Millers march on, Gulls keep pace, and Romford go down

Our big match today came from Parkside, as leaders Aveley welcomed third place Stowmarket Town. The Millers would have been delighted when Joe Benton gave them the lead as early as the fourth minute, but it wasn’t long before Chris Casement equalised for the visitors, who started the day three points behind their hosts but with two games in hand. The winning goal came right at the end, and it was heartbreak for Stow, as Benton got his second of the game to make it two-one and seal what could be an absolutely crucial victory. Town remain third, but will have to score rather freely in their two additional matches to come close to the Millers goal difference.

Canvey Island were on the road to Play Off chasing Dereham Town, knowing that a win could possibly send them back to the top. The Magpies also needed the points to help in their chase for a top five spot, but they were undone just before the end, Matthew Price grabbing his twenty eighth goal of the season to keep his side two points behind the Millers.

Brentwood Town looked down and out at half time in their match with Witham Town. The relegation-fighting visitors were two up by the break, Ramiah Mills and Josh Osude with the goals, but the hosting Blues then mounted a spirited fight back and had turned the match on its head within twenty second half minutes, Jai Reason, Connor Hogan and Ashley Nzala- the latter from the spot- seeing them take the lead. That leaves them in fourth place, and perhaps more importantly opens up a four point gap on sixth place Hashtag United, who have played a game more.

Image courtesy of Brentwood Town.

Grays Athletic were on the road to Tilbury for a derby, having seen their play off chances hit by two consecutive defeats, and they looked to have suffered a third as Charles Brown scored from the spot for the Dockers five minutes from time. Right at the end, however, Callum Leahy grabbed an equaliser to keep his side in the top five.

Hashtag United welcomed Great Wakering Rovers, hoping to climb back into the play off places, but it was Rovers who struck first, Morisi Gelashvili putting them ahead eighteen minutes from time. Thomas Stagg got an equaliser for the hosts two minutes from time, but is it a point gained or two dropped for the Tags?

Felixstowe and Walton United needed to put two defeats behind them and get their promotion charge back on track, and they hosted a Romford side who, on paper, didn’t look likely to stop them- but Boro knew that anything but victory would be likely to see them become the first Pitching In Isthmian side to be relegated this season, so needed to find a win from somewhere. Romford didn’t do themselves any favours when Joshua Exley Banks saw red early on, but the Seasiders joined them on ten men just before the break when Curtley Williams also took an early shower. The opening goal of the game went to Zak Brown for the hosts ten minutes after the restart, and the same player got a second eleven minutes from time. We will therefore soon bid a fond farewell to Boro, and hope to see them back with us soon.

Maldon & Tiptree managed to be both ahead and behind as they hosted Coggeshall Town. The Jammers saw Shomari Barnwell put them ahead on twenty one minutes, but after the break Alex Teniola, formerly of the Jammers local rivals Heybridge Swifts, struck twice to put the Seed Growers ahead. They were ahead for nine minutes before Barnwell drew the hosts level, and with the next goal all-important, it went to the hosts, Bryan Ifeanyi getting the winner four minutes from time. Three points leaves them only three points behind the top five, and they do have a game in hand.

Barking welcomed AFC Subdury, the Blues knowing that they needed a win to stay in touch at the wrong end of the table. They opened the scoring five minutes before the break, Sam Shaban with the goal, and that turned out to be the only one of the match, a result which leaves them four points from safety.

Bury Town travelled to relegation-threatened Basildon United and poured weed killer on the Bees survival hopes with a first half one-two, Cemal Ramadan putting them ahead from the spot and Jake Chambers-Shaw following up with a second. Ross Crane made sure of three points by getting a third goal, ten minutes from time, and leaves the Bees only two points above third bottom Hullbridge Sports.

Sports welcomed Heybridge Swifts and did their survival hopes a power of good, Roland Oteniya opening the scoring on forty nine minutes and Tony Stokes securing victory seventeen minutes from time. Sports are now behind Witham Town only on goal difference.

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