Scholars rout Rooks, Hornets make it six, whilst Magpies and Woods end our last unbeaten records

Worthing welcomed Cray Wanderers, and our leaders took the lead just after the half hour, Ollie Pearce with his sixteenth of the season- and then doubled their advantage two minutes before the break as Danny Barker gave Wands an uphill challenge. The second half saw no further goals, and the Mackerel Men end the day five points clear at the top.

Image: Marcus Hoare.

Enfield Town, in second place as we started, hosted Folkestone Invicta, five points behind in sixth. Michael Everitt gave Invicta the lead after a quarter of an hour, but Mo Faal did what Mo Faal always does and drew the Towners level almost immediately- he’s already scored more goals than we have fingers and toes, this being his twenty first of the season. Adam Yusuff silenced the home contingent amongst the five hundred and one watching on by restoring the visitors lead on the half hour, and David Smith got number three for the visitors twenty one minutes from time.

Sam Youngs got it back to two-three with sixteen minutes left, but the equaliser didn’t arrive and Invicta climb to third.

The first goal of our Premier afternoon came at Margate, and it went to Margate. Calvin Ekpiteta, who you may remember being rather prolific for Merstham not so long ago, opened the scoring against Cheshunt after just five minutes, and they held that advantage for sixty six minutes before the Ambers drew level, Rowan Liburd with the equaliser. Vance Bola restored the home advantage with twelve minutes left only for Liburd to equalise again a minute from time and earn the Ambers a point. Cheshunt end the day in fourth.

Lewes, starting the day in third place, hosted Potters Bar Town- and the Scholars silenced the Dripping Pan by taking the lead on seven minutes, a goal from Luke Joyce-Dwarika doing the damage. The silence must have been funereal before the break, as the same player made it two before the half hour and Samson Esan got a third in the forty first minute. The Rooks hit back immediately after the break, Taylor Maloney with his ninth of the season- was the comeback on? An Ollie Tanner red card made any prospect of that rather more difficult, and so it proved, as Esan made it four and Joseph Boachie got number five seven minutes from time. The Rooks slip to fifth.

Bishop's Stortford took the lead against Carshalton Athletic on sixteen minutes, Johnville Renee opening the scoring, but the equaliser arrived just after the hour, Lewis White with his eighth of the season. A point each was the outcome.

Hornchurch welcomed Kingstonian to Bridge Avenue, and the K’s gave their hosts an early Christmas present when scoring an own goal on sixteen minutes. Daniel Ajakaiye drew them level nine minutes before the break, the former Hastings man with his thirteenth of the campaign, but the next goal went the way of the Urchins, Tom Wraight fifteen minutes from time ensuring that the hosts got the points.

Corinthian-Casuals, celebrating Socrates, could have done with the Brazilian giant as they fell behind against Wingate & Finchley on twenty five minutes, Dylan Kearney opening the scoring, but they were level on the hour, Kieron Cadogan scoring from the spot. That was that.

Haringey Borough, without a win since September 25th, went ahead against Bognor Regis Town, Alfred Bawling opening the scoring on twenty five minutes- but they weren’t ahead for long, Nathan Odokonyero levelling for the Rocks. Bawling put the hosts ahead again just before the hour mark, the occasion undoubtedly marked with the sound of cow bells, but again the Rocks hit back, Odokonyero the second man with a brace at Coles Park. Borough then went ahead for the third time, Jorge Djassi-Sambu with the fifth goal of the afternoon, but again they couldn’t hold on, James Crane equalising two minutes from time. That’s eight draws from seventeen games for Bognor, seven for Borough, so perhaps we shouldn’t have been surprised by the outcome.

Merstham hosted Horsham, the Hornets having to worry about the Manager of the Month curse and (although we’re not sure this one actually exists) the Golden Gloves Award curse, having won both of them yesterday for their performances during November. They didn’t seem all that cursed when Jack Brivio put them ahead on nine minutes, or when Lee Harding made it two- and although Korrey Henry got one back from the spot with fifteen minutes left Eddie Dsane made sure of three points with goal three three minutes from time. That’s six league wins in a row for the Hornets, who are thirteenth.

East Thurrock United and Bowers & Pitsea met at Rookery Hill, and Daniel Trendall broke the deadlock for Bowers midway through the first half before doubling it soon afterwards. The visitors made it difficult for themselves when sub Ben Sartain saw red two minutes from time, but there wasn’t time for the Rocks to take advantage.

Our big game at the bottom saw Leatherhead host Brightlingsea Regent. The visitors went ahead nine minutes before the break, Carlos Cachicote de Rocha with the opener, and went two up with twenty one minutes left, Connor Barnby making it an uphill struggle for the Tanners. Regent held on to increase the gap between the two to five points- and jump ahead of Cray Wanderers to go twentieth.

Pitching In Isthmian North

Leaders Canvey Island picked up their third Manager of the Month Award in three months- pictured- as they hosted second place Dereham Town, and there had been no curse so far, but the Magpies looked to have brought it with them as Shaun Bammant put them ahead on eighteen minutes. That turned out to be the only goal of the game, Town becoming the first team all season to inflict league defeat on the Gulls, and going level on points with their hosts at the top.

AFC Sudbury hosted managerless Barking, and took the lead seven minutes before the break, Luke Hipkin beating Eddie Allan in the Blues goal to the joy of most of the four hundred and sixty three watching on. That turned out to be the only goal of the game, and the Yellows end the day in third, three points off the top.

Stowmarket Town met Aveley, both in good form, and it was the hosts who struck first in this one, Evan Collard three minutes before the break. The equaliser arrived in the fifty eighth minute, and it arrived courtesy of George Sykes, but Town moved up to fourth place right at the end when Tom Bullard found a winner. The Millers slip to sixth.

Former Tilbury striker David Knight, these days with Grays Athletic, came back to haunt his former club when opening the scoring on the spot after twenty five minutes at Parkside. Aron Gordon made it two-nil just before half time, but the Dockers were back in the match eight minutes after the restart, Lee Noble halving the arrears, and level when Roman Campbell scored for his seventh match in a row with seventeen minutes left. That was that, and Athletic end the day in fifth place.

Witham Town hosted in-form Brentwood Town, the visitors arriving on the back of five consecutive league wins. They looked well on the way to number six as Tom Richardson put them ahead after twenty five minutes, and it was virtually confirmed by the break, Andy Freeman and Thompson with a second making it three-nil as they headed back to the dressing room. Richardson’s hat trick made quite sure eleven minutes from time, as Brentwood closed to within three points of the top five. Pictured is Witham mascot Lacey Mai Benfield leading the teams out.

Coggeshall Town saw former Heybridge Swifts star Alex Teniola put them ahead against his former local rivals Maldon & Tiptree, his second goal this week. Isaac Skubich made it two twelve minutes before the break, but Shomari Barnwell got the Jammers back into the match with his fifth of the season seven minutes later and right at the end the visitors grabbed a point, Napa Malachi with the equaliser.

Bury Town welcomed Basildon United, and the Bees went ahead right on the stroke of half time, Steve Sardina making the breakthrough. Right on the stroke of full time it was two, Gabriel Piorkowski seeing the Bees up to thirteenth.

Great Wakering Rovers and Hashtag United didn’t manage a goal between them in the first thirty six minutes of their match, but then managed four before half time- three of them going to the hosts, two of them in the forty fifth minute. Thomas Anderson have Rovers the lead, Eli Benoit equalised for United two minutes before the break, but any idea the visitors had of going in level were dashed when Martin Tuohy made it two and Ben Brookes got number three. The next goal went the way of the Tags, Toby Aromolaran thirteen minutes after the break, and the equaliser arrived eight minutes later, Jesse Waller-Lassen’s sixth of the season coming from the spot. Who would win? Well that was the visitors, a last minute goal from Luke Hirst making it four-three and sending them up to eleventh.

Heybridge Swifts hosted bottom side Hullbridge Sports and went ahead very early, Darius Ghinea, who got two in defeating Tilbury the last time he played, putting them ahead on five minutes. By the time we were midway through the first half it was three-nil, Ghinea and Emmanuel N’Daw making it a long way back for the visitors, and it was as good as game over when Lionel Ainsworth got number four eight minutes before the break. George Smith got one back for Sports with twenty five minutes remaining, but Swifts responded with a fifth, Charlie Morris with that one. Joe Claridge and Morris with another then rubbed salt in the wound, making it seven-one and lifting Swifts to eleventh. Sports are still without a win.

Romford got back to winning ways in midweek, but were soon behind as they hosted Felixstowe & Walton United, Ollie Canfer getting his fifth of the season. It was two-nil twenty five minutes later, Armani Schaar doubling their advantage, and although Christian Adu Gyamfi got one back for the hosts deep into added time, they couldn’t escape defeat. The Seasiders are fifteenth.

Pitching In Isthmian South Central

Bracknell Town started the day five points clear at the top, and ended it with that gap extended to eight points. They were ahead on fifteen minutes against South Park, Seb Bowerman with the opener from the spot. Duncan Culley doubled their advantage just before the half time whistle, and the Robins coasted to victory.

Basingstoke Town versus Marlow looked to be one of our matches of the day, second versus sixth, but it was an own goal that broke the deadlock just after the half hour, and the advantage went the way of the visitors, silencing most of the four hundred and seventy eight watching on. They probably would have been less silent when Brad Wilson picked up a red card and made their comeback far more difficult, and the match ended with only that own goal to show for it. Marlow go fourth.

Uxbridge picked up our Performance of the Month award yesterday for their win at Chippenham Town last weekend, but Binfield caught them napping to go ahead in the twelfth minute, Ollie Harris with that goal. The Moles weren’t ahead for long, and were soon behind, Anthony Mendy’s seventeenth of the campaign drawing the hosts level and Mahlondo Martin’s tenth making it two- but it was all-square by the break, Sam Moore with the equaliser. That was that, and the hosts are now ten points behind Bracknell, in third place- albeit with two games in hand.

Chertsey Town have been virtually unassailable this season, but Northwood shocked the home crowd by going ahead in the ninth minute, Micah Jackson opening the scoring. The shock was doubled along with the scoreline five minutes after the break, Ryan Young making it two, and the Curfews unbeaten league record looked in real jeopardy, but they had hope soon afterwards as Manolis Gogonas got one back and equalised on sixty six minutes, talisman Jake Baxter with that one. Surely they’d go on to win? Well, no. Instead Sydney Ibie took control for Woods, scoring two goals to deliver a remarkable four-two win, lifting his side to sixteenth and dropping Town to fifth.

Ogo Obi’s sixteenth goal of the season put Hanwell Town ahead against Bedfont Sports, but he wasn’t the only Geordie striker on sixteen goals for long, as Tom Collins reached the same milestone when doubling their advantage just after the half hour. Dan Carr made it three seven minutes before the break, and that turned out to be that. Town are now only a point and a place behind Sports, in seventh.

Ashford Town (Middx) welcomed Guernsey, the Green Lions arriving on the back of four consecutive defeats but going ahead in this one just after the half hour, Kyle Smith with his second of the season. The Tangerines levelled just before the break, Aaron McLeish-White with his seventh of the season scoring for the third consecutive match. Ross Allen, doing what Ross Allen has always done, restored the visitors advantage six minutes after the restart, but again the hosts came back, Dan Brown creating an inferno for the Green Lions. Four minutes from time McLeish-White got the winner, and the Tangerines climbed to tenth.

Connor French fired Sutton Common Rovers ahead from the spot against Westfield, that opening goal coming on eight minutes, but the equaliser, also from the spot, went to Samir Bajja three minutes before the break- and the visitors completed the turnaround when Sam Evans made it two-one just after the hour. Anh-War Tran-West levelled for Rovers with eleven minutes remaining, but then Westfield sub Sheridan Campbell took control, scoring twice in the last two minutes to take the points back to Woking.

Chipstead welcomed managerless Staines Town, but were rather too welcoming early on, Jack Torbett putting the Swans ahead. That turned out to be the only goal of the game, and it moved Town out of the bottom two.

Tooting & Mitcham United hosted Chalfont St Peter, and the Terrors went ahead on nineteen minutes, Nathan Daly the scorer. Dan Williams doubled the home advantage with seventeen minutes remaining, and although Greg Adinna got one back with six minutes remaining the equaliser didn’t arrive. United are fourteenth, the Saints rock bottom.

Pitching In Isthmian South East

Cray Valley PM hosted Herne Bay in a battle of second versus fifth, and the Millers struck first and struck early, Marcel Barrington’s eleventh of the season putting them ahead. The advantage was doubled with twenty one minutes left, Connor Dymond with number two, and although Zak Ansah got one back five minutes from time the Millers went back to the summit with victory.

Chichester City shocked leaders Ashford United by taking the lead on the half hour, and the shock was even bigger four minutes later when they made it two-nil, Ben Mendoza and Callum Overton doing the damage. More damage was done when Jay May saw red soon after the restart, but the ten men got back into the match when Roberto Ratti scored with twenty one minutes remaining- and then levelled, Ratti with another twelve minutes from time. The Nuts and Bolts fell from the summit, however, when Scott Jones got a winner for the hosts four minutes from time.

Whitstable Town have looked much improved in recent weeks, and they shocked third place Haywards Heath Town when Tom Mills put them ahead after seven minutes. The shock got larger when Stephen Okoh made it two, and just after half time Danny Walder got in on the act, making it three as Oysterboys everywhere pinched themselves and travelling fans looked on aghast. Jerson Dos Santos got one back for Heath with twenty five minutes to go- could they? An unlikely comeback looked even more likely when Josh Clack made it three-two with twenty minutes left, but the hosts dug in and held out for three points, climbing to seventeenth.

Sittingbourne and Ramsgate featured in the only match in the entire league to be goalless at half time, and it was still goalless at full time. The Rams stay fourth, the Brickies are eighth.

Hastings United hosted a Sussex derby, East Grinstead Town visiting Pilot Field. The home fans were soon given something to shout about, Lloyd Dawes scoring the first goal on thirteen minutes, and four minutes before the break Ben Pope’s twelfth of the season made it two. Finn O’Mara as good as ended the contest with number three on fifty six minutes, but sadly it didn’t end there for the Wasps, as Tom Chalmers and Kenny Pogue got numbers four and five in the last two minutes to send United into the top five.

VCD Athletic broke the deadlock against Lancing right before half time, Youssef Bamba getting a goal for the third match in a row, and doubled their advantage eight minutes after it, Jeff Duah-Kessie, signed from local rivals Phoenix Sports, getting his first goal for the club. Bamba made it three with nineteen minutes left, and Chris Edwards got a fourth soon afterwards, and Vickers end the day in seventh.

Burgess Hill Town have been in super form of late, but it was visitors Corinthian who struck first, Jack Mahoney with the opener on eighteen minutes, and they struck second, too, Oscar Housego’s fifth of the season sealing the points five minutes from time. Corinthian are up to tenth.

Hythe Town, facing bottom side Phoenix Sports, went ahead on nineteen minutes, Jordan Sarfo getting the goal- but a late equaliser earned Sports their first point since August, Emmanuel Shoderu with the goal.

Sevenoaks Town hosted Whitehawk, and it was the Hawks, who haven’t really got going in the league this season, who took the lead early on- Alex Malins breaking the deadlock on seven minutes. Peter Gregory made it two for the visitors nine minutes after the restart, and a third from Billie Clark four minutes from time sent the visitors up to twelfth.

Three Bridges broke the deadlock against Faversham Town on nineteen minutes, Tad Bromage with the goal, but the Lilywhites were quickly level, Tyrell Richardson-Brown with a crisp finish. Bridges ninth draw of the season was confirmed with the final whistle, and the two remain level on points.

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