Urchins go five clear- whilst the Rooks boost their play off hopes

Hornchurch showed why they are our title favourites, hitting four goals at Wingate & Finchley last night to go five points clear at the top- with a game in hand. Looking to stretch their unbeaten run to ten matches, the Urchins went ahead on eighteen minutes, Liam Nash volleying home- and their job was made a whole lot easier a few minutes later, Michael Olarewaju fouling Ade Yusuff, seeing red and conceding a penalty. Tom Wright put that away, and within four minutes it was three, Sam Higgins deftly despatching a cross. Shortly after the restart the ten men pulled a goal back, Luke Ifill with that, and to give them some credit they actually won the second half, an Elliot Long goal with eighteen minutes to go giving them a second. By that point Higgins had already got a fourth for the visitors, however, and that was that.

Lewes closed to within three points of a play off spot with a comfortable win over bottom side Brightlingsea Regent at the Dripping Pan. Most of the action was confined to the first half, Jaydn Mundle-Smith heading home the opener on fourteen minutes and Joe Taylor doing Joe Taylor things fifteen minutes later, heading the ball past Charlie Turner in the visitors goal before tapping it home. That turned out to be that on the scoring front, so we can all admire Taylor’s scoring record- that’s thirty one for the season. Regent won’t be admiring it, however, as defeat leaves them thirteen points from safety with seven matches left.

Images from James Boyes- more here.

Horsham are now a point behind the Rooks- and four away from fifth place- after a draw at Potters Bar Town. The Scholars broke the deadlock seven minutes after the restart, Alieu Njie with his first goal for the club; but the Hornets were quickly level, Daniel Ajakaiye doing the honours ten minutes later. Charncey Dash later hit the post for the hosts, but that was that.

Herne Bay scored two goals right at the end of their match with Bognor Regis Town on Saturday to keep their survival hopes alive, and were looking to make it three wins in a row- but sadly for the home fans, this one got away. The only goal of the game arrived midway through the second half, and it went to the visitors, Scott Mitchell sealing all three points for Haringey Borough and perhaps earning revenge for a four-two defeat in August. Bay remain five points from safety, and now don’t have the luxury of a game in hand.

Finally, Bognor Regis Town and Margate met at Nyewood Lane. It has been rather a frustrating season for both sides, who have been maddeningly inconsistent for most of the campaign, but an early goal from Florian Kastrati castrated the Blues chances, giving the Rocks three points and moving them above their visitors.

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