Urchins march on- whilst Cray get a point which might have been three

We had two matches that featured promotion hopefuls v relegation strugglers yesterday, and whilst one of them went the way that might have been expected, the other came very close to delivering an upset.

Hornchurch joined second place Bishop's Stortford on eighty one points and put themselves in the driving seat in their quest for home play off advantage, walloping Brightlingsea Regent by three goals to nil. Each of those goals came in the first half, Micky Parcell, Tobi Joseph and Liam Nash doing the damage to Regent's survival hopes.

Our other match saw Enfield Town host Cray Wanderers. The Towners saw a six match winning streak come to an end at Brightlingsea Regent last time out, a result which did Cray no good at all, but the Wands came within two minutes of doing themselves a world of good yesterday. Jake Cass got a hat trick for the Towners, the first coming from the spot on twenty eight minutes- but they were ahead for only two minutes before Sam Wood equalised for the visitors. Cass restored home advantage two minutes from half time, but again Cray immediately reacted, and Richie Danquah levelled before the break.

With twenty four minutes left it was advantage Cray, Anthony Cook giving them the lead for the first time, and they were only two minutes from taking three points which would have lifted them out of the bottom three when Cass grabbed the equaliser and the match ball.

Wands are third from bottom, three points behind eighteenth place Regent, both of whom will be hoping that East Thurrock United, Merstham and Leatherhead have a bad day today.

The Towners stay fourth, but are now three points behind Stortford and the Urchins.

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