Trawler Boys go seven points clear

Leaders Lowestoft Town travelled to Witham Town knowing that they could extend the lead over second place Felixstowe and Walton United- who weren’t playing- to seven points with victory, and the Trawler Boys made the breakthrough ten minutes before half time, Louis Macintosh with the opener from the spot. The visitors didn’t have time to relax, however, as Witham were level within five minutes, Archie McFadden heading home the equaliser. The Trawler Boys talisman Jake Reed already had thirty three goals this season, and five minutes after half time he had thirty four, putting the visitors ahead once more with a fine finish- and this time they held on for three points. Image from Shirley Whitlow.

Bury Town and Maldon & Tiptree- the latter under the new, if temporary, management of Jamie Cureton- couldn’t manage a first half goal at Ram Meadow, and they looked like they wouldn’t find one in the second half, either, but the hosts finally broke the deadlock with six minutes left, Louie Arnold heading home to deliver home fan happiness. They were even happier a few minutes later, as they had three points- and are only a point behind second place Felixstowe.

Bowers and Pitsea wanted to avoid a Manager of the Month curse against Enfield, whilst the visitors just wanted to avoid defeat after losing their previous eleven. Their chance of avoiding that twelfth successive defeat looked slim when TQ Addy opened the scoring from the spot six minutes into the second half, and that turned out to be the only goal of the game- a seventh win in a row for Bowers, who are eleven points clear of the side in sixth place and only a point away from second. A Sam Bantick effort which hit the bar was the closest the E’s came to salvaging a point.

Heybridge Swifts needed victory as they welcomed Redbridge, our sixth place side eight points behind fifth place Brentwood Town in the play off race at kick off. By the end that gap was reduced, but only by one, as both sides failed to score.

Brightlingsea Regent have been in magnificent form, and were looking for a fifth consecutive win- and a seventh in eight matches- as they headed to Ipswich Wanderers. They visitors went ahead on twenty six minutes, Kai Fletcher with the opener, and it was two-nil Regent ten minutes later as Marley Andrews doubled the advantage. Six minutes into the second half it was three-nil, Teddy Collis surely putting the visitors out of sight, and they strode even further into the sunset when Fletcher added a fourth on sixty four. The visitors weren’t finished, and they added a fifth only three minutes later, Collis once more finding the net- and Wanderers then picked up two red cards, both Kris Rose and Isaac Skubich sent off, as if their afternoon wasn’t difficult enough. Rather unsurprisingly Regent took advantage, Fletcher making it six and claiming the match ball with ten minutes to go, and Collin adding a seventh only a minute later to also claim a match ball, so we hope that Wanderers have plenty! Regent are eighth, ten points away from a play off spot having played two games more than the side currently occupying fifth place.

Walthamstow travelled to bottom side Stowmarket Town perhaps expecting three points, Stow still without a win all season- but the first half ended goalless. The second half, however, wasn’t goalless for long, Michael Bareck putting the visitors ahead on fifty six minutes, and the visitors quickly added a second, Jared Small making it two-nil. Kymani Thomas added a third fifteen minutes from time, and Walthamstow are seventh, eight points away from fifth place.

Gorleston and Basildon United delivered a pulsating first half in Great Yarmouth. There were only seven minutes on the clock when Ramie Mills put the Bees ahead from the spot, but the Greens levelled only ten minutes later, George Keys making it one-one. Another spot kick and a different taker made it two-one United on twenty five minutes, Samir Ali with it, only for a Gorleston goal in added time at the end of the half to make it two-two, Jacek Zielonka with his seventh of the season. The Bees regained the lead with twenty five minutes left, Ruben Bartlett-Antwi making it three-two, but they couldn’t hold on to claim three points to go with their three goals, Gorleston getting a third of their own right at the end- Abby Matthews earning a point.

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