The Trawler Boys open up a lead once more

It seems like no time at all since Lowestoft Town were six points clear at the top of the Pitching In Isthmian North table, but the Trawler Boys found themselves on top of the pile only by goal difference as they kicked off against Wroxham. It took them only nine minutes to go ahead, and of course the goal went to Jake Reed, the number nine scoring goal number thirty one for the campaign, this one with his head. That looked to be that for the first half, but the Trawler Boys added a second three minutes into added time, Connor Deeks making an immediate impact on his return to the club. It was three-nil ten minutes from time, sixteen year old Sam Aldous with that one, and deep in added time there was a fourth- Harvey Sayer rounding off the scoring. A draw for Felixstowe saw the gap open up to two points as a result.

Image from Shirley Whitlow.

Felixstowe and Walton United were looking for a NINTH successive win as Heybridge Swifts came to call. The Seasiders were ten unbeaten, and that is now eleven, but neither side could manage a goal- a result which sees the hosts fall to two points behind the leaders, whilst Swifts are seventh, seven points away from a top five spot.

Third place Bury Town have been in magnificent form. With nine wins from ten, and unbeaten since mid November, the Blues found themselves nine points behind the leading duo, and with the difficult task of defeating in-form Witham Town at Spa Road facing them. The Blues took the lead on the half hour, the goal coming from the familiar name of Cemal Ramadan- his twenty fifth of the season. Ramadan had a twenty sixth with twelve minutes to go, and his side held on for victory and completed a Witham double.

Brentwood Town started the weekend in fourth, and after a run of one defeat in ten were looking for another three points as Enfield came to call. The Blues had lost only once in three months, whilst the travelling E’s had conceded five against Witham in midweek and had lost five in a row, so the hosts were undoubted favourites, but it took them until the fifty third minute to go ahead, Sam Jeremiah with the opening goal. The opening goal turned out to be the only goal, and the Blues stay fourth- and are now eight points clear of sixth place.

Bowers and Pitsea, in fifth place, were on the road to Maldon & Tiptree. The gap between Bowers and the Jammers was seven points at kick off, much of that engineered by a run of one defeat in ten for Bowers and a run of three straight defeats for their hosts. Bowers went ahead right on half time, Solomon Addy with the opening goal, and ten minutes from time the same player added another from the spot, making it two-nil to the visitors. Thomas Stagg added a third right at the end, and that was that. Bowers stay fifth, and have a seven point cushion between themselves and the chasing pack.

Walthamstow were on their own patch for an East London derby, Redbridge making the journey. Stow had been in fine form, winning their last three and scoring four goals in each of them, whilst the Motormen had one win from ten- and indeed five points from an available thirty- but it was the visitors who broke the deadlock just before half time, Bradley Bennett opening the scoring. Redbridge doubled their advantage with twenty two minutes left, Samson Uwandu making it two, and they held on for a valuable three points, whilst their hosts slipped to eighth.

Basildon United were back in action and back on their own patch, Grays Athletic making the trip. In eighth place, the Bees had a seven point gap to make up between themselves and the final , so a home win was undoubtedly a must, but they had the worst possible start as in the first minute the visitors went ahead, Jack Humphrey with the opening goal. The Bees levelled eleven minutes before half time, Ben Allen’s third goal in four matches giving the home fans something to shout about, and ten minutes from time Allen added another to put his side ahead for the first time- and they held on for three points, and climbed to sixth- but that gap remains seven points.

Brightlingsea Regent and New Salamis met at the Taydal in a mid table battle, four points and four places between the sides at kick off. Regent had taken only one point from their previous nine matches, a terrible run which has seen their promotion hopes depart, whilst the visitors had been consistently inconsistent all season long. The match started late and with a number of players still not present due to traffic issues, and it appeared to be ebbing towards a goalless draw, and then, right at the end, Daniel Brock found a winner for the hosts, who are tenth.

Finally, Ipswich Wanderers and their bunch of bananas welcomed Gorleston, and with both fruit and greens present this looked to be a healthy day out! Wanderers had only two wins from ten, and they fell behind in this one right on the stroke of half time, Joe Jefford giving the visitors the lead, but the rather less nutritiously named Matt ‘Steak Bake’ Blake levelled for the hosts on sixty four minutes, keeping his cool from the spot. Thirteen minutes later it was once more advantage Gorleston, Ismael Fatadjo making it two-one, and this time they held onto their lead to go twelfth.

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