Twelve in a row for table-topping Stoke

After eleven consecutive victories it was no wonder that Basingstoke Town sat at the top of the pile, and they looked to be on the road to win twelve as Paul Hodges put them ahead against Leatherhead on ten minutes, to the delight of most of the seven hundred and fifty three watching on. The Tanners chances of a comeback were reduced when Jerry Puemo saw red with twenty minutes to go, and the hosts made sure when Brody Peart made it two just before the end.

Many months ago we suggested that anyone finishing above Walton & Hersham would be promoted. The Swans will still be focused on ensuring that nobody finishes above them, but our second place side had a tough trip to Hanworth Villa. Having won their last seven, Walton were flying- but the Villains are always difficult to defeat and it took seventy one minutes for the opener to arrive, Eddie Simon giving the Swans the lead. John Gilbert made things rather more secure with a second for his side nine minutes from time, and that was that. Walton remain seven points behind the leaders with a game in hand- and our image is courtesy of the club.

Marlow had climbed to third place after winning their last two, and wanted to make that three in a row as second bottom Merstham came to call. It was the visitors who went ahead, Jordan Wilson with the goal on thirty two minutes, but the hosts levelled with ten minutes left, Toby Raggett with the equaliser. Marlow are very good at winning from losing positions, but they couldn’t do it this time, the Moatsiders recording their twelfth draw of the season and staying six points from safety.

Long-time leaders Northwood had slipped to fourth after a run which had seen them lose five of their previous six- but they took the lead against Ashford Town nine minutes before the break, and quickly added another. Gareth Chendlik got the first and Dan Williams the second, and Williams made it three-nil with twenty minutes left to end the contest- although Lindell Stewart got a late consolation for the Tangerines. Northwood are up to third.

Chertsey Town were on the road, then the plane, then the road, as they travelled to the Channel Islands to take on a buoyant Guernsey. The Green Lions finally climbed out of the bottom four in midweek with a win at Binfield, and hoped to stay there- but they had to come from behind three times to take a point. That man Ross Allen was- as usual- responsible for their success, scoring a hat trick, the last of his trio coming right at the end to earn his side a share of the spoils. Jonathan Hippolyte opened the scoring for the Curfews on twenty one minutes, but five minutes later Allen got his first of the afternoon, from the spot. Bryan Taylor very quickly restored away advantage, before that man Allen did it again ten minutes after the break. Just after the hour Glenn Yala put the visitors ahead for a third time, and this time it looked as if they’d hold onto it, until Allen decided otherwise.

Binfield, three points away from the top five and a little out of sorts, welcomed a Westfield side who were under new management- and Ian Selley would have been delighted when Didi Ndombe put his side ahead on thirty six minutes. He’d have been even more delighted when the same player made it two immediately after the restart, and although James Beauchamp got one back for the hosts right at the end, that was that.

South Park welcomed bottom side Tooting & Mitcham United, and must have thought they’d taken three points when Joe Bell scored in the last minute. They hadn’t, as the Terrors hit back through Ryan Lopes to take a point.

Our other draw specialists, Southall- eleven draws so far this season- played host to third bottom Sutton Common Rovers. Hall had lost their last two, whilst Rovers were in their best form of the season, four unbeaten, and went ahead on nine minutes, Shakeel Morris scoring for the second Saturday in a row. Hall levelled eight minutes before half time, Jaden Thompson-Brissett with the goal- but they were almost immediately behind again as Zaid Ouaret Sorr restored Rovers advantage. Right at the end the hosts took yet another draw, Thompson-Brissett scoring again.

Thatcham Town took their fine form to a side searching for some of that, Bedfont Sports. Neither side could find a goal, and the Kingfishers remain ninth, their hosts still a point from safety.

Uxbridge and Chipstead met at Honeycroft, only a point and two places between them at kick off. It took only three minutes for the opening goal to arrive, and it went to the hosts, Anthony Mendy with his fourth since his return to the club. That turned out to be that so we hope there weren’t any late arrivals, and Uxbridge are up to twelfth.

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