Seven clear for Worthing- whilst Invicta and the Ambers hit five

Leaders Worthing saw their five point lead increase to seven with a comfortable victory at Brightlingsea Regent. The Mackerel men still haven’t rediscovered their October/November form, but one player who hasn’t suffered a dip is Ollie Pearce, who yesterday got goals seventeen and eighteen for the season- the first two of the match and one in each half- with Callum Kealey with a third fourteen minutes from time. Regent didn’t manage to find a goal, and now as well as looking up will be looking down, after bottom side Leatherhead managed a stunning victory at Potters Bar Town.

Last weekend Potters Bar Town were walloping Lewes at the Dripping Pan, and with only two defeats from ten perhaps were less than worried by the arrival of the managerless Tanners, but if so, they should have been. A seven goal thriller at the LA Construction Stadium saw the visitors come from behind three times and then grab a winner in the very last minute. Devonte Aransibia opened the scoring for the Scholars on just seven minutes, Eddie Carrington equalising on twenty, and then a double from Samson Esan put the hosts firmly in the driving seat as we approached the break. Matthew Bentley reduced the arrears right on the stroke of half time, but with eleven minutes to go in the match the Scholars were still in the driving seat. Alex Sami drew the visitors level, however, and then just as it thought we’d have a point each, Bentley got his second of the day- and the winner.

Folkestone Invicta hosted one of our other draw specialists, Haringey Borough- but the visitors didn’t even get close to a draw this time out, as Invicta stuck five goals past them. Scott Heard, Adam Yusuff and David Smith put their side three up at half time, whilst Smith and Yusuff got another goal apiece after the break. That’s eleven without a win for Borough, fifteen goals for the season for Smith, fourteen for Yusuff, and second place for Invicta.

Enfield Town still have a game in hand over the leaders, but slipped to third with a draw at Bognor Regis Town. The Rocks have now drawn fifty percent of their matches this season, but it took a late goal from Jordy Mongoy to earn that point. The Towners were down to ten men by then, following the dismissal of Harold Joseph, but were two-one up, Mo Faal with two goals on nine and thirteen minutes, Nathan Odokonyero getting the first for the Rocks eight minutes before half time.

Cheshunt are having a fine season. The Ambers, in fourth and now an incredible ten games unbeaten, hosted a Corinthian-Casuals side who arrived unbeaten in six- but they didn’t ever look like extending that run to seven as Cheshunt walloped five goals past them. Rowan Liburd got a hat trick, which takes him up to a rather amazing eight goals in five matches, and in between Liburd’s second and third Taylor Miles and Reece Beckles-Richards also struck for the hosts. Kieron Cadogan got a consolation for the Casuals, but it wasn’t much of a consolation, really. Headline image from Stuart Tree, who must have wanted to look the other way.

Bishop’s Stortford are on an even better run that Cheshunt, and have now gone twelve league matches and more than two months unbeaten. They travelled to Cray Wanderers, and got the only goal of the game to remain in fifth place. Anthony Church scored it, eight minutes before the break, and the Blues remain a point ahead of Lewes in the final playoff place.

Lewes, who were rather unexpectedly walloped last time out, travelled to face a Bowers & Pitsea side who had lost only one of their last five. It’s now two of six, as the Len Salmon faithful saw the Rooks run out comfortable winners- although that comfort only arrived in the last ten minutes. A Joe Taylor penalty on seventeen minutes- his seventeenth goal of the season- gave the Rooks the lead, but it took until ten minutes from time before they increased it, Bradley Pritchard with number two. Taylor Maloney got their third just four minutes later, and James White got a goal back for the hosts four minutes from time. The Rooks are sixth, their hosts seventeenth.

Kingstonian have slipped out of the top five in recent weeks, but the K’s do have as many as three matches in hand over the teams above them. They hosted Margate, who had picked up only two points from their last fifteen, and now it’s two points from eighteen as Kingstonian came from behind for victory. Ben Greenhalgh gave the Blues a tenth minute lead, and they held it until five minutes after the break when Elliott Buchanan equalised- and after that an own goal and another from Buchanan made sure for the K’s, who are seventh.

Carshalton Athletic have only two defeats from their last eleven after victory over Merstham. The midtable Moatsiders now have only one win from their last eight, and never really looked like taking anything from the Robins, who were two up at half time- Lewis White and Daniel Bassett- before Bassett added a third ten minutes from time. Dylan Adjei-Hersey got one back with four minutes remaining, but it made no difference to the outcome.

Hornchurch were on the road to face Wingate & Finchley- the side who removed the FA Trophy holders from the competition back in October. Unfortunately the Blues hadn’t won a game since, and that continued as the Urchins left with three points courtesy of a late winner, despite losing the other Winn- George- to a red card just before the hour mark. Lewwis Spence, he of the extra consonant, opened the scoring for the Urchins four minutes before the break, but when Dylan Kearney equalised for the hosts thirteen minutes from time it looked as if they would take a point. But three minutes from time the ten men got three points, Tom proving he had the Wraight stuff but giving his side victory.

Horsham, who had won six in a row until the wheels came off at Cray Wanderers in midweek, welcome East Thurrock United and immediately put the wheels back on, winning three-one. Tom Richards got the opener just after half an hour, Eddie Dsane added a second before the break, and although Jake Gordon got one back for the Rocks seven minutes after the restart Charlie Hester-Cook made sure with the hosts third just before the end. Horsham are up to eleventh.

Follow the Pitching In Isthmian League on Instagram. Head here or search for theisthmianleague on your app. We're also on Facebook and Twitter.