Six from six and five points clear for Woods

Leaders Northwood took only seven minutes to go ahead against Sutton Common Rovers, but they didn’t score the goal themselves, as the visitors put the ball into their own net. They did score their second, however, Josh Helmore on eighteen minutes. Five minutes from time Francis Mampolo got one back for Rovers, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Woods winning run- and send them five points clear at the top with six wins from six.

It took Woods until mid January to amass this many points last season, which perhaps demonstrates quite how good they’ve been this season!

Image from James Brown.

FA Trophy

Littlehampton Town got off to a flying start at Hanworth Villa, Dion Jarvis scoring the opening goal in the very first minute. The Villains have been rather difficult to beat, losing just one league match this season, and got themselves level just before the hour, Jonathan Hippolyte with the equaliser. That spurred the Golds to greater heights, Joe Benn putting them ahead once more, but once again the Villains hit back, Sam Merson equalising from the spot. Charlie Ten-Grotenhuis saw red for Villa, but it was the ten men who found a late winner, Jordan Williams sending them through.

Harlow Town, these days of Pitching In Southern Division One, welcomed Ashford Town (Middx). The Hawks had already removed two Isthmian sides from cup competitions this season, Brentwood Town and Great Wakering Rovers, and they went ahead against the Tangerines after nineteen minutes- but then gave the visitors hope by having a player sent off. That hope was short lived as the ten men added another, and then the visitors also went down to ten men, Dale Burnham seeing red. Ashford then got a goal back, Ikpem Yakubu reducing the arrears, but that just spurred the Hawks into scoring a third, and then a late fourth, soaring through to the next round.

Heybridge Swifts finally lost a match in midweek- their first defeat of the season- but it did come against National League South side Braintree Town, and it was close. They welcomed Pitching In Isthmian South Central Chipstead, and the Chips struck first, Jonathan Hood on the quarter hour. The lead didn’t last until half time, Ross Wall equalising with his fourth of the season, and with twelve minutes to go Andrew Fennell gave the hosts the lead- and, as it turned out, the win. That’s eight goals for Fennell so far.

Binfield lost their managerial duo in midweek, and it looked as if they may lose their first match without them as Thame United went up in the eighth minute, but they were soon level, James Beauchamp with the equaliser. Five minutes from time the Moles got the winner, Taylor Morgan with that. Who needs a manager, eh? That’s eight consecutive wins for the Moles, and United may take some consolation- not much we suspect, but some- from being the first side to score against them since August 16th.

Thatcham Town are still looking for a first league win, and indeed had only one victory this season, against Cinderford Town in the last round of the Trophy. They welcomed AFC Dunstable, unbeaten in Pitching In Southern League Division One Central, and fell behind after just four minutes. It seemed the Kingfishers had left the (dun)stable door open when the visitors quickly added a second, and then a third, and that was how it finished.

Uxbridge hosted Bedfont Sports in another all South-Central tie, and went ahead midway through the first half when Dan Williams found the back of the net. An own goal sealed a home victory four minutes from time.

Walton & Hersham, magnificent in all competitions so far this season but especially in the FA Cup, welcomed another South Central side, Southall. The Swans kicked off nine matches unbeaten, and were quickly ahead in this one, Flynn Bolton scoring on ten minutes; doubling their tally from the spot ten minutes later, Harry Mills with that one- and being three up by the break after Mills got another, a lob from outside the box doing the damage. Fourteen minutes from time Eddie Simon made it four, and that was that.

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