Urchins stay top with a late winner

League leaders Hornchurch had won their previous five matches in all competitions, scored nineteen goals in the process, conceded two, and had three clean sheets from their last three. It was, then, no surprise when Sam Higgins opened the scoring for the Urchins on seventeen minutes against Cray Wanderers- but the visitors have also been impressive this season and one of their best performers, Dan Bassett, equalised four minutes before the break. It took until four minutes from time for the crucial moment of the match, and it came to the hosts, Higgins making it two-one.

The Urchins striker now has ten goals for the season, and has scored in his last six matches.

Potters Bar Town had taken only two points from their last eighteen against Folkestone Invicta, and the last time they met, in January, the stripes won seven-nil- but this is a very different Scholars side, and they went ahead on three minutes, Dejon Noel-Williams scoring from the spot. Invicta were level almost immediately, however, Adam Yusuff with the goal, but just before the break Noel-Williams restored the visitors lead. The equaliser arrived with twenty five minutes remaining, Ibrahim Olutade delighting the home faithful, but they didn’t stay delighted, as Noel-Williams got his hat trick four minutes from time and sealed a famous win for the visitors, who are level on points with Hornchurch at the top of the table.

A point behind our leading duo are Bishop’s Stortford, who are beginning to look more like the side who came closest to challenging Worthing last season. The Blues took the lead at Horsham six minutes before the break, Matthew Johnson with the goal. Frankie Merrifield doubled their advantage ten minutes after half time to the disappointment of most of the nine hundred and forty seven present, and that was that. Horsham are fifth.

Aveley welcomed Herne Bay and a crowd of three hundred and fifty seven to Parkside. After a goalless first half George Sykes broke the deadlock from the spot on fifty one minutes, his fifth goal of the campaign, but the visitors were soon level, Rory Smith with the equaliser. That was that, the Millers in fourth, Bay still on the bottom- if only on goal difference.

Hastings United’s welcomed Carshalton Athletic, and after a goalless first half the first significant action was a red card, Tom Beere departing for the Robins. The hosts took advantage thirteen minutes from time, Sam Hasler opening the scoring, and their third one-nil win in a row took them up to sixth.

Margate and Enfield Town met in a mid table battle at Hartsdown Park. Town had won four of the last five meetings between the clubs, the last one of those a four-nil victory in January- but they went behind on twenty two minutes, Cameron Brodie scoring for the hosts. Right back up the other end we went, and debutant Wraynel Hercules equalised for the Towners- but just after the break it was advantage Blues once more, Harry Hudson restoring their lead. Once more the lead couldn’t be held, Joseph Payne equalising on fifty six minutes- and just a minute later the visitors were ahead, Andre Coker completing the turnaround. Another from Coker made it four-two, and eleven minutes from time Bilal Sayoud added a fifth, ensuring it was seaside party time for the travelling faithful- image above courtesy of the club.

Five hundred and forty nine watched the match, and the Towners climbed to seventh.

Canvey Island welcomed Corinthian-Casuals to the seaside. The Gulls last league win had been on August 27th- whilst Casuals hadn’t managed a victory in any competition since the opening day, and had lost their last three matches. It took only ten minutes for the hosts to take the lead, Bradley Sach opening the scoring. Evans Kouassi followed up soon after with his seventh of the campaign, and that was that until the last minute, when Elijah Simpson got one back for Casuals- but it was too little, too late. The Gulls are ninth.

Bognor Regis Town were in turns scintillating and frustrating in a two-two draw with one of our draw specialists, Kingstonian, on Wednesday night- and they faced our other draw specialists, Wingate & Finchley, at Nyewood Lane. The Rocks hadn’t won a league match since that six-one thumping of Aveley on August 20th, but they were quickly ahead in this one, Isaac Olaniyan, who scored the opener in midweek, adding another- his fourth of the campaign. They doubled their tally when Nathan Odokonyero got his ninth of the campaign just after the half hour, and the same player reached double figures from the spot just after the break.

The Blues then confirmed their own fate, Camron Gbadebo seeing red, and most of the six hundred and twenty seven watching on went home rather content, with their side up to eighth. Wingate are twentieth.

Billericay Town played host to Lewes and a crowd of eight hundred and sixty nine; the Blues in their best form of the campaign so far, the Rooks seemingly having lost their way. Town had three wins and a draw from their previous four matches in all competitions, and had Alfie Cerulli in fine form, with six goals in his last four matches- but it was another source who scored the opening goal, John Ufuah putting the Blues ahead on eleven minutes. Town went two up seven minutes after the restart, Chris Dickson with their second, but the Rooks gave their fans hope when Joe Taylor got one back just before the hour. That hope was diluted when Michael Klass was sent off, and Town are up to twelfth, whilst Lewes fall to fifteenth and have gone more than a month without a league win.

After five draws from seven matches, Kingstonian fans were hoping that their side could start turning draws into victories. They hit the road to Bowers & Pitsea, the hosts without a win since August 20th and having themselves draw three of their last four, and Bowers scored the first goal on the half hour- but sadly they scored it at the wrong end, putting the K’s ahead. Jamal Allen made amends for his own goal by almost immediately scoring at the other end too, but Tyrese Owen, impressive in midweek against Bognor, soon restored the visitors lead. Mac Chisholm then made a super save to keep the K’s ahead, but Bowers did equalise midway through the second half, Duane Ofori-Acheampong breaching their rearguard. That was that, six draws from eight for the K’s, four from nine for Bowers.

Finally, Brightlingsea Regent welcomed Haringey Borough with both looking to bounce back after midweek defeat. After a goalless first half, and indeed a goalless first hour, Zack Littlejohn put Regent ahead; but the visitors levelled twelve minutes from time, Max Ovenden with the goal. And that was all she wrote, with regent remaining in the bottom four on goal difference, Borough three points ahead in thirteenth.

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