That was the season that…wasn’t- a review: August 2019

Four thousand, one hundred and eighty. No, that’s not the number of hairs glued onto the top of Donald Trump’s head, it’s the number of days between ‘home’ games for Horsham- but that run finally came to an end as the Hornets played their first competitive match in their new Camping World Community Stadium on August 10th. Leatherhead ruined the moment somewhat by taking a point, but the 2019-20 season had begun. It seemed like an age since we’d had any football- a feeling we can now all replicate, sadly.

Only the Premier Division kicked off on that opening day- although we had a handful of sides in FA Cup action. Carshalton Athletic, the title favourites in our supporters poll, fell to defeat against Potters Bar Town- although that might have had something to do with the fact that they had a defender in goal for more than an hour after an injury to their keeper; whilst East Thurrock United stormed to the top of the table by hammering Cheshunt four-one.

Folkestone Invicta got the better of Worthing, whilst in the Cup Chichester City came through their Extra Preliminary Round tie against Erith Town, and we all wondered how far they’d get.

Two days later Carshalton’s attempt to get off the mark fell flat once more, as East Thurrock United made it six points from six with a two-one win, and on the following night Enfield Town got properly up and running by putting five past Bishop’s Stortford. Another side to make it six points from six were Invicta, who won a tight match at Cray Wanderers.

Our Step Four clubs were still finalising their squads for their big kick off on 17th of the month, but when the day arrived it was the Premier Division that again took top billing. Hornchurch went into the break in their match with Worthing level at nil-nil, then walloped six without reply after the break. Bognor Regis Town got five at Wingate and Finchley, again all of them coming in the second half, whilst another West Sussex side, Horsham, got four at Enfield Town. Kingstonian and Margate had to share the points whilst two of their players fought over the match ball, Kudus Oyeguna for the Blues and Louie Theophanous for the K’s both getting a hat trick in a three-all draw.

In the North Division Grays Athletic and Great Wakering Rovers set the pace with four goals each against Brentwood Town and Felixstowe & Walton United respectively; whilst in the South Central Hanwell Town and Chalfont St Peter also got four, against Bedfont Sports and Ashford Town. Burgess Hill Town started life in the South East Division for the first time (it had been the South Division the last time they’d been in it) with a seven-two victory over Hythe Town, and there would have been another fight over the match ball as Warren Mfula got four and Max Miller got the other three.

In midweek Jason Hallett returned to Canvey Island for the fourth time, and scored on his latest debut, but the real action was up the road in Basildon, as United hammered six past Romford- whose squad offered to refund their travelling supporters. Great Wakering Rovers went top of the North by making it two out of two with victory over Tilbury. In the South Central, Ware scored six goals against Barking but won only four-two, as two of them were at the wrong end! In the South East Division we had a Mid-Sussex derby, and Burgess Hill were brought firmly down to earth as Haywards Heath Town walloped them five-one, with Trevor McCreadie getting four.

Aveley were the first club of the season to start a manager search, as August 21st saw the resignation of their manager Danny Dafter. Danny had taken charge three-quarters of the way through the previous campaign and steered his charges to the Playoffs, but both he and his Assistant Gary Heywood decided to step away after the Millers drew their opening two fixtures of the new campaign.

The Bank Holiday weekend saw the sun uncharacteristically beat down, and in our featured match, Margate defeat Lewes. Haringey Borough went to the top of the Premier Division by putting five past Brightlingsea Regent, whilst Hornchurch and Folkestone Invicta were just behind. The FA Cup kicked off, and we had a great deal of success and rather a lot of goals. Chichester City got seven against Bridon Ropes, Basildon followed their six against Romford in the league with seven against Framlington Town in the cup, Staines Town smashed home six at Phoenix Sports whilst Horsham also got six, at Tower Hamlets. Chertsey Town, Grays Athletic and Bracknell Town each got five, whilst Coggeshall Town, Bowers & Pitsea, Dereham Town, Waltham Abbey and Ramsgate got four. Cray Wanderers put five past Hythe Town the following day.

By Bank Holiday Monday Invicta were top of the Premier Division, after they defeated Merstham and previous leaders Haringey Borough. Worthing and Horsham won Sussex derbies against Bognor and Lewes, whilst in the North Division Maldon & Tiptree hit the top for the first time by putting five past Witham Town. Managerless Aveley got four at Romford.

In the South Central Westfield and Tooting & Mitcham United were the only one hundred percent-ers left, after the first put four past Ashford Town whilst the latter had to make do with two at Chipstead. Haywards Heath led the South East Division, taking a point at Whitehawk, with Whyteleafe just behind after defeating Guernsey four-one. Ashford United climbed the table, walloping five past Three Bridges.

As the month ebbed towards a close, Aveley made a managerial appointment- and it was a familiar figure to Isthmian League fans as former Wingate & Finchley boss Keith Rowland stepped into the hotseat. If you aren’t an Isthmian League fan (in which case, you’re probably on the wrong website), Rowland played famously for West Ham United, Bournemouth and Queens Park Rangers.

There was still time for another matchday, as August 31st turned out to be a Saturday. The only two unbeaten sides in the premier Division went head to head on the Kent coast as Folkestone Invicta entertained Horsham, and a late, late goal from Johan Ter Horst gave the hosts victory and top spot, with Haringey Borough a point behind in second place. Lewes got their first win of the season and the best Premier Division score of the day, getting four at Leatherhead. Maldon remained top of the North Division, Tooting went top of the South Central with victory over Northwood, Hanwell Town put four past Hertford Town, Marlow got four at FC Romania, and Bracknell Town put four past Ashford Town.

Cray Valley PM were top of the South East Division, but Ashford United were the only side with a one hundred percent record and not far behind. Sevenoaks Town were our biggest South East scorers, getting four at Whitstable Town.