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

The first day of October ended with new leaders in the Premier Division. Those leaders were Hornchurch. Folkestone Invicta arrived at Bridge Avenue on top of the table, and left in fourth place as that man with the extra consonant, Lewwis Spence, stepped up to score the only goal of the game just after the hour mark- his sixth of the campaign. Horsham climbed to second place, breaking hearts at Corinthian-Casuals who were ahead with only three minutes remaining, yet left with nothing as the Hornets got two late goals. Potters Bar Town put four past Bishop’s Stortford, Bognor thumped Leatherhead five-one, whilst in the Velocity Trophy AFC Sudbury got four against Felixstowe and Walton United.

The Stortford and Felixstowe results were soon brought into focus as they were followed by managerial changes at both clubs. Stortford saw joint-manager Steve Smith step down, whilst the Seasiders saw manager Ian Watson and coach Danny Bloomfield depart ‘by mutual consent.’

Our latest set of awards were announced. The August Performance honours- courtesy of Supreme Trophies and Engraving- went to Corinthian-Casuals, Canvey Island, Tooting & Mitcham Utd and Chichester City; whilst our Golden Gloves Awards- thanks to AB1 Goalkeeping- went to Horsham, Great Wakering Rovers, Tooting once more, and Hastings United for the second month in a row. Our Manager Awards- as always sponsored by Anderson Travel- went to Dom Di Paola of Horsham, Stephen Butterworth of Great Wakering Rovers, Tony Reid of Westfield and Paul Bryon of Phoenix Sports.

Enfield Town, riding high in the table, attempted to improve yet further with the signing of Alex Read, whilst Felixstowe made a quick managerial appointment by bringing in former player Stuart Boardley.

The first Saturday of the month saw the FA Cup once more take centre stage, and we killed another giant. Sadly it was one of our own giants, as Enfield Town slipped to defeat at Chichester City. Other notable wins went to Maldon & Tiptree, who put six past Chertsey Town, whilst Margate famously won at Salisbury.

Back in the league, Horsham hit the top by defeating Hornchurch, with Folkestone Invicta up to second as they defeated Brightlingsea Regent by the odd goal in five. Histon were our big North Division winners, scoring four in eleven minutes in defeating Great Wakering Rovers (don’t mention a Manager of the Month curse), whilst Hanwell Town were on top of the South Central, putting three past Chalfont St Peter whilst Westfield lost against Barking. Waltham Abbey got six at Northwood, and Hastings United headed the South East table after defeating former leaders Sevenoaks Town.

A couple of our sides had drawn their FA Cup matches, and both marched on in midweek. Bowers and Pitsea finally overcame neighbours Canvey Island- although it took them a penalty shootout to do it- whilst Kingstonian travelled to Weston Super-Mare and won by four goals to one. Chertsey bounced back from their FA Cup hammering to wallop eight goals past Northwood in the South Central Division.

That hammering for the Woods put an end to the reign of manager Scott Dash, who left the club the same evening.

Potters Bar Town were chosen to be on the TV, as they were the BBC’s pick of the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round as they were drawn at home to Barnet.

Saturday 12th October saw a monsoon hit on Non League Day. It then didn’t stop raining until April- or at least it seemed that way. Horsham’s reign at the top ended at Bishop’s Stortford, and indeed they were leapfrogged by both Folkestone Invicta, who went top with victory at Corinthian-Casuals, and Hornchurch, who went second by winning at Bowers and Pitsea. Enfield Town and Cray Wanderers shared eight goals at Donkey Lane- but not equally, as Town won five-three; whilst Potters Bar Town continued their fine form by winning four-nil at Bognor.

It was FA Trophy Day, and Bedfont Sports were overjoyed with a three-nil win at Grays Athletic. Westfield also went to Essex, a long way into Essex- but it was worth it as they won five-three at Great Wakering Rovers, whilst Maldon and Tiptree won again, and scored another hatful of goals. This time it was Cray Valley PM on the receiving end of five of them, four of which came from Charlee Hughes.

Our biggest winners were Tilbury, who stuck six goals in the back of the Waltham Abbey net. North Division rivals AFC Sudbury got four at VCD Athletic.

As we moved into the second half of the month, Brightlingsea Regent were managerless no more, bringing in Kem Izzet, the former Colchester United midfielder, from his coaching position at East Thurrock United. Our first midweek set of fixtures saw Folkestone Invicta extend their lead with victory over Cheshunt, whilst Aveley got on the Trophy trail after their original match with East Grinstead Town was postponed, and it was worth the wait as they scored five goals.

Lewes were the next side to begin a manager search on 18th, as Darren Freeman left the club to take on an employment opportunity which required his full attention, Ross Standen and Tony Coade stepping up to fill his shoes in the short term.

And then it was FA Cup time again, with nine of our clubs at the border of the promised land. Chichester City reached the First Round for the first time ever with victory at Bowers and Pitsea, and they were joined by Carshalton Athletic, who defeated Dagenham and Redbridge, Kingstonian, who knocked out Dartford, and Maldon & Tiptree, who won for the sixteenth time in a row by defeating Royston Town- and were announced as hosts for the First Round draw on Monday evening.

These results were somewhat overshadowed by events at Coles Park, where Haringey Borough manager Tom Loizou took his side off the field after his players had missiles thrown at him and were allegedly racially abused. The shockwaves dominated the football media for days to come.

Opponents Yeovil Town were to win the rescheduled fixture.

The First Round draw, when it came, paired the Jammers with Leyton Orient, whilst Kingstonian faced a trip to Macclesfield and Carshalton were to host Boston United. Chichester City received a bye and were straight through to Round Two without kicking another ball.

Away from the glamour and lights of the BBC, Northwood appointed Jamie Leacock as their new manager. Shortly afterwards the South Central Division had another vacancy, as Bracknell Town parted company with Sam Lock- and then there was a South East departure, joint managers Phil Miles and Danny Chapman leaving Faversham Town.

In our midweek fixtures it was good news for Folkestone Invicta, who went four points clear after scoring four goals against East Thurrock United, who got only one.

We were then treated to another rainy Saturday, the last one of the month. It was FA Trophy day, and saw impressive wins for Hastings United, who travelled to AFC Dunstable and scored four; for AFC Sudbury, who dumped out Step Three Harrow Borough; for Aveley, who killed another giant as they defeated Bowers & Pitsea three-nil; and Basildon United weren’t to be outdone, defeating Chesham United- who were third in the Southern League Premier South. Haringey Borough put three past Horsham, Haywards Heath Town got the same number against Aylesbury, Kingstonian beat their landlords four-two and Maldon & Tiptree defeated another higher-division side, this time Cray Wanderers. Soham Town Rangers would also reach the next round by defeating a higher level side, knocking out St Ives Town in a midweek replay.

In the League, Harlow Town went top of the South Central with victory at Chalfont, Ashford Town won for the first time in scoring five against Hertford Town, whilst in the South East Division Three Bridges suffered a remarkable turnaround after going into the break three-nil up against Herne Bay but somehow contriving to lose five-three!

The month ended with a managerial vacancy at Burgess Hill Town- who parted company with Simon Wormull. Whilst Tilbury captured a big name- Golden Boot winning forward David Knight, who moved over from Bowers and Pitsea- where he got forty three goals in all competitions during 2018-19.