Stow stay top and hit five, but the Gulls are hot on their heels

Our leaders at start of play, Stowmarket Town, welcomed the Seed Growers of Coggeshall Town. After thirty seven minutes without a goal we had two in the next four, and both went to the hosts, Reginald Thompson-Lambe and Evan Collard doing the damage. Thompson-Lambe made it three goals and three points for certain on sixty seven minutes, and there was time for Kane Munday to make it four, Emmanuel Osei-Owusu to get number five, ensuring that Town were our leaders at end of play, too!

Grays Athletic hosted Canvey Island as fifth took on second. Canvey looked back to their best on Monday, and the Gulls were quickly ahead in this one, Evans Kouassi continuing his fine season in front of goal- his seventeenth of the season- when scoring on three minutes. Tobi Tinubu doubled the advantage on twenty six minutes, before Kai Brown got one back for the hosts, but the next, crucial goal went the way of the visitors, and it went to Odei Martin Sorondo six minutes after the break. That was that, and the Gulls stay second, a point behind Stowmarket with a game in hand.

Tilbury have been having a season to forget, and the sight of an in-form Aveley arriving at Chadfields can’t have done much for the home fans blood pressure, which would have increased yet further when Alex Akrofi put the Millers ahead in the ninth minute. The Dockers didn’t lie down, however, and drew level nine minutes from time with a goal from Igli Metalia, and each side had to be content with a point. The Millers stay third, three points behind the leaders.

Hashtag United, after four consecutive wins- two of them over promotion chasers- would have been rather confident as Basildon United arrived at the Len Salmon- and they were quickly ahead, Luke Hirst opening the scoring on eleven minutes. Jesse Waller-Lassen doubled their advantage just after the restart, and the Tags end the day a point outside the top five.

AFC Sudbury have dropped out of the top five in recent weeks, although still have one, two or even three games in hand over the sides above them. The Yellows hosted Bury Town, the visitors starting the day in an uncharacteristic eleventh place after an inconsistent and injury hit campaign so far- but it was the side from Ram Meadow who made the breakthrough, Max Maughn opening the scoring midway through the first half, and they were two up soon afterwards, Jake Chambers Shaw doubling their advantage. It was three-nil on forty minutes, Ross Crane with this one, and the Yellows fans must have felt like going home early when Cemal Ramadan made it four three minutes before half time.

Sakariya Hassan got one back for the hosts just after the hour mark, but that was that. Seven hundred and twelve attended, and most of them went home miserable. Image courtesy of Bury Town- please let us know who took it so we can credit them!

Romford have been in freefall, and hosted Brentwood Town on the back of nine consecutive defeats having slumped to the bottom of the table. The visitors, firmly focused on goings-on at the other end of the table, were quickly in front, Jake Giddings scoring after just three minutes- his first Town goal. They were two up just before the break, Ashley Nzala third in his last four matches, and finished the contest eight minutes from time when George Craddock made it three- to close within three points of the top five.

Heybridge Swifts, with only one defeat in six matches, hosted a Witham Town side who were without a league win since August Bank Holiday Monday. Swifts waited until just before the break to break the deadlock, Dan Walker with the opening goal of the contest, but they were ahead for only five minutes (plus the time they spent in the dressing room) before Ramiah Mills equalised for Town. With twenty minutes remaining Mills put Town ahead, but only for two minutes before Lionel Ainsworth equalised, and both sides had to be content with a point.

Great Wakering Rovers, with new signings and new manager in John Coventry, hosted a Barking side who picked up their first win in rather a long time last time out and have been beginning to look more like their old selves. The opening goal came ten minutes after the break, and it went to the visiting Blues, Charlie Heatley with it- but the lead didn’t last long, Martin Tuohy soon drawing Rovers level with his eleventh of the campaign. That was that, and a point each the outcome.

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