Tags hold on to their six point lead- whilst Swifts go fourth

AFC Sudbury played their match at Maldon & Tiptree on Good Friday, and it was a very good Friday for the Yellows and for striker Nnamdi Nwachuku, who scored a first half hat trick in a three-nil win. Nnamdi took his tally to a rather incredible FORTY SIX for the season, a tally which includes six hat tricks- he’s going to need to build an extension just to hold match balls at this rate.

That result saw the Yellows close to within three points of leaders Hashtag United, who had looked a little more vulnerable of late, needing very late goals to defeat Felixstowe and Walton United and Coggeshall Town, and of course losing to Stowmarket Town in between those two. The Tags were on the road to Gorleston, who had been impressive recently, but the visitors went ahead on eight minutes, Matthew Wooldridge breaking the deadlock. Before the half hour mark it was two-nil, Alex Teniola making his side more comfortable- and right before the end of the match they added a third, Jermaine Francis ensuring that his side restore their six point advantage- and there are only three games to go.

Image courtesy of Nashy Photo.

Third place Lowestoft Town started the day with a five point advantage in the battle for the final home play off spot. They were also on the road, travelling to Basildon United, and the Trawler Boys were ahead after only eight minutes, Jake Reed’s twenty second of the season. Reed added another ten minutes later, and then completed his hat trick with only twenty seven minutes on the clock. After the break Ben Allen got one back for the hosts, and then it was all hands on deck as Callum Fitzer reduced the arrears once more. The visitors held out, and their advantage in the battle for that home advantage is now six points.

Stowmarket Town have been hit hard by the manager/performance/goalkeeper of the month awards curse (yes, they won all of them for March), losing both matches since the start of April. Our fourth place side faced the stern test of visiting Heybridge Swifts, who started the day only a point behind in sixth spot and had won their last three- and just how stern a test was demonstrated after only nine minutes, Myles Anderson putting Swifts ahead. On twenty one minutes Matt Price made it two-nil, but soon after the restart Chris Casement got one back. Stow’s comeback hit difficulties when Ed Upson saw red soon afterwards, and soon they went down to nine, Jack Ainsley the next to be dismissed. Unsurprisingly they couldn’t find an equaliser, and Swifts take their fourth place, Stow down to fifth.

Felixstowe and Walton United had to fight hard to win at Basildon United in midweek, but win they did, and they occupied fifth spot at kick off courtesy of a better goal difference than Heybridge Swifts. The Seasiders travelled for a local derby, Bury Town their hosts- the Ram Meadow side also picking up a late midweek win and finally looking as if they’d found their mojo, with only one defeat from their last four bringing to an end a very poor run. The visitors went ahead on twenty five minutes, Zak Brown with the opener, but they were quickly pegged back, Joe White levelling from the spot seven minutes later. Town took the lead with seventeen minutes to go, White once more doing the damage, and made it three when Max Maughn scored with just seven minutes left. United drop to seventh, one point outside of the top five.

Grays Athletic hoped to bridge the gap between themselves and the top five as they travelled to face relegation-threatened Great Wakering Rovers. Athletic had only one win from their previous four, whilst Rovers had looked much improved, losing only one of their last five, but had an eight point gap between themselves and safety. Rovers opened the scoring four minutes before the break, David Knight with the goal, but they were ahead for just those four minutes, Callum Leahy quickly levelling. Right at the end the visitors got a winner, Callum Watts lifting them to sixth place- only goal difference keeping them out of the top five.

We had a mid table battle as East Thurrock United played host to New Salamis. The Rocks underwent major chance a few weeks ago and had consequently lost their last four- and they were quickly behind once more, Nathan Mandla scoring after just five minutes. Salamis added another fifteen minutes later, Harrison Georgiou with that one, but with seven minutes to go the Rocks made a match of it, Ayo Odukota with the lifeline. They made the most of it, and right at the end Max Fiddes delivered an equaliser.

Coggeshall Town saw their relegation fight boosted with six points this week, as apart from defeating Stowmarket Town they were awarded three points for victory over Great Wakering Rovers in February- a match which was abandoned with seconds remaining after a serious player injury with the Seed Growers ahead. That still left them seven points from safety as we kicked off- and they had a difficult match, Wroxham coming to call. It took until thirteen minutes from time for a goal to arrive, and Coggeshall scored it- but in the wrong end, the Yachtsmen taking the lead. The visitors scored one of their own to make it two-nil with three minutes remaining, Ryan Hawkins taking his tally for the season to double figures, and they held on for victory. The Seed Growers are seven points from safety with only three matches remaining.

Witham Town started the weekend with a seven point gap between themselves and the danger zone- and had a massive match, as Tilbury came to call. Victory could- depending on other results- even ensure Town’s safety, but with the Dockers having fallen into the automatic relegation positions this week things are even more desperate at Chadfields- and they were given something of a boost when, with the game goalless, Town saw Rhys Madden sent off. They Dockers took advantage, Alex Clark putting them ahead just after the restart, and they held on for three points- but are still six points behind their hosts with three matches to go.

Brentwood Town had the opportunity to condemn visitors Hullbridge Sports to- at best- a relegation play off, and it looked grim for Sports when Solomon Ogunwomoju scored after just three minutes. Sports levelled on eighteen minutes through Martin Tuohy, but within ten minutes were behind again, Matt Cripps restoring home advantage- and it was three-one just before the break, Ross Wall the scorer. Wall added another twelve minutes after the restart to make it four, and got his hat trick with thirteen minutes left- five-one the score.

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