Nearly there for Worthing, whilst at the bottom two points separate the bottom five

Our leaders, Worthing, knew they could win the league this weekend, although that would have required a win for them over Haringey Borough and for their three nearest challengers to lose, the second of which was rather unlikely. The Mackerel Men did their bit, however. They couldn’t break the deadlock in the first half, but were given a boost early in the second as Georgios Aresti saw red for the visitors. They took almost immediate advantage, Callum Kealey putting them ahead from close range, and held on for victory in front of a crowd of one thousand, three hundred and fifty. Ten points ahead with only four games remaining, victory at Bowers & Pitsea next Saturday will hand them the trophy, and the promotion they deserve.

Our headline image is courtesy of the club- probably from the lens of Marcus Hoare.

Bishop’s Stortford, fresh from winning our Performance of the Month award for their win over the Mackerel Men, are leading the play off charge. Visitors Folkestone Invicta had fallen out of the top five after three consecutive defeats and four games without a win, whilst the Blues were unbeaten since January 8th, so it was no surprise when Stortford took the lead after half an hour, Frankie Merrifield volleying home the opener. Merrifield doubled their advantage on sixty four minutes, his twentieth goal of the campaign, and the same player finished things off, getting his hat trick from the spot right at the end. The Blues have an eleven point lead over Invicta, who are in sixth, with only twelve still available.

Enfield Town welcomed Horsham to Donkey Lane, looking to secure a sixth consecutive victory. It took sixty eight minutes for a goal to arrive, and it went to the Towners, Jeremiah Gyebi putting them ahead with his head- and that was enough to make it eighteen points from eighteen, and open up a five point gap over fourth place Hornchurch as they jockey for home play off advantage.

Hornchurch welcomed Bognor Regis Town to the east end of the District Line. The Urchins had only one defeat in ten, and were quickly ahead in this one, Tom Wraight continuing his hot streak in front of goal when scoring from the spot after nine minutes- his sixteenth goal in twenty matches. Bognor seem to have finally found some consistency and had three victories from four under new boss Robbie Blake, and they drew level on twenty minutes, Calvin Davies getting the equaliser. Liam Nash quickly restored home advantage, but Davies, perhaps confusing himself with a centre forward, got his second of the game to draw his side level nine minutes before the break. The parity didn’t last, however, as Wraight got yet another chance from the spot just before the interval, and again he took it.

Bognor weren’t prepared to roll over, and they were level for a third time nine minutes after the break, this time with a goal from Charlie Bell, letting Davies have a rest. That turned out to be that, and both had to settle for a point each. Hornchurch are fourth, Bognor eleventh.

Lewes, having finally got themselves back into the top five, fell behind early on- indeed, very early on, as Antonis Vasiliou opened the scoring for Wingate and Finchley in the very first minute, shocking the Dripping Pan into brief silence. You could perhaps have heard the proverbial pin drop when the same player made it two-nil on twenty minutes, but the Rooks then woke up and charged back into the match, Razz Coleman De Graft getting one back seven minutes later, Michael Klass equalising eight minutes before the break. The next goal was critical, and it went to the visitors, Dylan Kearney putting the Blues in front once more, and despite the best efforts of the home side the points headed back to North London.

Lewes stay fifth, but they’ll be looking over their shoulders in alarm at the rise of Cheshunt. The Ambers have been in super form of late, and their good run continued at Bowers & Pitsea.
Kayne Diedrick-Roberts broke the deadlock with the fifth goal of his Ambers campaign, five minutes after half time, and as we entered the last few minutes they suddenly hit top gear, Rowan Liburd making it two- number seventeen for the campaign- and Reece Beckles-Richards getting his fifteenth of the season to make it three. That’s six wins from their last seven for Craig Edwards’ men, and only one defeat in eleven- that coming against the champions-elect- and perhaps more importantly they are only two points behind the two sides above them, with two games in hand over both of them!

Kingstonian, starting the weekend in eighth place, seemed finally to have emerged from their malaise, unbeaten in three- whilst opponents Carshalton Athletic seemed to have entered one- but it was the Robins who struck first, Danny Bassett getting his nineteenth of the campaign. That looked to be the only goal of the game, but deep, deep into added time Ollie Cook managed to get an equaliser for the hosts. Interestingly, both goals came from penalty rebounds after both were saved.

Margate celebrated their one hundred and twenty fifth anniversary with the visit of Potters Bar Town, but there would only have been celebrations in the away end when Joseph Boachie gave the Scholars the lead twenty minutes from time. That was that, and the Bar Army will hit the bars of Margate in positive mood.

Next up, we had three battles for survival- and we now have only two points between the bottom five!

Corinthian-Casuals had seen their form desert them in recent weeks, and indeed hadn’t won a match since January 15th, but they took a crucial three points today, winning at Brightlingsea Regent. Bayley Mummary got the goal, six minutes from time, a result which sees the hosts stay out of the bottom three only on goal difference. Casuals are thirteenth, and surely safe.

East Thurrock United, starting the day second from bottom, welcomed a side three points and three places better off, Merstham. The Rocks had won their last two matches and given themselves hope, whilst the Moatsiders had lost nine of their last ten and are were in far the worst form of any of the sides in the bottom five, so it was no surprise when United took the lead, Jack Morell scoring two minutes before the break. The hosts doubled their advantage thirteen minutes after the break, Ollie Miles continuing his fine form with his ninth goal in fourteen matches, and that result lifted United up a place, behind their visitors- and Regent- only on goal difference.

Bottom side Leatherhead welcomed third bottom Cray Wanderers. With three wins from four Leatherhead have looked full of self-belief of late, but they fell behind with twenty one minutes remaining, Ethan Kaiser giving Wands a bit of magic. The Tanners drew level ten minutes from time with a Louie Paget spot kick, but they really needed three points- could they get them? They could! They’ve become very good at scoring late goals, and they got another, Max Worsfold getting the winner a minute from time. They stay bottom, but close to within two points of safety. If Luke Tuffs can save their season he deserves his own statue outside Fetcham Grove!

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