Millers increase their lead as the Jammers clip the Gulls wings

Millers increase their lead as the Jammers clip the Gulls wings

Our leaders, Aveley, have opened up a gap over nearest challengers Canvey Island and Stowmarket Town- and they increased it to five points (eight points over Town) with a crushing victory at Witham Town. Witham have had their moments of late, and had another after thirteen minutes, Adam Vyse putting them ahead, but the Millers were not shocked for long, equalising thirteen minutes later through a Ryan Scott header, and were ahead six minutes before the break as Garrett Kelly headed home for two-one. It was three-one- and a third header for the Millers- almost immediately after the restart, Scott with his second of the afternoon, and when George Sykes made it four-one (this time not a header!) nine minutes from time there was no way back for the hosts. The gap got even bigger, as there was still time for Jon Benton to get a fifth.

Canvey Island hosted Maldon & Tiptree in perhaps our match of the day, and those watching on were treated to two early goals, Evans Kouassi opening the scoring for the Gulls in the very first minute and Shomari Barnwell continuing his hot streak in front of goal with an equaliser six minutes later. The home fans wouldn’t have found much to be happy about in the first half, as eleven minutes before the break Lordon Akolbire put the Jammers ahead, and then almost immediately Robert Clark made it three-one- this one from his own half, rather remarkably! Barnwell continued his hot streak with another right at the end, a cross shot into the bottom corner giving him his eighth goal in his last four matches. The Jammers are only three points behind the play off places, with a game in hand.

Rob Clark is pictured- and snapper Roy Warner actually managed to capture the goal, so must have expected such fireworks!

Stowmarket needed to pick themselves up from that last minute defeat at Parkside last weekend, as they welcome relegation-threatened Barking- and they were ahead almost immediately, Josh Mayhew scoring in the third minute. Willie Clemons made it two with his fifth goal in eight games just after the half hour, and then Barking grabbed the initiative, Kenedi Dariri getting a goal back just before the hour and Sam Shaban equalising three minutes from time. That was that- a point which doesn’t help Stow all that much but might be crucial to the Blues, who remain second bottom, but only three points behind Witham Town.

Brentwood Town, in fourth at start of play, were walloped at Dereham in midweek, a run of three consecutive wins coming to a crashing end- but were in front early at Bury Town, that man Tom Richardson doing what he does best- for the twenty ninth time this season, and third time against these opponents. The visiting Blues weren’t ahead for long, as the hosting Blues hit back eight minutes later, Joe White with the goal- but Richardson was a thorn in their side once more, restoring the visitors lead ten minutes before the break. That turned out to be the end of the goal action, and it keeps Brentwood fourth, and three points ahead of the chasing pack. Andy Freeman ended the day by giving some of the fans a lift home!

Fifth played eighth as Grays Athletic welcomed Hashtag United to Parkside. Five minutes after the break the hosts broke the deadlock, Lewis Clark with the opener, but the Tags weren’t downhearted and Ben Brookes drew them level seven minutes later. With fourteen minutes remaining it was advantage Grays, Anointed Chukwu restoring their lead, and they held on to take the points and hold on to fifth place.

Dereham Town travelled to Coggeshall Town knowing that a positive result might just see them end the weekend in the top five, but they fell behind ten minutes before the break, Tariq Issa giving the Seed Growers the lead. They were soon level, however, Adam Hipperson with the equaliser, and then took the lead with only twelve minutes remaining, Shaun Bammant getting their second. Dan Barton special agent made sure of three points with the third goal, just before the end and with his first touch since coming on as a sub. They are two points behind fifth place Grays, three behind Brentwood Town.

Felixstowe and Walton United had lost three of their last four and needed a win at relegation-threatened Great Wakering Rovers if they were to get their play off bid back on track. Ollie Canfer- it always seems to be Ollie Canfer- gave them the lead on the half hour, and they were two up five minutes later, Armani Schaar doubling their advantage. Rovers really needed to get something from the match, and they got a goal back on sixty six minutes, Louie Arrowsmith halving the deficit, but United restored their two goal advantage with twelve minutes left through Zak Brown, and just needed to hold on. Rovers made the closing stages exciting by scoring a second with two minutes remaining, Charlie Morris with the goal, but there was no time for an equaliser.

AFC Sudbury’s were three games without a win as they welcomed Hullbridge Sports, their visitors desperate for points to escape the bottom three. The Yellows took the lead on twelve minutes, the ever-dependable Correy Davidson opening the scoring, but Sports were soon level, Freddie Hockey with the equaliser- and nine minutes after the break George Smith put the visitors ahead. That was that, and those points give Sports a three point cushion over the bottom three- and a better goal difference.

Heybridge Swifts welcomed Tilbury. Swifts had gone off the boil a little, whilst the Dockers had looked much improved with only one defeat in their last four, and it was the visitors who forced themselves ahead on twenty one minutes, and then doubled that advantage just after the half hour, Brian Moses looking down from his lofty perch to score both of them. The hosts halved the arrears just before the hour, Jack Adlington-Pile getting one back on his hundredth Swifts appearance, but that spurred the Dockers to new heights, and Jamal Allen got number three eighteen minutes from time. Again Swifts were roused from their slumber, and Ben Sartain made it two-three. Could they? They could. Lionel Ainsworth got an equaliser just before the end, and stay five points ahead of their visitors.

Relegated Romford hosted Basildon United. The Bees knew that they could find themselves in the bottom three if they lost, and whilst Romford hadn’t won a league match since mid October they did defeat these opponents when the two last met, in the Velocity Trophy at the end of November. Perhaps Boro were suddenly fearless, but they went ahead after seven minutes through Tami Ogunnowo- but the visitors drew level five minutes before the break, Dan McCullock with the equaliser. The breakthrough didn’t come for either side, and the Bees are three points above the drop zone.

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