Trawler Boys stay top- whilst the Greens cup dream is over

Leaders Lowestoft Town were off to Tilbury to take on a newly-strengthened Grays Athletic squad. The Trawler Boys remained undefeated in the League at kick off, with Athletic yet to record a victory- and the visitors were ahead after sixteen minutes, Harvey Sayer scoring from the spot. Sam Bantick quickly levelled for Athletic, but the Trawler Boys were back in front by the break, Jake Reed’s eighth of the season doing the damage. With fifteen minutes remaining Adam Hipperson made it three-one, and a last minute goal from David Knight was only a consolation, as the visitors clinched a three-two win to stay a point clear at the top.

Image from Shirley Whitlow.

Second place Walthamstow were at home, putting their unbeaten record on the line against Brentwood Town. The hosts went out of the FA Trophy on penalties at Bury Town last weekend but had kept three clean sheets in their four league matches so far; whilst Town started the day in thirteenth and hadn’t played for a fortnight, their last match a one-nil win over Ipswich Wanderers- their first league victory of the campaign. The visitors went in front just before the break, Daniel Ogunleye with the goal, and the same player made it two ten minutes after the break. With fourteen minutes left Jay Rolfe got a goal back, but that was as good as it got for the hosts., who slip to fourth.

Heybridge Swifts knew that they could go top should the top two slip up, and they put their one hundred percent record on the line against Witham Town. Swifts had previously played seven matches in all competitions, hit Waltham Abbey for five in the FA Trophy last weekend, and had lost only once- but they were behind three minutes before half time, Luke Ige opening the scoring for Town. The visitors have proved rather difficult to defeat this season, and they held on for three valuable points to climb to twelfth, Swifts slipping to fifth.

Another set of one hundred percent-ers, Brightlingsea Regent, were back at the Taydal, where they faced a newly strengthened Maldon & Tiptree. Regent had already played nine matches in all competitions this season, and had emerged triumphant from eight of them- and they went ahead in this one eight minutes before the break, Marlon Agyakwa with the breakthrough. Just before the hour Olly Sotoyinbo made it two, and with seventeen minutes left Agyakwa made quite sure, adding a third. Regent are up to second, and are the only side to retain a one hundred percent record.

Felixstowe and Walton United took their unbeaten record to Basildon United. The fifth place Seasiders only defeat this season had come against top flight Enfield Town in the FA Cup, and they’d won their last three in League, Trophy and County Cup whilst scoring thirteen goals, so it was little surprise when they opened the scoring on seventeen minutes, Joe Whight converting a spot kick. A minute later and the advantage was doubled through Tom Bullard, but the Bees quickly halved the arrears, Kye Jude with the goal. The two goal advantage was restored when Charlie Warren made it three-one to the visitors just before half time, and shortly after the restart it was four- but the visitors then saw Warren dismissed. The Bees pulled it back to four-two, Kai Brown with his seventh of the season, but that was as good as it got, the Seasiders up to third.

Redbridge started the weekend in sixth place. The Motormen welcomed New Salamis to the east end of the Central Line, and were looking for some revenge, as it was New Salamis who removed them from the FA Cup at the start of the season. The visitors saw Simon Omope head them ahead on seven minutes, but within two minutes the same player had been shown a red card and went from hero to villain. It was therefore title surprise when Warren Kayembe quickly equalised, but the hosts then saw themselves reduced to ten as Lewis Clarke saw red, and Nathan Mandla quickly restored the visitors lead. The ten Motormen then took control, and were level within two minutes through Solomon Oguwomoju before almost immediately going ahead through Soumen Nandi. The visitors weren’t finished yet, and they earned a point right at the end, Josh Williams having the final word in an exhausting match when making it three-three.

A much changed Enfield were boosted by a late win in the Velocity Cup in midweek, and hoped for another as Wroxham headed to Bishop’s Stortford. The E’s had eight debutants in that victory so did particularly well on that basis- and they had a fine start in this one, Jay Nash putting them ahead on sixteen minutes. The travelling Yachtsmen had gone four matches without a win, but levelled five minutes before the break through Josh Hazell- but the restart brought a flurry of goals, Frankie Franz restoring Enfield’s lead before Ryan Hawkins immediately levelled once more. Enfield were ahead again on fifty four minutes, Billy Purdy making it three-two, and this time the lead was held, the E’s up to sixth.

Stowmarket Town and Bury Town met again. The visitors came into this one four unbeaten and beginning to motor, and, after losing to Stow four times last season- twice in the league, and also in the Suffolk Cup and FA Trophy- their fans would have been desperate for a little revenge- and they’d have been overjoyed when Luke Brown put their side ahead just before the break. The hosts were soon down to ten men, Bradley Byrne seeing red, and the visitors capitalised, Brown quickly adding a second and Max Maughn making it three with twenty two minutes left. Into the last five minutes, and the ever-reliable Cemal Ramadan got into the act after emerging from the bench, adding goals number four and five to ensure local bragging rights, three points and an emphatic victory in front of six hundred and fifteen at Greens Meadow. Bury are up to seventh.

It hasn’t been the best of starts for Ipswich Wanderers. Four league matches had brought four defeats, but with new boss Glen Driver in place nobody expected that to continue for much longer, and they had the chance to kickstart the Driver era as Bowers & Pitsea came to call. The visitors also had some recovery to do after three defeats, and they went ahead on thirty four minutes as Daniel Thompson opened the scoring. It was two-nil with eighteen minutes remaining, Manny Oluwasemo doubling the advantage for the visitors, and that was that.

Emirates FA Cup

Gorleston were the sole surviving North Division side in the FA Cup. They had their biggest test yet, National League South side Hemel Hempstead Town heading to Great Yarmouth. After a goalless first half the visitors took control after the break, going ahead on fifty five minutes and quickly making it two-nil soon afterwards. That was that, but the Greens have done themselves- and the League- proud.

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