Ten man Yellows grind out victory- and stay four clear

Bottom v top might have looked like an away win certainty, but an improving Coggeshall Town made AFC Sudbury work incredibly hard to maintain their four point lead. The match had only one goal, and it arrived just six minutes from time, Josh Stokes with it- but by that point the Yellows were down to ten men, Harrison Chatting seeing red. The Seed Growers remain ten points from safety, but will be buoyed by their recent performances despite still searching for their first league victory.

Equestrian image from Steve Screech.

Second place Hashtag United had been in fine form, with nine wins from ten- and made it ten wins from eleven with a comfortable victory at Witham Town. The hosts made it easy for them by going down to ten men before the half hour, Luke Ige seeing red, but they were already a goal down by then, Percy Kiangebeni with the opener. Six minutes before the break Kiangebeni made it two, and there was time for a third before the break, Thomas Anderson with that one. Alex Teniola added his eighth of the season in the early stages of the second half, and that was that- the Tags four points behind the leaders. That’s three wins in a row for United against Witham, and ten goals scored.

Stowmarket Town lost for the first time since August 16th as they fell to defeat at Wroxham last time out, and it was two defeats in two as they welcomed Felixstowe and Walton United. The Seasiders got off to a flyer, Charlie Warren opening the scoring on two minutes, and it was two-nil on ten minutes as Ollie Canfer added another. The third arrived midway through the first half, Joe Whight with that one, but if the visitors thought the game was as good as over they were wrong, as the hosts woke up in the last half an hour. Chris Casement got a goal back just after the hour, and with eleven minutes left Ollie Sotoyinbo made the closing stages interesting- but the equaliser didn’t arrive, and only goal difference keeps Felixstowe out of the top five.

Lowestoft Town ended a four match winless run by defeating neighbours Gorleston comprehensively last time out, and they were quickly ahead at Bury Town, Sam Johnson opening the scoring after just seven minutes. They then made life rather difficult for themselves as keeper Luke Holt saw red with only nineteen minutes on the clock, defender Sam Nunn ending up in goal. When Ashley Boatswain equalised for the hosts it looked as if they would go on and win; however they couldn’t capitalise on their advantage and the ten men held on for a point. Bury also ended up with ten men, Cruis Nydazayo seeing red just before the end.

Heybridge Swifts took a run of three straight defeats- and five without a win- to Great Wakering Rovers, and got back to winning ways, if only just. The only goal of the game went to Sam Carter after twenty eight minutes, and it was enough to send Swifts back up to third.

We’d a local derby as East Thurrock United welcomed Grays Athletic. The visitors looked to be approaching their best once more, winning three of their last four and- of course- hitting seven last weekend, and they delivered another win in front of five hundred and fifty two at Rookery Hill. Sam Bantick has been a big part of their best moments this season, and he opened the scoring seven minutes before the break with his fifteenth of the campaign. The goal action then came to an end until the final moments, Cheyce Grant making it two-nil to the visitors before Jordan Peart got one back for the Rocks. Athletic climb to seventh, a point behind fifth place Lowestoft.

New Salamis and Basildon United managed a goal each – both coming from the spot. Michael Salako gave the hosts the lead nine minutes before the break, with Derek Asamoah’s seventeenth of the season earning his side a point with seventeen minutes remaining.

Brentwood Town got back to winning ways against Tilbury- the Dockers boss John Coventry losing his position as a result. Solomon Ogonwomoju gave the Blues a fifth minute lead only for Charlie Morris to quickly equalise, but the hosts were ahead eight minutes before the break, George Craddock making it two-one. It was three for the Blues just after the hour, James Folkes with the goal, but the Dockers quickly reduced the arrears, David Knight bringing it back to three-two. Six minutes from time Daniel Ogunleye got a fourth for the hosts, and secured three points.

Wroxham’s best run of the campaign- culminating in that victory over Stowmarket Town last time out- had seen them climb to the heady heights of thirteenth place; and it got even better for the Yachtsmen, who extended their unbeaten run to seven with victory at Gorleston. Ryan Curtis opened the scoring for the visitors on twenty five minutes only for the hosts to level before the break through Adam Tann. The winner arrived six minutes from time, Jordan King sending his side up to twelfth.

Finally, Maldon & Tiptree, fresh from that morale-boosting win over local rivals Heybridge Swifts last time out, finally climbed out of the bottom four with a win over Hullbridge Sports. The winning goal came from new signing Terrell Egbri after sixteen minutes, and it sent the Jammers up to the heady heights of fourteenth place.

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