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

Wingate and Finchley started the month by strengthening their forward line, bringing in a striker who had scored more goals on his own than their entire team, with the arrival of Olu Akinsanya from Ware. At that point he had nine league goals and seven in cup competitions, and he managed six more for the Blues before the season came to an unfortunate end- and a few days later he had a new strike partner as Alex Read also arrived on Summers Lane.
Lots of other clubs went into a signing frenzy, with five new arrivals at East Grinstead Town, three at Cambridge City, three at Brightlingsea Regent, and seven at Cheshunt.

South Park said goodbye to their manager Jay Lovett, who was soon to be announced as the new boss at Burgess Hill Town, whilst Basildon United and their manager John Sussex also parted ways. Glen Kendall was soon appointed as the new man in charge of the Basildon hive- their fifth manager in little over twelve months.

The first Saturday of the month saw a collection of rain-affected postponements, something which was to become a rather monotonous refrain between now and the end of the season. Folkestone Invicta remained top but were held to a draw at Carshalton Athletic, whilst Horsham closed the gap to two points with victory at Haringey Borough. Hornchurch were fourth, winning against Potters Bar Town.

Our big North Division match saw Maldon and Tiptree, in third, defeat second place Grays Athletic three-one, the Jammers ending the day two points behind leaders Bury Town but with three games in hand. Aveley were big winners, hitting Heybridge Swifts for five, whilst new Tilbury signing and North Division Golden Boot holder David Knight got a hat trick on his debut, as the Dockers also got five- in their case against Histon.

Harlow Town stayed top of the South Central by defeating Westfield, but Chertsey Town took the plaudits, putting seven past FC Romania. Ware got four at home to Northwood, and Bracknell Town hit five at Staines Town. Cray Valley PM remained at the summit in the South East, with Hastings United breathing down their necks.

Our latest set of awards were announced. The October Performance honours- courtesy of Supreme Trophies and Engraving- went to Carshalton Athletic, Maldon & Tiptree, Chertsey Town and Chichester City- the latter for the second month in a row; whilst our Golden Gloves Awards- thanks to AB1 Goalkeeping- went to Potters Bar Town, Dereham Town, South Park and Whitstable Town. Our Manager Awards- as always sponsored by Anderson Travel- went to Andy Leese at Enfield Town, Karl Duguid at Heybridge Swifts, Kevin Maclaren at Chertsey Town and Kevin Watson at Cray Valley PM.

Our first set of Velocity Trophy matches this month saw at extraordinary match at Julius Martin Lane. Hosts Soham Town Rangers went in at half time four goals behind against Ware, before scoring four of their own after the break- and winning a penalty shootout.

November 10th was FA Trophy day once more, and what a day it was for Tooting & Mitcham United, who travelled to Premier Division Margate and hit four goals. AFC Sudbury were the next side in the headlines, as they travelled to Worthing, who were building a good unbeaten run, and filleted the Mackerel Men four-one.

There was no giantkilling for Basildon United as Hornchurch got six, whilst Enfield Town hit five at home to Thatcham Town. Aveley got a three-all draw at Taunton Town- we’ll have news of the replay shortly- whilst back in League action Horsham went top after sticking four goals past Bowers and Pitsea. Corinthian-Casuals picked up their first league win of the season at Bishop’s Stortford, whilst Cray Wanderers showed Cheshunt no mercy, scoring six.

Heybridge Swifts got back to winning ways in the North Division, hitting five against Romford, whilst Hanwell Town topped the South Central after narrowly defeating Ware. Uxbridge moved up by scoring five against Hertford Town, and FC Romania got four against South Park.

The South East Division saw Cray Valley PM go four points clear after beating Ramsgate, whilst VCD Athletic walloped Ashford United.

Faversham Town announced a new manager, James Collins taking up the role. Basildon had only just appointed their new manager but then decided they’d done so in haste, so Glen Kendall hadn’t even been given time to unpack his belongings before departing.

Sunday was FA Cup day, with Maldon and Tiptree and Kingstonian playing League Tow opposition. The Jammers travelled to Leyton Orient, seventy eight places above them, and defeated the O’s two-one, whilst the K’s were even more emphatic, slamming four goals past a crisis-hit Macclesfield Town. The following evening Maldon hosted the Second Round draw, and the Jammers were drawn against Newport County or Grimsby Town, the K’s were to host AFC Fylde, whilst Chichester City found they were to travel to Wycombe Wanderers or Tranmere Rovers.

The next big story came from Romford, who announced a Tamplin takeover, as former Billericay Town owner Glenn arrived on his white charger. Shortly afterwards Boro manager Paul Martin departed, and within a few days Romford had signed fourteen new players.

In our midweek fixtures Bognor Regis Town hit Margate for six, whilst Maldon & Tiptree killed another giant in the FA Trophy, this time Folkestone Invicta getting in a jam. Aveley did finally see off their giant, too, defeating Taunton Town at Parkside.

Former Three Bridges boss Martin Dynan was announced as the new manager of South Park.

Saturday 17th started with Horsham at the top of the pile, and it ended the same way as a late goal saw them defeat Potters Bar Town. Folkestone were just behind, ruining Enfield Town’s unbeaten home record at Donkey Lane, whilst Cray Wanderers were up to third.

Romford’s new dawn- and new squad- started with defeat against Coggeshall Town in the North Division- so they added six more players on Monday, and two more in midweek. Maldon failed to win, Histon taking a point and nearly getting all three. Aveley’s good form continued as they got five against Soham, whilst Hanwell Town remained top of the South Central as they defeated the only other unbeaten side, Tooting & Mitcham United, one-nil. Waltham Abbey were our big scorers, getting five against FC Romania, whilst Cray Valley’s four point lead in the South East was cut to two as they drew and Hastings United won. VCD Athletic hit four goals against Burgess Hill Town.

In midweek we had a extraordinary match at Three Bridges. The hosts went into half time against Whitehawk three-one to the good, and then Lucas Rodrigues came on, scored a hat trick, and the Hawks emerged five-three winners. Maldon & Tiptree got back to winning ways in the Velocity Trophy, scoring six against Bury Town.

South Park did their best Romford impression, with seven new arrivals, and then it was another FA Trophy Saturday (24th).

Aveley had another giant to face, in Biggleswade Town, and could have been accused of being serial killers after winning four-one. Enfield Town became the first side to defeat Maldon & Tiptree in anything but a penalty shootout, whilst in the League Worthing climbed to third with victory over Corinthian-Casuals. Romford’s new additions failed to gel as Dereham Town beat them three-one in the North Division, whilst Ware and Hertford Town were our big scorers, hitting six against Chipstead and Northwood in the South Central. Cray Valley remained top of the South East Division.

Midweek saw a collection of games called off due to the wet weather- but it also saw something rather special at Pilot Field, Hastings United getting TWELVE against East Grinstead Town in the Velocity Trophy. David Rodari got eight of his own, and is pictured above- image from the club.

Hornchurch defeated National League South side Oxford City in the FA Trophy, and then it was time once more for the FA Cup.

Maldon & Tiptree fell to a heartbreaking added time defeat against Newport County as the country watched it all unfold on the BBC, whilst Kingstonian fell to defeat too, as AFC Fylde got two goals at King George’s Field. Our third entrant in the Second Round had to wait until December 1st for their match, as Chichester City travelled to Tranmere.

We had some important matches in the League, too. Margate delivered a shock, travelling to face leaders Horsham and winning three-nil. Folkestone Invicta couldn’t take advantage, however, their nil-nil draw at Lewes one of six draws from the nine Premier Division matches that took place.

In the North Division Heybridge Swifts went level with Bury Town at the top of the table after defeating Great Wakering Rovers four-two, whilst Aveley got another four, this time against Cambridge City. The South Central Division saw Ware hit another six goals, this time at Bracknell Town, whilst Cray Valley won at Whitehawk to remain at the top of the South East Division.