Urchins win without a keeper!

Because of FA Trophy commitments we had only four matches in Pitching In Isthmian Premier this weekend- but they did involve three of the top five.

Hornchurch started the day six points off the top with three games in hand, and without a goalkeeper, Joe Wright having to drop out just before kick off. That meant that midfielder Joe Christou went in goal, but the Urchins went ahead just before the break at Margate- Sam Higgins getting his twelfth of the season and scoring for the sixth successive league match. The Blues have so often relied on Ben Greenhalgh to get them out of trouble over the last two seasons, and he drew them level eight minutes after the break, but the Urchins almost immediately restored their lead, Liam Nash moving into double figures for the season. Three points were secured with a third goal three minutes from time, Jack Munns with that one, and the Urchins closed the gap at the top to three points and made it three wins in a row against the Blues- rather remarkably given their keeper crisis.

Aveley ended a run of two defeats with two victories in the last week, in League and Velocity Cup. The Millers were on the road to Brightlingsea Regent, without a positive result in the league since August Bank Holiday Monday, and it was no real surprise when Blaise Riley-Snow put the visitors ahead after eleven minutes. The away pressure continued and it was three-nil by the break, two goals just before they all trooped off for a half time orange coming from Harry Gibbs and Kenny Aileru. Within eleven minutes of the restart Ryan Scott made it four-nil, and the same player made it five just before the end- but the Millers still weren’t done, and Aileru made it six. Regent have now gone nine matches in all competitions without a win, and have conceded thirty nine goals in thirteen league matches. The Millers stay fourth, but are now only three points off top spot.

Enfield Town welcomed Herne Bay to the QEII Stadium. The Towners had two draws and two defeats from their last four matches and were looking for their first win this month, but had a decent start, Lyle Della-Verde opening the scoring from a free kick after just six minutes; however they couldn’t hold onto their advantage and Marcel Barrington soon equalised for Bay. Home delight was restored when an own goal made it two-one just after the half hour, and they were even more delighted when Della-Verde converted another free kick to make it three-one just before the hour. Barrington reduced the arrears for Bay almost immediately, but it took only three minutes before Lewis Knight made it four-two, and that was that. Six hundred and seventy eight watched on.

Canvey Island had hit a poor run prior to the arrival of Kingstonian, with one win in four, but they went ahead after just nine minutes, Connor Hubble converting from the spot. Bradley Sach doubled their lead just before the half hour, and the same player ended a first half rout with a third just before the break. At that point the Gulls eased off and we had no further goals, and they remain two points shy of the top five.

Into the FA Trophy now.

Carshalton Athletic had won their last three home matches by one goal to nil, but any hopes they had of continuing to resemble George Graham’s Arsenal were dashed in the first minute when Kings Langley went ahead at Colston Avenue. Kings Langley went down to ten men midway through the second half, but the Robins couldn’t take advantage and departed the competition.

Chesham United played hosts to Lewes, who had seen an uplift in their form of late, with seven points from their last nine. United, previously unbeaten at home this season, went ahead after nine minutes, but the Rooks were soon level, Tom Champion with the equaliser. The Rooks looked to have taken victory when Jamie Mascoll put them ahead just before the end, but somehow the hosts still had time to equalise and we were off to penalties. The boys from the Dripping Pan triumphed from the spot, winning the shootout three-one.

Folkestone Invicta have hung out the ‘under new management’ sign for the first time in twenty six years after Neil Cugley’s decision to step away from the role and concentrate on his other responsibilities at the club. The stripes welcomed Horsham to the BuildKent Stadium looking for a positive response after being less than their best of late, and they took the lead three minutes from the end through Ibrahim Olutade. Ade Yusuff then doubled their advantage right at the death, and most of the six hundred and sixty two in attendance were delighted.

Haringey Borough and Billericay Town met at Coles Park for the second time in little over a month. The Blues won their last meeting by three goals to nil, and they went ahead in this one six minutes before half time, Chris Dickson opening the scoring. It was two-nil Town on fifty one minutes, John Ufuah doubling their advantage, but the hosts then struck back to set up a frantic finish, Chaynie Fage-Burgin scoring with eleven minutes left. The visitors made things safe just before the end, Ufuah making it three-one.

Harlow Town may be five places from the bottom of Pitching In Southern Division One Central, but Bishop’s Stortford needed not to read too much into that statistic. The Hawks had been excellent against Isthmian sides this season, knocking former winners Hornchurch out of the competition in the last round and also defeating Ashford Town, Great Wakering Rovers and Brentwood Town in cup competitions this season. The Blues, unbeaten in ten matches across all competitions, went ahead on sixteen minutes through Oliver Peters, and doubled their advantage just before the break, Peters puncturing the Hawks rearguard once more with a beautiful free kick finish. Peters completed a hat trick with thirteen minutes left, and there was time for Frankie Merrifield to get his ninth of the season to make it four-nil.

We had a Sussex derby as Hastings United welcomed back Burgess Hill Town. United came into this match with six wins from eight- a run during which they kept six clean sheets- but they would undoubtedly have remembered that the last time the Hillians arrived at Pilot Field they left with a victory. Town, in their best form of the season so far, travelled on the back of a five match unbeaten run during which they’d won four- but it was a Hillians old boy who made them miserable early on, Ben Pope striking after eleven minutes, chipping the keeper. Alex Brefo made it two-nil just before the half hour mark with a fine strike from distance, but the Hillians struck back through Dan Perry to go in at half time just the one goal behind. The gap was two goals once more when Pope made it three-one, but Hitman Perry once more lived up to his nickname and again narrowed the deficit. The two goal advantage was restored by Chinedu McKenzie with seventeen minutes remaining, and that was that. Five hundred and seventy five watched the action.

Our image from the above match comes from Chris Neal- more here.

Uxbridge will perhaps have wished that their match with Wingate & Finchley had taken place a couple of weeks ago, as the visiting Blues had really found form in their last two matches, scoring eight goals without reply- but it was the red army who were given something to cheer as Alex Witham put their side ahead eleven minutes before the break. They were cheering once more when Alan Hedley made it two ten minutes after the restart, but Dylan Kearney, in fine form of late, got one back- and the Blues had twenty four minutes to equalise. It took them only three, Alkeo Bani making it two-two, but they then had a player sent off, Michael Olarewaju seeing red, and the hosts took advantage, Scott Donnelly scoring from the spot to make it three-two. Victor Osobu rounded off a fine Uxbridge performance with a fourth just before the end, finding himself clear after the visitors sent everyone forward in an attempt to grab a late leveller.

Weston Super Mare were the hosts as Bognor Regis Town made a long trip for a seaside derby. Weston are in second place in Pitching In Southern Premier South, having lost only one league match, and they were ahead after just five minutes- but the Rocks turned the game on its head when Nathan Odokonyero equalised with eighteen minutes left and then put them ahead six minutes later. That’s thirteen goals for the season for the Rocks number nine.

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