Shock and Awe!

There were a number of highly-anticipated fixtures as the Premier Division kicked off its second weekend of action, but it must be said that we didn’t get too many anticipated results. Let’s start at Worthing, who were amongst the promotion favourites, and were taking on another fancied side in Hornchurch. At half time, with the score at nil-nil and both sides having had to make a change due to injury, it looked to be the hard-fought battle expected. Anyone who then went to sleep for 45 minutes before waking up and seeing the final score would have thought there had been a misprint, however, as the Urchins came out after the break to hit six goals without reply. Worthing fans might have wished they were asleep as a Chris Dickson hat trick, two from Ronnie Winn and a late goal from Charlie Stimson made the journey back to Essex rather enjoyable, and sent Hornchurch into second place.

Worthing’s great rivals Bognor Regis Town travelled to Wingate & Finchley looking for their first three points of the season. The home side had similar aspirations, but it was the Sussex Rocks who came out on top in prolific fashion- and once more all the goals came after the break. Tommy Leigh scored the opener four minutes after the break, and new arrival Tyrell Mitford scored for the second match in a row, his effort sandwiched by a double from Dan Smith. Jimmy Muitt put the icing on the Rock(s) cake three minutes from time, completing a five-nil victory.

Enfield Town recorded a five goal hammering of Bishop’s Stortford in midweek, but yesterday it was their turn to be on the receiving end as Horsham arrived at Donkey Lane and administered a hiding. The Hornets came into the match after two one-one draws, and after fifty four minutes that was the score once more, Ken Charles equalising Chris Smith’s opener. After that it was one-way traffic, Charlie Harris making it two, Smith getting his second for three-one, and Zack Newton making it four. The Hornets move up to seventh with their first Step Three victory for more than seven years.

We have only one side with a one hundred percent record, and that side is Haringey Borough- and it was forward Chid Onokwai who they had to thank for it once more. The former FC Romania and Hayes & Yeading Utd man has played three competitive matches for his new club and scored in all of them, yesterday grabbing the only goal of the game with twenty minutes to go and consigning hosts Cheshunt to defeat. We may only have had one goal, but we had ten yellow cards, however- Borough winning that battle too, six-four.

Borough are two points ahead of three sides on seven points. We’ve mentioned Hornchurch, but in third place sit Bowers & Pitsea, who have taken to Premier Division life rather well, yesterday travelling to Lewes and coming away with a two-nil victory. Bradley Warner put them ahead nine minutes before the break, and Lewis Manor sealed the points four minutes from the end.

Folkestone Invicta sit in fourth, and remain unbeaten after coming from behind to score a late leveller at home to Leatherhead. Jerry Nnamani put the Tanners ahead five minutes before the break, but Ira Jackson was there to equalise three minutes from time.

Prior to kick off East Thurrock United sat on top of the pile with a one hundred percent record. By full time they’d dropped to fifth, as Potters Bar Town once again proved that they don’t care about reputations, following last week’s victory over Carshalton Athletic with a far more comprehensive triumph at Rookery Hill. It was two-nil to the visitors at half time, Josh Hutchinson and Ryan Young doing the damage, and Hutchinson made it three just before the hour mark. Mitchell Gilbey pulled a goal back one minute from time, but it was hardly even a consolation as the Scholars climbed to sixth.

After two defeats Carshalton Athletic came up against the last side they’d defeated, Bishop’s Stortford, who they despatched in a winner-takes-all clash at the end of last season. The Robins did it again yesterday, recording a four-two victory in front of their own fans. Omar Koroma made a very quick breakthrough only for Luke Callander to equalise, but the next two goals came to the home side, Jerry Amoo and Daniel Pappoe making it three-one after fifty minutes. Jamie Cureton then reduced the arrears with his customary goal, but Koroma bookended the scoreline to make it 4-2 with twenty minutes remaining and ensured his side climbed to thirteenth.

We had a six goal thriller at King George’s Field, and two hat tricks meant that both Kingstonian and Margate got one point each and had to fight for the match ball. Kudus Oyenuga put the visitors ahead twice in the first half only for Louie Theophanous to twice equalise, and after the break it was a role reversal as Theophanous put the K’s ahead for the first time only for Oyenuga to equalise.

Our final two matches, between Brightlingsea Regent and Merstham, and between Cray Wanderers and Corinthian-Casuals, didn’t manage a goal. In the latter fixture that might have been because Danny Bracken for Casuals, playing his four hundredth competitive match for the club, kept yet another clean sheet. Congratulations Danny- and we thank Casuals for their celebration image.

North Division

Yesterday’s North Division kick off turned out to be a great day for teams beginning with g, as they both ended with four-goal glory! Grays Athletic began their first full season under the leadership of Jim Cooper by showing why they are quite highly fancied, a Tony Stokes double, a third from Manny Ogunrinde and a clincher from Joao Carlos seeing them thrash Brentwood Town, who had earlier had the temerity to take the lead at Parkside, Jacob Wiggins scoring after just two minutes. Michael Toner received his marching orders in the second half for Town, but it didn’t impact the result too much as Athletic had scored all four goals by then.

Great Wakering Rovers were the other side to hit a quartet of goals, and they got two in each half at Felixstowe and Walton United. The first two came against eleven men, as Brandon Diau and Jack Stevenson sent them in at the break with a commanding lead, the second two came against ten men, as Seasiders keeper Danny Crump picked up a red card on the hour mark. Stevenson followed the dismissal with his second of the match, and whilst Tom Debenham (who hasn’t been bought out by Sports Direct) got one back for the home side Billy Johnson soon made it four.

Witham Town had a fabulous start to the season, and ended the first day in third place following a three-nil win at Hullbridge Sports. The damage was done before the break, George Bugg, Marcus Bowers and Oliver Emsden with the goals, the last two in the forty-fourth and forty-fifth minutes.

Bury Town also managed three goals, but they conceded one at home to Basildon United. A quick-fire start saw them go two up inside nine minutes through Cemal Ramadan and Ryan Jolland, but the Bees got one back nine minutes from the break through Ayomikun Odukoya. The visitors were down to ten men by then, Adam Vyse getting his marching orders, and Ollie Hughes was able to restore a two goal cushion for Bury before they also went down to ten, Jolland heading for an early bath.

Coggeshall Town showed why they are title favourites with a three-one win over AFC Sudbury, Mekhi McLeod, Nnaamdi Nwachuku and a very late Connor Hubble goal securing the points after Tom Maycock had made things interesting by pulling a goal back just after the hour. Heybridge Swifts were also three-one winners, at Histon, and had their three before the break courtesy of an Elliott Ronto double which sandwiched a goal from Alex Teniola. Lee Smith pulled one back for the home side just after the break but it didn’t make much difference to the outcome.

Three-one was the most popular score of the afternoon, and Swifts’ rivals Maldon & Tiptree also recorded it. In this case Soham Town Rangers were on the receiving end, but this was a match which was in the balance for eighty minutes, three of the goals coming in the last ten. Danny Parish gave the Jammers and early lead, but there were eighty minutes on the clock before the same player was able to double it. Hanza Kaid made things safe with a third four minutes later, before Sam Mulready got a consolation from the spot with one minute to go.

Cambridge City got their campaign off to a winning start at Tilbury, Adam Watkins and Matt Sparrow giving them a two-nil lead before George Sykes halved it from the spot to make the last eight minutes interesting; whilst a second half George Purcell double saw Canvey Island come from behind to defeat Romford, for whom Jimmy Cox scored an opener after just eleven minutes.

We had only one draw, and it came at Aldiss Park, where the Magpies of Dereham Town flew into a two goal half time lead against Aveley, Adam Hipperson and Shaun Wones with the goals. The Millers awoke after the break, and a Wyan Reid double saw them leave Norfolk with a point. Our image from the lens of Alan Palmer shows the Magpies second goal, and you can see the rest here.

South Central

Chalfont St Peter have almost entirely rebuilt their squad over the summer, and the new side seems to have come together rather well if yesterday’s four-nil thrashing of Ashford Town is anything to go by. Three of the goals came in the last twenty minutes, Luke Jones, Andre Odetola and Riccardo Alexander-Greenway squeezing the Tangerines after Dan Williams had got the Saints other goal in the first period. Another side who administered a four-nil beating was Hanwell Town, their quartet coming at Bedfont Sports; a Brian Testolin double sandwiched between goals from Gareth Chendlick and Jeremiah Maja.

Westfield were last season’s surprise package, and they began the new campaign in similarly imperious form, travelling to Northwood and hammering three goals without reply- Max Blackmore and Aaron Watson in the first ten minutes, Watson again in added time. Another of our Playoff sides, Marlow, also got three, their trio coming at home to Barking. Ashleigh Artwell and Junaid Bell put the Blues two up within twelve minutes only for Emmanuel Ighorae to pull one back almost immediately, and Marlow were only able to relax when Charlie Samuel made it 3-1 right at the death.

Harlow Town hosted a seven goal thriller, and came out on top against FC Romania. At four nil up after forty nine minutes the Hawks must have thought they were home and dry, Oliver Gnandi, Sergen Erkarsalen and a double from De’juane Taylor-Crossdale (if we were to introduce names on shirts he’d need an XXL) putting them seemingly out of sight. They didn’t remain out of sight, however, as a Felix Lupu double and another on ninety minutes from Samuel Oyeniran made the last few moments tense.

Bracknell Town are clear favourites for the title, but their campaign didn’t start well, second half goals from Callum Hart and Daniel Moody giving Chipstead all of the points at High Road. Another fancied side, Tooting & Mitcham United, did get their expected three points, but they were made to work hard for them at Hertford Town, Omari Hibbert getting the only goal of the match five minutes from the end.

We then had three high-scoring draws. At Wodson Park a six goal thriller saw Ware and Staines Town get three each. Mahrez Bettache put the Swans ahead only for Liam Hope to equalise just before the break, but the visitors went back in front on the hour mark through Rhys Paul. Once more they couldn’t hold the lead, Olu Akinsanya equalising for the home side, and then Liam Hope put Ware ahead for the first time, scoring from the spot, and it looked as if the points were staying at home until Andrew Demby got an equaliser in the ninetieth minute.

Uxbridge were two-nil up at home to FA Vase winners Chertsey Town, with goals from Mahlando Martin and Mark Bitmead- when defender Samad Kazi got his marching orders. That turned the game on its head, and the Curfews were able to take a point, Jake Baxter and Lewis Gallifent drawing them level.

South Park were another home side to go two goals up and be unable to hold on- although their visitors, Waltham Abbey, didn’t have a sending off to help them. Reece Williams-Bowers and Charlie Pitcher gave Sparks that early lead, but Junior Appiah had halved it by the break and Louis Bowen got the equaliser twelve minutes from time.

South East

Burgess Hill Town supporters have been nervous about their side’s promotion hopes following relegation from the Premier Division, but yesterday their green heroes looked anything but nervous, walloping highly-fancied Hythe Town seven-two.

There will have been another tussle over the match ball as Warren Mfula grabbed FOUR goals, whilst Max Miller, newly arrived from Mid-Sussex rivals Haywards Heath Town, got three. Thomas Carlton and Frannie Collin scored for the Cannons, but they were no consolation and the trip back to Kent will have been no fun whatsoever.

We’ve a Sussex one-two as Whitehawk finally came out on top in a thrilling match with VCD Athletic. The Hawks went two-nil up through Kacper Lopata and Henry Muggeridge only for Charlie MacDonald to level the match before the break, scoring twice in four minutes. We then got to twelve minutes from time without further trouble to the scoreline, before Duane Ofori-Acheampong got what proved to be the winner.

Promotion favourites Ashford Town also got off to a good start, winning at Phoenix Sports by the odd goal in three. All of the goals came in a seven minute second half spell. David Smith gave the Nuts and Bolts the lead after fifty two minutes, but it lasted only three minutes before Lauris Chin equalised. Jay May got what turned out to be the winner in the fifty ninth minute.

Chichester City, playing their first match at this level, had a long trip to highly-rated Ramsgate, and fell behind after only eight minutes through Oliver Gray. Chi rallied in the second half, however, and former Worthing man Matt Axell fired in two goals, the second a last minute penalty, to send them back to their cathedral city with three heavenly points. Our headline image shows the celebrations after the first goal, and comes courtesy of the club.

It was also a pretty good Sussex day for Haywards Heath Town, as they came from behind at another Sussex club, East Grinstead Town, to take three points. Curtis Gayler gave the wasps a first half lead, but Callum Saunders and Nathan Cooper completed the turnaround.

Elsewhere in Sussex Three Bridges had nothing to celebrate as Sevenoaks Town took all three points with the only goal of the game, Dan Parkinson getting it with twenty four minutes remaining.

We then had four draws, and we’ll start at the highest scoring, as Faversham Town went behind at home to Guernsey, then went two goals up only to see the Green Lions roar back for a point. Will Fazakerley put the visitors in front after thirty three minutes, only for Faversham to score three, Max Morgan, Mitchell Chapman and Anthony Adesite looking to secure the points. Fazakerley had other ideas, reducing the arrears just before the hour, and then deep into stoppage time Robbie Legg levelled from the spot.

Whyteleafe and Herne Bay also saw late drama, as Zak Ansah scored a last gasp penalty for Bay just after Corie Andrews had seemingly earned all three points for Leafe. Kyron Lightfoot had earlier given Bay the lead, only for Ronald Sobowale to equalise for the home side.

Whitstable Town and Sittingbourne cancelled each other out at the Belmont Ground, Tijan Jadama equalising Roman Campbell’s earlier penalty for the Brickies, whilst in our other match neither Cray Valley PM or Hastings United could find a way through, the match ending goalless.