Thirteen is unlucky for Boro, but a delight for the Gulls, for whom Sach gets five

Canvey Island, buoyed by Aveley’s defeat on Friday night, were quickly ahead against relegated Romford, Conor Hubble scoring after just two minutes. Bradley Sach added number two on thirteen minutes, and when Mason Hall got a third on twenty minutes it looked like it might be a case of how many. It was four nine minutes later, Hubble with a second, and five by the break, as Sach joined his team mate on two for the match.

It was seven within six minutes of the restart, Evans Kouassi with both of them- twenty seven for the season for the Gulls number eleven- and on fifty three minutes Elliott Ronto added goal number eight. Kouassi had his hat trick- a ten minute hat trick- when he got number nine, and there was still thirty three minutes remaining. Would we reach double figures?

On sixty three minutes, we did, Sach joining Kouassi in the fight for the match ball, and Sach looked to have won that fight when he got his fourth- and his sides eleventh- five minutes later. Was that it? Sadly for Romford, it wasn’t, as Sach got his fifth and Odei Martin Sorondo made it THIRTEEN. Finally that was it- and Romford host the Millers next.

Witham Town and Stowmarket Town needed points for entirely different reasons. The visitors made the breakthrough after a quarter of an hour, Reginald Thompson-Lambe forcing the ball past Rhys Madden, and they were two up before the break, Chris Casement doubling the advantage. Witham made things interesting when pulling a goal back twenty five minutes from time, Amaree Robinson-Jones halving the deficit, but the equaliser didn’t come, and Witham remain third from bottom whilst their visitors are third.

Relegation-threatened Hullbridge Sports fell behind against promotion-chasing Brentwood Town when Rob Harvey scored on nineteen minutes, and it was two-nil just after half an hour when Matt Cripps added a second. It was three before the break, Jai Reason with that one, and nine minutes after the restart Ashley Nzala for number four. George Smith got one back ten minutes from time but it was nothing more than a consolation, and Brentwood will be delighted to have opened up a six point gap on the sides in sixth and seventh.

Dereham Town knew that if they could defeat Grays Athletic they’d go ahead of them, but it was the visitors who made the breakthrough, Lewis Clark on seventeen minutes. Athletic then made their lives difficult as Callum Leahy saw red just before the break, but the ten men held on for victory.

Maldon & Tiptree’s fine form had taken them to within three points of the top five, but they fell behind against AFC Sudbury, Josh Stokes giving the yellows the lead seven minutes after the break- and it soon got worse, Marley Andrews making it two-nil. Andrews got another to make it three, and the visitors dealt a big blow to the Jammers play off hopes.

Barking and Felixstowe & Walton United kicked off very late due to a road traffic accident, and the Seasiders were the first to strike, Josh Hitter hitting home on twenty six minutes. Kieran Twinn doubled the visitors advantage ten minutes after the break, and although Barney Williams got one back from the spot with eight minutes remaining the equaliser wouldn’t come, and the Blues remain deep in trouble. The Seasiders are five points off a play off place, with a game in hand.

Basildon United , still in danger at the bottom, welcomed Heybridge Swifts, who went ahead from the spot three minutes before the break, Joe Claridge converting. That turned out to be the only goal, and it leaves the Bees in sixteenth, albeit delighted that the sides around them also lost.

Bury Town took the lead against Tilbury after seven minutes, Ollie Hughes with his fifth of the campaign, but the Dockers were level by the half hour, Charles Bampoe scoring from the spot, and the same player put them ahead with eighteen minutes remaining. Sam Jeremiah ended a positive afternoon for Tilbury when making it three from the spot just before the end, a result which sees the Dockers end the day three points behind their hosts.

Coggeshall Town, almost safe at start of play, welcomed Great Wakering Rovers, who are anything but and parted company with boss John Coventry in midweek. The Seed Growers were ahead after just five minutes, Jack Hayes with the goal, but Rovers drew level fourteen minutes from time, Jake Gordon with the equaliser. That might turn out to be a vital goal, as it sees them open up a four point gap on the bottom three.

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