Tags close the gap after Trawler Boys triumph

The gap at the top of the Pitching In Isthmian North Division is down to one point after AFC Sudbury did the unthinkable- they lost! The Yellows had won ten in a row before third place Lowestoft Town- the Trawler Boys- lest we forget, leaders for most of the early stages of the season- came to call, but the visitors got the only goal of the game twenty minutes from time- Adam Hipperson converting from the spot.

Lowestoft are still fourteen points behind the leaders, but the big beneficiaries of that result are second place Hashtag United, who extended the longest winning run in the country to thirteen matches by defeating Grays Athletic. Jermaine Francis got them underway on nineteen minutes, and three minutes from half time Emmanuel Okunja gave them a cushion, adding a second. Just after the hour Okunja struck again, and three-nil was the final score. The Tags close to within a point of the leaders- and now have a better goal difference, too- whilst Athletic slip to seventh. Image from Nashy Photo.

With only two points between third place Lowestoft and seventh place Felixstowe and Walton United at start of play, fourth place Heybridge Swifts couldn’t afford to slip up- but slip up they did. Visitors Wroxham have been in fine form of late, and they moved up to twelfth after Ryan Miles scored the only goal of the game on sixty one minutes- his thirteenth of the season certainly unlucky for the hosts.

Stowmarket Town are up to fourth after a hard-fought win over Tilbury. Jack Ainsley got both goals for Stow, six minutes before the break and with twenty five minutes left- although in between those goals Roma Michael-Percil had equalised for the Dockers, converting a penalty.

Felixstowe and Walton United had been fearless and unbeaten at home until midweek, when local rivals Bury Town arrived and took home three points- but they got back to winning ways and back into the top five with victory over Hullbridge Sports. The visitors went a goal down when George Clarke gave the Seasiders the advantage in twenty four minutes, and seven minutes later Sports holed themselves below the waterline, keeper Lewis Greene seeing red and giving away a penalty, which Joe Whight duly converted. The ten men held out for the next hour or so, but the damage was already done.

Bury Town, boosted by the return of Olly Hughes and by that win at Felixstowe, were looking to begin closing the gap between themselves and the top five as they welcomed Great Wakering Rovers to Ram Meadow- and they did just that, if only just. Cemal Ramadan’s nineteenth of the season, fourteen minutes from time, turned out to be the only goal of the game and left the hosts nine points behind the fifth place Seasiders. That’s ten defeats in a row for Rovers.

New Salamis came into their match with Maldon & Tiptree on their worst run of the season, one win from seven- but they got back to winning ways against their ten man visitors. Louie Remi opened the scoring for the hosts on seven minutes only for George Smith to level for Maldon- but on the stroke of half time a red card for Terrell Egbri created a sticky situation for the Jammers. Just before the hour Salamis made the most of their numerical advantage, Harrison Georgiou making it two.

East Thurrock United have gone off the boil of late, whilst visitors Coggeshall Town have begun to simmer for the first time this season. The Seed Growers won for the first time this season last time out, and they made it two wins from two at Rookery Hill, coming from behind to win in a match which saw both sides reduced to ten men. Alex Hernandez opened the scoring for the Rocks on twenty minutes, only for Karl Kayembe to level just before the break. Within two minutes of that equaliser Brian Moses for the hosts and Mike Osei for the visitors were dismissed, and ten minutes after the break the visitors got what proved to be the winner, Darnell Kithambo converting. The Seed Growers have closed to within seven points of safety, whilst the Rocks have lost five in a row.

Brentwood Town, having won for only the second time in ten matches last time out, hoped that was the start of a winning run- and it might be, as they recorded victory at Gorleston by the only goal of the game. Jack Adlington got it- his second goal of the week.

Finally, Basildon United hosted sixteenth place Witham Town. Town delivered their first win since November 5th last time out, defeating Bury Town- and will feel they should have had another. Shane Temple gave the Bees the lead on the half hour, but two goals in four minutes from Adam Vyse after the break put the visitors in the driving seat. Right at the end the hosts were awarded a penalty, and Callum Fitzer earned them a point.

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