Tags romp to the title!

Hashtag United stormed to the Pitching In Isthmian North title, leaving nothing to chance as they took on a Great Wakering Rovers side who also needed points in their battle to grab a relegation play off spot. The last time the two sides met, on December 3rd, the Tags won three-nil- and they had replicated that scoreline within thirty eight minutes at the Len Salmon, Alex Teniola, Pedro Carvalho and a Greg Halford penalty giving them an unassailable lead, which they added to just before the break, another Teniola goal- apparently the one hundred and fiftieth of his career- making it four. After the break Jermaine Francis made it five, and right at the end Max Cornhill added a sixth as the Tags moved on to ninety seven points with a game to go.

Eight hundred and fifty seven watched on, whilst millions more all over the world had a virtual celebration! Our image, as usual, comes from Nashy Photo.

AFC Sudbury were already guaranteed second place, but our long time leaders weren’t prepared to rest on their laurels as Brentwood Town arrived the MEL Group Stadium. The travelling Blues were five unbeaten, and indeed had lost only one of their last ten, but they were a goal down after twelve minutes, Harrison Chatting the scorer, and it was two-nil a quarter of an hour later, Sakariya Hassan doubling home advantage. With twenty four minutes left Nnamdi Nwachuku scored for the FORTY EIGHTH time this season to make it three, and a few minutes later Hassan made it four. With eleven minutes remaining Josh Stokes added a fifth, and that’s where it stopped.

Lowestoft Town travelled to take on the side who looked to be their closest challengers for a home play off Semi-Final place, Heybridge Swifts. The Trawler Boys started the day four points ahead of their hosts, but fell behind on thirty seven minutes, Sam Park with the opener. The visitors were soon level, Adam Hipperson scoring two minutes before the break, but Swifts went ahead once more five minutes after half time, Matthew Price restoring their advantage. On the hour mark the hosts had a penalty, Rob Harvey keeping his nerve to make it three-one, but very quickly there was another spot kick at the other end and Hipperson made it three-two. Price then restored the two goal cushion for Swifts with his second of the afternoon eighteen minutes from time, but once more the Trawler Boys made a match of it, Kyle Haylock bringing it back to four-three- and with four minutes remaining the visitors had another penalty, and again Hipperson converted it, bringing the score to four-four. At this the scoring finally stopped, and it left Swifts four points clear of sixth place Felixstowe & Walton United- but with the Seasiders having two games in hand and a slightly better goal difference.

Fifth place Grays Athletic travelled to take on Bury Town, knowing that a victory was vital. They had the match won within twenty two minutes, Ronnie Winn opening the scoring in the second minute and Callum Watts quickly adding two more, although Bury roused themselves at half time and Cruis Nydazayo quickly got one back. The next goal, however, went to the visitors, Tom Stagg adding the fourth eleven minutes from time, and victory takes them level on points with Heybridge Swifts- although both sides will be keeping a concerned eye on Felixstowe & Walton United, who are scheduled to play twice before the final round of fixtures on Saturday.

Stowmarket Town travelled to New Salamis having had a terrible April, losing every match so far, and that run continued as their play off hopes were finally extinguished at Coles Park. Stow took an early lead, Kieran Morley scoring after just six minutes, but the hosts turned the game on its head after the break, Maleace Asamoah and Derek Asamoah with one each, Felix Ahorlu making quite sure with a third, thirteen minutes from time.

Fourth bottom Tilbury knew that they had to win both of their matches and hope Witham Town slipped up if they were to escape the bottom four, but they had a terrible first half at Wroxham and reached the break two goals down, Shaun Taylor with both of them for the Yachtsmen. Ryan Miles added a third for the hosts with twenty three minutes to go, and in the last four minutes Miles added two more, taking his side up to five and claiming the match ball. This result sees Witham Town safe despite their match with Felixstowe and Walton United being postponed- and means that the best the Dockers can manage is a relegation play off spot.

Gorleston, safe from relegation after a storming last few weeks, welcomed Maldon & Tiptree. It took until seven minutes from time for the breakthrough to arrive, Ross Gilfedder scoring for the Greens, and the result sees the two sides swap places in the table, Gorleston up to thirteenth.

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