Pitching In Isthmian Performance of the Month Awards, December 2022

We had some fine football during December despite the month being rather weather interrupted, and after some deliberation here are our Performance of the Month award winners.

Pitching In Isthmian Premier

On Boxing Day Pitching In Isthmian Premier leaders Hornchurch arrived at the R&D Advisors Stadium to take on their closest challengers, Bishop’s Stortford. The Urchins took an early lead through Liam Nash, and it appeared as if they would be strengthening their position at the top- but it turned out that the opposite was true. The Blues levelled just before the break, Ollie Peters with the goal- and in the second half the home side ran riot, crashing home three more goals to deliver an incredibly impressive four-one win and take our prize. Ryan Henshaw, Jonny Giles and Frankie Merrifield were their second half scorers, and the result took the Blues to within a point of their visitors.

Pitching In Isthmian North

If we gave out a ‘most improved team of the month’ award then we suspect we’d be off to the Norfolk Broads, but we’re heading there anyway, to honour Wroxham’s win over Stowmarket Town. When Stow tied up at the home of the Yachtsmen on Boxing Day they were defending an unbeaten league record that stretched back more than four months- to August 16th- but their hosts weren’t at all afraid of that, and emerged triumphant, goals from Brad Spooner and Shaun Taylor the difference as their side made it six matches unbeaten.

Congratulations to all in Waterworld!

Pitching In Isthmian South Central

Basingstoke Town had won four matches in a row before Guernsey came to call on Saturday 3rd December, and everyone expected that the winning run would be increased to five. Town didn’t disappoint, but perhaps far fewer people expected that they’d deliver the biggest win in Pitching In Isthmian South Central this season, hammering the Green Lions by eight goals to nil. Benjamin Cook, Brody Peart and James Clark made it three-nil at half time, and after the break Clark, and own goal, and a fourteen minute hat trick from Bradley Wilson took the score up to eight. Many congratulations to all at the club.

Pitching In Isthmian South East Division

Boxing Day is derby day, and one of the most eagerly awaited derbies came at Jubilee Field, home of Three Bridges, where the hosts welcomed promotion-chasing Whitehawk. Bridges had slipped into the bottom four, whilst the Hawks were fourth, so the travelling faithful may have had hope of three important points- but perhaps they’d have been less confident had they looked in detail at the league table! If we looked at home matches alone then Three Bridges would not only be far removed from the relegation spots, they’d be in the top three- above the likes of leaders Ramsgate, Cray Valley, Beckenham Town and Ashford United- and their home form once again delivered them three valuable points. Early goals from Curtis Gayler and Noel Leighton gave them an early lead, and although the Hawks hit back to equalise, the second half saw the hosts take the points, Kieron Pamment with the winner.

Many congratulations to Bridges, both for this result and for making their home a fortress!

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