Tags triumph at the death

Our leaders, Hashtag United, saw a twenty one match winning run come to an end with defeat at Stowmarket Town last weekend. Still six points clear at the top as we kicked off, and with only five matches to go, the Tags welcomed relegation-fighting Coggeshall Town to the Len Salmon this weekend, looking to take a step closer to the title with second place AFC Sudbury hoping that the Seed Growers can upset the apple cart. There were apples everywhere on thirty four minutes when Darnell Kithambo put the visitors ahead, but the Tags levelled ten minutes from time, or Teniola time, Alex with the goal. Right at the end Teniola was pointing at an imaginary watch once more, as he scored again, delivering what had seemed an unlikely three points and ensuring they held onto that six point lead. The Seed Growers may feel hard done by, but they remain twelve points from safety.

Image from Nashy Photo.

Second place Sudbury welcomed the Tags conquerors, Stowmarket Town, who were looking to reinforce their own promotion credentials by taking another big scalp. The Yellows went ahead just after the half hour through former Stow man Ben Hunter, and another former Stow hero Reggie Thompson-Lambe quickly added a second. That was that, the Yellows remaining second, Stow remaining fourth, and Sudbury going ahead in wins this season- four meetings, two Yellow wins, one Stow win and one draw. They may yet get to meet again, and that one might be the most important of the set!

Heybridge Swifts hoped to capitalise Felixstowe and Walton United’s rain-affected absence, and they had a very good start, Matthew Price opening the scoring on five minutes against Bury Town. Rob Harvey added a second with only sixteen minutes left on the clock, and Ben Sartain made quite sure with a third seven minutes from time. Swifts are up to fifth.

Grays Athletic knew they may be able to climb back into the top five by defeating Basildon United, and they went ahead on fourteen minutes, Ronnie Winn with the opener. The Bees, who suffered their first defeat in six last weekend, were level six minutes before the break, Ben Allen with the equaliser, and then went ahead, Scott Pethers making it two-one just before the break. The hosts levelled with nineteen minutes left, Roman Campbell with the goal- and Campell then put his side ahead. In the very last minute the Bees got the point their efforts deserved, Allen equalising for the second time in the match- a result which sees Athletic in sixth, the Bees in thirteenth.

We had a critical battle at Chadfields. Hosts Tilbury were eight points from safety and surely needed to win if they were to have any chance of a great escape; whilst visitors Great Wakering Rovers were two points further back. The Dockers broke the deadlock just before the half hour mark, Tom Salter with the goal, but the visitors were level before the break, evergreen striker David Knight doing what he does best. A blow for Rovers arrived just before the break, Ugonna Eminike seeing red, and six minutes after the restart Harry Donovan restored the Dockers lead- but the ten men hit back, Knight levelling from the spot just after the hour. Disaster struck for the Dockers when the visitors then scored again, Knight completing his hat trick, and Jack Thompson somehow added a fourth ten minutes from time. Three minutes later the hosts hit back through Luke Wilson, but could they find an equaliser? They couldn’t, and Rovers move above their rivals, albeit seven points from safety.

Sixteenth place Witham Town travel to New Salamis this afternoon.

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