The joy of six!

Tonbridge Angels still lead our Premier Division, but yesterday they conceded three times as many league goals in one match as they had in the previous seven! Bishop’s Stortford, a club in mourning after the sad passing of their Vice-Chairman John Turner earlier this week, delivered a tribute on the pitch as heartfelt as those being expressed off it, doing what nobody else has managed to do this season in defeating Steve McKimm’s side- and at Longmead, too.

The away side took an early lead through Ryan Charles, and then doubled it just before half time through Jake Cass. Cass got another on the hour, before going down to ten men- and giving Angels hope- when Johnville Renee was sent off. Tonbridge did try to make the most of the man advantage, Adem Ramaden and Craig Stone reducing the arrears, but it wasn’t enough and Bishop’s matched on. Much love to all at the Prokit Stadium as they try to come to terms with their sad loss, and to all of John’s family and friends.

Enfield Town, then, had the opportunity to take advantage of Angels slip up, and goodness, didn’t they take their chance, cutting the lead at the top to three points. In a match that kicked off early, hosts Corinthian-Casuals having work done on their floodlights, the home side’s supporters perhaps wished they were watching in the dark with the lights off as Enfield slammed home six goals. It was 0-2 at half time, Bilal Sayoud and Dan Rumens giving the Towners the advantage, and Billy Bricknell made it three before Gabriel Odunaike pulled one back for the home side. However Bricknell again, Sam Youngs and Sam Chaney made the coach trip back around the M25 a joy for the travelling support.

Third place Worthing fell behind at home to Leatherhead, Travis Gregory with the goal in the first half, and the Tanners looked like escaping with all three points in front of 906 at Woodside Road, particularly when Will Miles was sent off for the home side with four minutes to go. Substitute Callum Kealy had other ideas, however, and grabbed an equaliser a minute before the end. Thomas Cooney still had time to be sent off for the Tanners.

Brightlingsea Regent warmed up for the visit of Torquay United in the FA Cup next weekend by travelling to Folkestone Invicta and leaving with all three points. Harvey Hodd put Regent ahead in the first half with a 30 yard beauty, then scored again just before the break- although there was still time for Ian Draycott to pull one back before the half time whistle. Amar Lewis gave Regent daylight once more, only for Kane Rowland to make it 3-2. In added time both Hodd and Invicta’s Joshua Vincent got their marching orders, but the game ended with Regent taking the spoils.

Bognor Regis Town sit between Worthing and Invicta in fourth place, and they could have been higher had they managed more than a point at Potters Bar Town. In truth, they’ll probably be somewhat relived to have got that, however, coming from 2-0 down to draw. Eoin Casey and Keegan Cole got the Scholars double in the first half, but Bognor woke up after the break and Dan Smith and Harvey Whyte earned them a point.

Dorking Wanderers are sixth, a Luke Moore goal the difference between them and Harlow Town, whilst AFC Hornchurch scored three at sorry Burgess Hill Town to end the day in seventh, Nathan Cooper, Sean Marks and Lewwis Spence finding the target as the Green Elephants continue to search for a first victory. The wonderful form of the Rooks continued in eighth place, as Lewes- undefeated since a loss to Carshalton Athletic on the opening day- defeated Wingate & Finchley at Summers Lane through James Hammond. Haringey Borough are ninth, travelling to Margate and coming away with all three points courtesy of a goal from Georgios Aresti in the second half. Borough will play Harlow on Monday, and may have an exciting bit of sponsorship news to announce. Shh, no spoilers!

Merstham sit eleventh, just below Bishop’s Stortford, and they left it late yesterday, their two goals in the victory over Carshalton Athletic both coming in the last five minutes- Fabio Saraiva and Walter Figueira with them, whilst Whitehawk salvaged a late point at home to Kingstonian, Reece Hallard wiping out the K’s advantage- given to them by Elliott Buchanan- with just a minute to go.

North Division

Basildon United are now an amazing eight points clear at the top of the North Division after a 3-0 win at Dereham Town yesterday, maintaining their one hundred percent record after winning their seventh straight league match. A Brian Moses double and one from Eljay Worrell eased them clear of the Magpies. In the only other match, Mildenhall Town reached the heady heights of eight place by winning at Soham Town Rangers, Thomas Debenham, Abouhadje Kouassi and John Sands with their goals. Jack Mochalski scored for Rangers.

South Central Division

There were three matches in the South Central Division, and two ended in rather large victories. Hertford Town moved up to sixth, George Lutaaya and Elliott Bailey grabbing two each in a 4-1 win over South Park, for whom Sebastien Osei-Obengo got a consolation; whilst Westfield are eighth, second half goals from Daryl Cooper-Smith, Arron Watson and William Efambe on target at Chipstead. Northwood and Ware shared four goals, James Ewington grabbing both for the home side, Ben Hart and Junior Brown finding the net for Ware.

South East Division

The big match in the South East Division was between leaders Cray Wanderers and third place VCD Athletic at Oakwood, and it was Vickers who took an early lead, almost inevitably former Wand Charlie MacDonald breaking the deadlock. But Cray weren’t downhearted, and second half goals from Freddie Parker and Bradley Pritchard sent them seven points clear at the top. Phoenix Sports moved up to third, courtesy of victory in what was perhaps the most entertaining match of the day in the Division, at Guernsey. The Green Lions went 2-0 up through William Fazakerley and Matt Loaring, before Jeff Duah-Kessie and Danny Young made it level at the break. Loaring was then to put the home side ahead once more, but Duah-Kessie is on fire at the moment and managed two more to complete his hat trick, either side of another Sports goal from Lewis Clarke, to give the travelling side a 5-3 win.

Hythe Town, in sixth and flying, perhaps surprisingly went down 2-0 at a resurgent Sevenoaks Town- William Johnson-Cole and Frankie Sawyer with the goals in the second half; whilst Sittingbourne, in seventh, lost their derby against Ramsgate to a very late Rory Smith goal.

Whitstable Town are up to eighth, Louis Sprosen and Stephen Smith giving them a fine 2-1 win at Faversham Town, for whom Matthew Bourne found the net.

In an A264 derby which saw six players booked and one sent off, East Grinstead Town left Three Bridges with nothing other than a collection of fines (four of the bookings and the red card were theirs), winning 2-0 at Jubilee Field. O'shaye Giraud-Hutchinson and Mitchell Chapman got the goals in the second half.

FA Trophy

It was an exciting day for many of our clubs in the FA Trophy, particularly if their name was Ashford! In Middlesex, Ashford Town took on Heybridge Swifts and won 4-2, and you can read about that in detail HERE as it was our #bostikmatchday feature; whilst in Kent Ashford United and Haywards Heath Town faced each other for the second time in a week. There’ll be a third match shortly, after a rip-roaring 4-4 draw at Homelands- Josh Wisson, Ollie Rowe and Sam Corne (2) scoring for the home side, whilst Kane Louis, Karl Akehurst, Max Miller and Callum Saunders found the net for Heath.

An Ashley Lodge penalty gave Egham Town victory at AFC Sudbury, whilst two from Thomas Richardson and one from Alex Akrofi gave Aveley the spoils at home to Tooting & Mitcham United, for whom Dominic Morgan-Griffiths replied.

Dave Kendall gave Cheshunt an early lead at Bedford Town, but an equaliser means they’ll have to do it all again midweek, whilst Horsham continued their good form with a 2-1 win at Bury Town, Rob O'Toole and Tyrell Richardson-Brown with their goals before Ollie Hughes got a late, late consolation. Trey Williams gave Thamesmead Town the lead at Didcot Town, but they weren’t to hold on to it and lost 3-1, whilst a Joao Carlos double and a third from Adeyinka Cole gave Grays Athletic a convincing victory at Felixstowe and Walton United, for whom Jack Ainsley got a consolation.

Uxbridge (Kevin Warner) and Chalfont St Peter (Junior Mubiayi) cancelled each other out, whilst Hastings United notched up yet another impressive victory, travelling to Waltham Abbey as second took on second and leaving with a 3-1 win. Sam Adams put the U’s ahead before Daniel Aristidou equalised, but two late goals from Dajon Golding made the scoreline look convincing.

Finally, Whyteleafe walloped Bowers & Pitsea 4-1, goals from Matthew O'Donoghue, Marvin Armstrong and two from Eddie Dsane more than enough. Quentin Monville scored for Bowers.

We have one more match in the Trophy today, as Romford entertain Great Wakering Rovers.