The Towners turn their frowns upside down

Pitching In Isthmian Premier

Horsham and Enfield Town gave us a thriller. Both hadn’t reached their usual high standards of late, particularly the visitors who had only one win in six and lost heavily to promotion rivals Lewes at the weekend, but you can be certain that none of the five hundred and two who braved the weather to head to the Camping World Community Stadium will want a refund- although the home support will be wondering how they left with nothing.

Town had failed to defeat the Hornets in two previous meetings, but they went ahead in the twelfth minute through Sam Youngs. The equaliser was immediate, and came from Lee Harding, his sixth of the campaign; and Horsham then went ahead, Shamir Fenelon giving them the lead in the eighteenth minute. Once more the reply was swift, Lyle Della-Verde with an equaliser two minutes later, and then the visitors were once more ahead, Mo Faal finding his shooting boots after a uncharacteristic two blank matches to grab his twenty seventh of the campaign.

The next equaliser came nineteen minutes after the break, and it went to Eddie Dsane, the Hornets number eleven getting his ninth of the season- but the last word, twelve minutes from time, went to new Towners signing Jake Cass. The striker, who visited this part of Sussex back in October with his Bishop’s Stortford team mates but drew a blank that night, got the winner on his debut this time around- a goal which sent his club up to fourth place.

Rather remarkably there are now three points tied on forty three points- seven behind leaders Worthing- from second to fourth place, only two points between second and sixth, and indeed only seven points separating second and tenth.

Horsham from above image courtesy of the club.

The match between Potters Bar Town and Margate was postponed.

Pitching In Isthmian North

Felixstowe & Walton United hosted Great Wakering Rovers, and got revenge for their FA Cup defeat to the same opponents back in September with a hard-fought two one win.

The Seasiders came into this match four games unbeaten, and with impressive wins over Dereham Town and Canvey Island during that run; whilst Rovers had also defeated the Gulls recently, coming from two down in their last match to win three-two, so we expected a close match and indeed that’s what we got. The opening goal came six minutes before the break, and it came to Jordan Matthews for the hosts, but Rovers were level by the break, Martin Tuohy firing home from the spot- his thirteenth of the season. It did indeed turn out to be unlucky, as Ollie Canfer got the hosts winner just three minutes later, and United ended the night in twelfth.

Brentwood Town were a goal up against Bury Town when the lights went out, sadly seeing the match abandoned.

Pitching In Isthmian South Central

We’ve already dedicated an entire article to Hanwell Town’s twelve-nil win at Staines Town, but elsewhere Westfield and Chipstead met in a mid-table battle, and the hosts came from two goals down to earn a draw.

Sam Bell on seventeen minutes and Jack Beadle on twenty six gave the Chips a seemingly-commanding lead, but it was halved when Samir Bajja scored from the spot just before the break. Even then it looked as if the Chips would hold out for three points, but two minutes from time another spot kick was awarded to the visitors, and with Bajja off the field by then it was left to his replacement, Ross Murdoch, to do the honours. He stepped up and converted, to earn his side’s ninth draw from twenty matches this season.

Velocity Trophy

We had four matches in the Second Round of the competition, and for once, we’ve no dramatic penalty shootouts to write about!

Hythe Town were the big winners. The Cannons have gone seven league matches without a win but gave themselves a timely boost last night, walloping South Park by five goals to one. They fell behind on eighteen minutes, Ben Jordan scoring for the Sparks, but that was as good as it got for the visitors. Jacob Gilbert equalised nine minutes later and by half time Jack Nelson and Luca Woodhouse had added two more; and after the break Nelson quickly made it four before Riley Alford made it five in the very last minute.

Whitstable Town travelled to Herne Bay and got a modicum of revenge for their Christmas league defeat by coming away with the spoils. George McIlroy gave the Oysterboys the lead midway through the first half, Callum Watts made it two ten minutes after the restart, and although Bode Anidugbe got one back six minutes from time the visitors held out. Five hundred and eleven watched the match.

Another all-South East tie saw Corinthian host Sevenoaks Town, and the hosting hoops also got some revenge for their league defeat to the same opponents by coming from behind to claim victory. Louis Collins opened the scoring for oaks after just eight minutes, but two goals from Louie Clarke on fifty seven and sixty seven minutes saw Corinthian progress.

Finally, Thatcham Town hosted Faversham Town. The Lilywhites spent most of the match trailing Simeon Weekes fourteenth minute goal, but finished strongly, goals from Emmanuel Oluwasemo twelve minutes from time and Harry Harding right at the end seeing them through.

Follow the Pitching In Isthmian League on Instagram. Head here or search for theisthmianleague on your app. We're also on Facebook and Twitter.