Trawler Boys lose their perfect record- but are six clear

Hullbridge Sports became the first side to take a point from Lowestoft Town, holding the ten man Trawler Boys to a goalless draw and removing their one hundred percent record in the process. Kyle Haylock saw red for the visitors eighteen minutes from time, but they remain six points clear at the top.

Grays Athletic are up to second, after winning our match of the day at Parkside by the odd goal in five. Felixstowe and Walton United, in such good form prior to this match, found themselves two down by the third minute- Sam Bantick and an own goal doing the damage. Josh Hitter got one back for the Seasiders, but Bantick, having a fine season, restored the two goal lead with his ninth of the campaign eight minutes before half time. In a match which had ten bookings, Billy Holland got a second for the visitors, but it came too late to make a significant impact on the outcome.

Hashtag United ended the Heybridge Swifts unbeaten record with a two-nil win at the Len Salmon. Both goals came before the break, Jermaine Francis and Ben Brookes earning them the victory. The Tags are fourth, Swifts down to eighth, and our fine headline image comes from the long lens of Nashyphoto- more here.

Brentwood Town are back in the top five, courtesy of a narrow win over Great Wakering Rovers. The Blues fell behind after just two minutes, Callum Boylan with the goal, but were quickly level through Correy Davidson and then ahead by the midpoint of the half, Marlon Agyakwa with what proved to be the winner.

Stowmarket Town climbed to seventh, after they came from two-nil down to defeat Maldon & Tiptree, leaving the Jammers rock bottom and without a point. Laste Dombaxe and Harvey Sayer gave Maldon that advantage, before Josh Curry started the fightback just before the break. On sixty two minutes Reggie Lamb drew the visitors level from the spot, and five minutes later Jack Ainsley got what proved to be the winner.

AFC Sudbury are ninth, with as many as five games in hand over the sides above them. The Yellows defeated New Salamis three-one, three of the goals coming in the last ten minutes. Josh Mayhew opened the scoring for the hosts seven minutes after half time, and when Nnamdi Nwachuku made it two nine minutes from time that seemed to be that. The visitors sparked into life, however, and Ryan Hervel immediately struck back- and it took until the very end for Sudbury to make sure of the points, Nwachuku getting his fourteenth of the campaign.

East Thurrock United came from two goals down to take victory at Wroxham. A double from Ryan Miles gave the Yachtsmen a comfortable lead, but it proved less comfortable when Harry Critchley got one back, and not comfortable at all when Ryan Hawkins got sent off. Roman Michael-Percil equalised for the Rocks with nineteen minutes left, and then Jack McQueen also saw red to make it ten v ten. The visiting ten then got a late winner, Brian Moses sending then home with three points- although the ten became nine when Jordan Peart also saw red before the end.

Bury Town’s chances of jumping into the top five were thwarted at Tilbury, who scored the only goal of the game eight minutes into the second half. Darnell Kithambo got it, and the Dockers climbed to thirteenth.

Witham Town are in tenth, whilst visitors Coggeshall Town are still looking for their first win- but the Seed Growers did pick up a third point and a third draw of the campaign. Coggeshall went ahead on the half hour through Junior Nkwonka, but the hosts turned the game around after the break, Adam Vyse levelling on sixty five minutes and an own goal giving them the lead with twelve minutes left. Right at the end the Seed Growers went down to ten men, Lewis Soraf dismissed, but the depleted side still managed a late equaliser, Mike Osei getting it.

Gorleston will be delighted to have their first win of the campaign. Connor Deeks gave them a very early lead against Basildon United, scoring from the spot on seven minutes, and although the Bees equalised midway through the half through Daniel McCullock parity lasted only a minute before Jamie North restored home advantage. Seven minutes after the break it was three-one, George Keys getting the third, and Gorleston are off the bottom.

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