N-N-N-N-NINETEEN for the Tags, with a wizard display

Leaders Hashtag United travelled to Tilbury looking to cement their NINETEENTH consecutive win and make the Dockers plight in the bottom four worse still- and they had the match won by half time, at which point they were four goals ahead and out of sight. Indeed they had the game won after less than half of the first half, Jermaine Francis on fifteen minutes, Pedro Carvalho on nineteen and Olly Miles on twenty two putting them three-nil up. Miles made it four, six minutes prior to half time, and soon after the restart Francis got his second of the afternoon to make it five. Chris Millar gave the Dockers faithful something to shout about, albeit quietly, pulling a goal back on the hour, but that just provoked the Tags to add a sixth, Nathan Smith with that one. Smith made it seven ten minutes from time, and right at the end Francis got his hat trick with an EIGHTH for the Tags.

Image from Nashy Photo- more here.

AFC Sudbury look to be the only side with any hope of catching the Tags, and with striker Nnamdi Nwachuku in their ranks will believe they have a chance. He managed a hat trick in the fourteen minutes before the break against Hullbridge Sports, starting with a penalty and quickly adding two more, taking his tally for the campaign to THIRTY EIGHT. That turned out to be that, the Yellows staying second, seven points behind the leaders.

Another side to have their match won by half time were third place Lowestoft Town, who travelled to relegation fighters Coggeshall Town. It’s been up and up for the Seed Growers in the last few weeks, but it was all downwards in the first half against the Trawler Boys, Sam Johnson’s opener on fourteen minutes followed by a red card for the hosts Pat Ahern. Kyle Haylock made it two-nil just before the half hour, and Jake Reed added the third with half time on the horizon. Darnell Kithambo struck back for the ten men ten minutes after the restart, but that was no more than a consolation, and the Seed Growers are now seven points from safety.

Fourth place Felixstowe & Walton United found themselves up against it at Coles Park, where New Salamis found their form once more. Louie Remi put the hosts ahead on fourteen minutes, and Ryan Hervel added a second, only for Joe Whight to half the arrears for the visitors right before the break. Almost immediately from kick off Remi added a third for Salamis, but Andy Fennell marked his Seasiders debut with a goal on sixty six minutes to give his side hope of salvaging a point, shortly after the dismissal of Ryan Herval for the hosts- and they levelled with nine minutes remaining, Zak Ford with the equaliser. Could they get a winner? No- and not only could they not, but the ten men took the points as Remi finished off his hat trick, before Noel Aitkens saw red for the visitors. Salamis are ninth, the Seasiders stay fourth.

Heybridge Swifts, in fifth place at kick off, travelled to a fast-improving Gorleston and found themselves two behind at the break, Connor Ingram and Jacek Zielonka with the goals for the Greens. The visitors made a game of it when Quba Gordon got one back with twenty five minutes remaining, but with the next goal all-important it went to the hosts, Ross Gilfedder with a third with only eight minutes left. The Greens open up a five point gap over the bottom four.

Wroxham and Grays Athletic, both in good form as the Essex side arrived on the Norfolk Broads, couldn’t manage a goal between them in the first half. Another forty minutes went by goalless, and then a penalty to Athletic was converted by Sam Bantick- and right at the end the visitors got another, Damani Hunter making it two and ensuring that his side ended the day in the top five.

Five without a win and hoping to get their promotion chances back on track, Stowmarket Town travelled to East Thurrock United and went ahead just after a quarter of an hour, Alfie Cutbush cutting through the Rocks defence. Harry Hope delivered an equaliser right at the end, but there was still time for a winner, and it went to the visitors, Luke Upson sealing three points for Stow.

Seven unbeaten, Brentwood Town travelled to Maldon & Tiptree looking to make it eight- and two early goals from Solomon Ogunwomoju and Flavio Jumo meant they looked comfortable with only a quarter of an hour gone. That turned out to be that, and the Blues are tenth, the Jammers down in fourteenth after a run of only one win from their last eight.

Managerless Bury Town, who hadn’t scored in six matches, managed a goal in twelve minutes of their clash at Basildon United- but sadly for the travelling faithful it was at the wrong end. The Bees doubled their advantage by scoring one themselves, Michael Salako making it two just after the half hour, but the visitors finally managed a goal of their own with twenty three minutes remaining, Cemal Ramadan making a game of it. It mattered little, Anisius Lewis soon adding a third for the Bees, who are now thirteen points clear of the bottom four and have surely put any relegation fears behind them after a third consecutive win.

Witham Town welcomed a Great Wakering Rovers side who were without a win since October 8th. Witham’s man of the moment, Michael Bareck, got his fifth goal in six matches to give his side an early lead, but Rovers struck back and were ahead at the break, Jacob Bland and Perry Dunn giving them hope. Rovers wait for a win looked as if it would have to go on even longer, however, as Rash Salau grabbed an equaliser with six minutes left, only five minutes after entering from the bench. Liam Whipps was then dismissed for the hosts, and perhaps that proved critical, as Warren Keyembe came on from the bench and immediately converted a penalty to give Wakering a crucial win. Tey stay bottom, but seven points from safety.

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