Tags hit the summit after win SIXTEEN

AFC Sudbury were briefly removed from the top of Pitching In Isthmian North in midweek, and wanted to make sure that didn’t happen again as they welcomed fifth place Heybridge Swifts.
Swifts were the first side to defeat the Yellows in the league this season, three-two at Scraley Road on November 15th, but the leaders were sharply out of the blocks and ahead after just five minutes. As usual the goal came from hotshot Nnamdi Nwachuku, his thirty fourth of the campaign, but Swifts were level nine minutes before the break, an own goal doing the damage. The Yellows were ahead once more six minutes after the restart, and it was an ex-Swift, Harrison Chatting, who did the damage- but right at the end Rob Harvey headed home to secure a point for the visitors, and at the same time remove the Yellows from the summit for the second time in five days.

Hashtag United faced a tough match at New Salamis. The Tags had won their previous FIFTEEN matches, a rather incredible record, and defeated Salamis three-one at the Len Salmon in November- and they went ahead just after the half hour at Coles Park, Max Cornhill with the opener. The equaliser arrived quickly, Maleace Asamoah levelling for Salamis four minutes before half time, but the hosts then went down to ten men as Junior Luke was dismissed, and the Tags took advantage. They went ahead once more with fifteen minutes left, and this time they kept their lead and hit the summit, courtesy of that late equaliser for Heybridge Swifts. Toby Aromolaran got the winner.

Image courtesy of Nashy Photo.

Seventeen points separated the top two and third place Lowestoft Town at kick off. The Trawler Boys were off to Essex to face Tilbury, the Dockers desperate for points as they attempt to climb away from the lower reaches of the table, but it was the visitors who opened the scoring on sixty three minutes, and within a minute Jake Reed’s opener was followed by an own goal to make it two-nil. That was that- and the Trawler Boys have narrowed the gap between themselves and the leaders to a far more manageable fifteen points!

With only three points between fourth and seventh at start of play, the chase for the Play Off places is almost as enthralling as the title battle, and fourth place Felixstowe and Walton United travelled to Maldon & Tiptree hoping to hold onto their narrow advantage. The Seasiders had been super at home, but rather less super away, and they fell behind twelve minutes before the break, Michael Finneran scoring for the Jammers- but they levelled on the hour, Joe Whight with the goal, and were soon ahead, Josh Hitter making it two-one. That was that, the Seasiders remain fourth, but they now have a three point gap over the side in sixth place.

Stowmarket Town were on the road to Witham Town. Stow had lost only one of their last five matches but were three without a win, whilst Witham had won only one- and lost eight- of their last ten- but the hosts went ahead just before the half hour, Michael Bareck with the opening goal on hiw debut, and although Stow equalised ten minutes from time through Craig Parker were level for only a minute, Bareck striking again. Witham open up a four point gap on the bottom four.

Second bottom Gorleston were the hosts for Grays Athletic. The visitors were only three points away from the top five at kick off, but worryingly hadn’t managed a win or a goal in their previous four appearances- but they got one after twenty four minutes in this one, although it needed Gorleston to score it for them. They finally got a goal of their own just before the hour, Callum Leahy heading home to make it two-nil, but right at the end the Greens caused some concern, Connor Ingram getting a goal back. That was that, however, Grays up to sixth, a point behind fifth place Heybridge Swifts.

East Thurrock United and Bury Town both needed a win to revive any ideas of promotion as they met at Rookery Hill. The Rocks opened the scoring just before the hour, Alex Hernendez with the goal, and that turned out to be that. That’s four matches without a goal for Town, and the Rocks nine points from the promised land.

Wroxham were at home to Hullbridge Sports. The Yachtsmen had been in fine form, five unbeaten and with only two defeats- against our top two- from their last ten matches- but they fell behind eleven minutes after the break, Jake Gordon getting the opener for the visitors. They were behind for only three minutes before Jack Robinson delivered an equaliser, and were soon ahead, Ryan Curtis making it two-one. That was that, the Yachtsmen ending the day in eleventh.

Coggeshall Town, much improved in recent weeks, welcomed one of their relegation rivals, Great Wakering Rovers. The Seed Growers were five unbeaten and had won three of them, whilst their visitors hadn’t won since October 8th. The opening goal arrived three minutes from time, and it went to the hosts, Josh Osude with it- but the match was abandoned deep into injury time after an injury to a Wakering player.

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