd minutes, the second an overhead kick, to set up a 2-2 draw. James Hubbard had given the Marketmen an early lead and he also scored their second five minutes after the break.

Sudbury’s unhappy start continued with a 3-1 defeat at Maldon, where Vinny Durrant put the hosts ahead soon after the interval. Lee Boylan’s goal on the hour seemed to have given Sudbury a point, but Dave Wareham scored against his old club with four minutes to go and Ben Bradbury added another.

Two Ashley Probets penalties helped Thamesmead to a comfortable 3-1 victory over visitors Romford. They came after 14 and 51 minutes, in between which Enoch Adjei found the target in the 19th minute. Romford had to settle for a late consolation effort from Nick Reynolds.

Waltham Abbey held on to beat Ware 2-1 after taking a 2-0 half-time lead through Loren Maxwell and James Peagram. Shane Wyllie put the visitors back in the game after 66 minutes but they could not draw level.

James Gershfield’s third goal of the season gave Potters Bar a tenth-minute lead at Tilbury only for Danny Francis to reply within a minute. He struck again two minutes after the break, but Dockers then had a man sent off and a Sam West own goal gave the Scholars a 2-2 draw.

Where next?

Chats draw level at the top CHATHAM drew level with Grays at the top of Ryman North with a 3-1 victory at Ilford tonight (Wednesday). Both have six points and 7-1 goal records - and they meet at Grays on Monday provided neither club has an FA Cup replay.
Four-goal K's on top for now KINGSTONIAN (pictured by Andy Nunn celebrating one of their goals) moved to the top of the Ryman Premier table, at least for 24 hours, with a 4-2 home win over Harrow tonight (Monday).

The Pitching In Isthmian Football League newsletter

Keep up-to-date with our exclusive email newsletters.

Subscribe