Tags triumph as our big two face off at the Len Salmon

Hashtag United had opened up a four point lead at the top of the Pitching In isthmian North table, a lead they’d created after winning seventeen consecutive matches- but second place AFC Sudbury knew that they could cut that substantially if they could win our titanic top two battle at the Len Salmon. The hosts were quickly ahead, however, Max Cornhill on nine minutes, and they were two up soon afterwards, Greg Halford with that one. It then got worse for the visitors, Josh Stokes seeing red, but the ten men reduced the arrears five minutes after the break when Nnamdi Nwachuku scored his customary goal. The Yellows then did even better, levelling through Josh Pollard, but the Tags awoke once more and Halford made it three two with seventeen minutes left. Finally that was that, and the Tags had win EIGHTEEN and a SEVEN point lead at the top of the table.

Image from Nashy Photo.

Lowestoft Town, in third place, found themselves eighteen points behind the leaders at kick off and perhaps more focused on the gap between themselves and sixth place. The Trawler Boys were back at home, Witham Town coming to call, and were ahead after half an hour, Kyle Haylock opening the scoring. It was almost immediately two-nil, Adam Hipperson doubling home advantage, and the third arrived three minutes before the break, Jake Reed with that one. Witham’s woes worsened with a red card for Gaz Dauti, and it was no surprise when Hipperson got a fourth with thirteen minutes remaining.

Felixstowe & Walton United, who started the weekend in fourth place, looked to have a difficult task as they welcomed Wroxham- and it looked even more difficult when Ryan Curtis put the Yachtsmen ahead on twelve minutes. The Seasiders levelled on twenty seven minutes through Billy Holland, and it looked like both sides would have to settle for a point- but the hosts took all of them, Sam Ford with the winner right at the end. Felixstowe stay fourth, Wroxham are eleventh.

Heybridge Swifts, who announced two new signings yesterday, knew that they could climb to fourth if they could defeat New Salamis- and they were quickly ahead, Rob Harvey after just seven minutes. The advantage doubled eleven minutes before the break, Salamis forgetting to get Carter, Sam making it two-nil, and with six minutes left Matt Price made it three. Salamis then saw Freddy Tandon sent off as Swifts coasted to victory.

Grays Athletic played host to their local rivals- and as of next season, landlords- Tilbury. Both sides needed the points, albeit for entirely different reasons. Athletic, only a point away from the top five at start of play, knew that victory could see them climb into the play off places; whilst the Dockers found themselves only a point above the bottom four. The opening goal went to the hosts, and it went to former Docker Roman Campbell on twenty six minutes, and the gap doubled seventeen minutes from time, Callum Watts with that one. That was that- only one win from eleven for the Dockers, who slip into the bottom four.

Stowmarket Town, two points behind fifth place Swifts at kick off but with two games in hand, were back at home to take on another stripy side, Basildon United. After a goalless first half the Bees broke the deadlock on fifty eight minutes as their fans worshipped at the Shane Temple, but the scorer later saw red. The Bees held on to end an eight match unbeaten run, and are fourteenth.

Fourth bottom Hullbridge Sports welcomed an East Thurrock United side who haven’t yet given up on their promotion dreams. The Rocks were five unbeaten and looking almost back to their best, whilst Sports had lost nine of their last ten matches- but it was the hosts who made the breakthrough, Martin Tuohy with the opening goal five minutes before half time. The equaliser arrived on fifty seven minutes, Jack Hayes drawing his side level, and the Rocks were quickly ahead, Alex Hernandez scoring for the second Saturday in succession. That was that, Thurrock two wins short of the top five, Sports eighteenth.

Bury Town welcomed Gorleston. The hosts started the day eleven points away from the play off spots, whilst the travelling Greens- probably the only travelling greens in the country at the moment, but don’t worry, you can eat turnips- knew they could leap out of the bottom four if they could fashion an away win. Bury’s problem is undoubtedly in front of goal, they’d gone four matches without scoring- and they fell behind sixteen minutes from time, Jacek Zielonka scoring his first of the day and third of the week. It got worse for Town as they saw Ollie Fenn sent off, and for the fifth match in a row they couldn’t find a goal, as the visitors climb out of the bottom four.

Brentwood Town welcomed Coggeshall Town to the Arena. The Blues were five unbeaten, whilst the Seed Growers had lost only one of their previous six- and that a narrow defeat against leaders Hashtag United- so will have travelled with real belief that they could climb to safety after spending much of the campaign at the bottom. The Seed Growers made the breakthrough on eleven minutes, Stan Leech opening the scoring, but the hosts drew level seven minutes before the break, Matt Cripps scoring for the second time this week- he had none prior to that! That turned out to be that, and the Seed Growers are four points from safety.

Bottom side Great Wakering Rovers, without a win since October 8th, welcomed Maldon & Tiptree to Burrough’s Park. They couldn’t get a win, but at least they didn’t lose, neither side managing a goal.

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