Stow, Witham and the Yellows the big scorers as we head North

Stowmarket Town spent much of last season challenging for pole position at the top of the Pitching In isthmian North Division, and they are there again after a four-one win over Hullbridge Sports. All of the goals came after the break, and the first three of them went to Ed Upson, the former Yeovil Town and Bristol Rovers man grabbing a fifteen minute hat trick. Tevan Allen got the fourth, before Ross Elsom got a last minute consolation for the visitors.

Witham Town had a 2021-22 to forget, but are hoping to have a 22-23 worth remembering, and they followed a crushing FA Cup win last weekend with a crushing league win, hammering new boys Wroxham four-one. Adam Vyse and Ramiah Mills made things fairly comfortable for the hosts by half time, Kieran Southgate added a third soon after the restart, and Arnold Mengi made it four right at the end. There was still time for a Ryan Curtis consolation for the Yachtsmen, but it won’t feel like much of a consolation.

Lowestoft Town’s match at Great Wakering Rovers had goalless draw written all over it for seventy nine minutes, only for the Trawler Boys to go goal crazy in the last ten, firing home three without reply. Jake Reed, Chris Henderson and Travis Cole delivered, to send the visitors home happy.

AFC Sudbury travelled to relegated East Thurrock United and were given an advantage when the Rocks Jack McQueen managed to get himself booked and sent off within twenty one minutes. Despite that, the hosts made the breakthrough, Darnell Kithambo putting them ahead on twenty six, but then the Yellows took control. Josh Pollard equalised seven minutes before the break, and after the restart a Josh Stokes double and a fourth from Lionel Ainsworth made sure. Amaree Robinson-Jones got a second for the Rocks just before the end.

Image from Steve Screech- more here.

Tilbury had a good start to the new season with their second win after an FA Cup triumph last weekend, winning two-nil at Maldon & Tiptree. They were also helped by a sending off, Laste Dombaxe seeing red on the stroke of half time, and after the break Billy Harris and Alex Clarke took advantage.

New Salamis won a five goal thriller in the battle of the new boys at Gorleston (or rather at Lowestoft, as that’s where Gorleston are playing this season). George Lutaaya gave the visitors the lead on twenty minutes only for Connor Deeks to equalise twenty minutes later, but a double from Derek Asamoah gave the visitors a two goal advantage after the break. Robbie Lee Sweeney got one back for the hosts right at the end, but it wasn’t enough.

Cemal Ramadan continued to do Cemal Ramadan things as Bury Town defeated Hashtag United by the only goal of the game. The Town talisman delighted the home faithful in the crowd of five hundred and ninety eight by scoring with twenty two minutes remaining, but he was playing against ten men after Percy Kiangebeni saw red for the Tags just before the break.

Basildon United had a perfect start against Heybridge Swifts, Fred Agyemang scoring after ten minutes, but they couldn’t hold on for three points, Ross Wall equalising for the visitors with six minutes remaining.

Title favourites and expected promotion rivals Brentwood Town and Felixstowe & Walton United also drew one-one, but it was so nearly an away win. Joshua Hitter scored the opener for the Seasiders with just fourteen minutes left, and it looked like they’d grab a third win in a row against this opposition, but the equaliser for the Blues arrived right at the end, Callum Leahy with it.

Coggeshall Town and Grays Athletic couldn’t manage a goal between them.

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