Wands are magic again, Jammers are anything but jammy- and the lead changes South East and South Central

Premier Division

Yesterday, when previewing the action to come, we wrote that Bishop’s Stortford were yet to find consistency, and that Cray Wanderers were difficult to beat but were drawing too many matches. Well the Blues certainly showed why they are not yet troubling the top end of the table last night- and Cray showed why they might, perhaps, be troubling it shortly, the vsitors walloping their hosts by five goals to one. It would be easy to point to the second half dismissal of Sam Robins as a turning point, but the truth is that the Wands had scored four goals by then. Joseph Taylor gave them the lead on twenty five minutes, but it lasted for only four minutes before Jack Thomas equalised for the Blues. By half time, however, Cray had a commanding lead, Tom Murphy and Karl Dent adding to their total; and ten minutes after the break Taylor got his second of the night and his side’s fourth. Then came the sending off, and after that Wands eased off a little, adding only one goal- Murphy securing his brace. Cray climb to eighth place.

Horsham are looking forward to the FA Cup clash with National League Dartford at the weekend, and last night set themselves up for it by defeating Wingate and Finchley at the Camping World Community Stadium. First half goals from Charlie Harris and Chris Smith were halved by Alphanso Kennedy after the break, but the visitors couldn’t find an equaliser and slumped to their third consecutive defeat. Horsham are fourth, their visitors fourth from bottom.

Bognor Regis Town have now lost their last four league matches, and drop into the bottom three- as their latest defeat was against Cheshunt, who leap above them. Afolabi Akinyemi scored two for the Ambers before the break, and although Tommy Leigh got one back for the Rocks just after the hour the Nyewood Lane faithful were given nothing else to sing about.

North Division

The big match in the North Division looked to be at Maldon & Tiptree, where the Jammers hosted sixth place Canvey Island. A close match was expected, but in the end it was anything but, as the home side maintained their 100% record in an imperious manner, thrashing five goals without reply past their hapless visitors. Jorome Slew got three of them, and the others came from Charlie Hughes and Danny Parish.

Second placed Coggeshall Town welcomed Felixstowe and Walton United, but ended the night in third after being unable to find their way through the Seasiders rearguard, nil-nil the final score. Bury Town were the beneficiaries, climbing to second and remaining unbeaten after defeating AFC Sudbury by three goals to nil, Cemal Ramadan with two from the spot and Ollie Hughes with the third, all the goals coming after the break.

Great Wakering Rovers- who, incidentally, will be the subject of our Matchday feature on Saturday- put their fifth place on the line as they travelled to Basildon United-and they ended up slipping to sixth, courtesy of a one-one draw. They almost got no points at all, needing a last gasp equaliser from Danny Akindayini to draw level after Danny Norton scored for the Bees.

Romford started the day without a point, but they had one by the end of it. Nathan Tabora gave them a first half lead at Witham Town, but the home side got an equaliser fourteen minutes from time through George Bugg.

Heybridge Swifts moved into the top five and ended Hullbridge Sports’ winning run with a three-one away victory. Jayden Randell gave Swifts a first half lead, and shortly after the break Emmanuel Osei-Owusu made it two. Alex Teniola got a third, and Yemi Ogunfummilade’s eightieth minute goal was no more than a consolation for the hosts.

Brentwood Town are still looking for their first win after Aveley became the latest side to leave them with nothing. Alex Read gave the Millers the lead on the stroke of half time, but when Khadean Campbell equalised with ten minutes to go a draw would have looked the most likely outcome. That spurred the visitors on to better things, however, and five minutes from time Kane Hearn restored their lead, and Jason Raad made it three just before the end.

Histon haven’t drawn a match yet this season, but they hosted a side desperate to turn single points- and good performances- into victories. On this occasion Dereham Town would have been delighted with another draw, as they were thoroughly dismantled by four goals to one. Ed Rolph and Max York gave the hosts a two goal lead at the break, and a Dan brown double finished the contest after it- Toby Hilliard getting the Magpies consolation.

Finally, Soham Town Rangers have been excellent in front of goal this season, and they delivered Cambridge City’s fourth successive defeat by scoring two more at Julius Martin Lane. Toby Andrews and Matty Allan saw them end the night in eighth place.

Grays Athletic could climb to second place tonight, if they can defeat Tilbury.

South Central

Hanwell Town and Tooting & Mitcham United looked to take advantage of Westfield’s absence last night by going to the top of the table- and both did so in style. The Geordies look to have the best chance of success, hosted an FC Romania side who had conceded ten goals in their last two league matches (and another eight in the Velocity Trophy), and by full time it was sixteen- Andy O’Brien, Harry Rush (2), Gareth Chendlik, Jeremiah Maja and Harvey Killeen sending Town top. The Terrors brought Bedfont Sports to Imperial Fields and wanted to get back to winning ways after losing their 100% record when drawing with Harlow Town on Saturday; and they did just that, Danny Bassett, David Castanho, Razzaq Coleman and Omari Hibbert scoring in a four-nil victory.

Westfield can go back to the summit with victory tonight, but they’ll need to defeat Bracknell Town at Larges lane to do it.

Harlow Town had lost only one game this season, but headed to face a Ware side not short in confidence as they hadn’t lost any. The Blues were still undefeated and up to fifth by full time, and they climbed the table in style, walloping the Hawks by four goals to one. With new signing Daniel Rumens making his ware debut, the Wodson Park faithful were delighted as Liam Hope, and Olu Akinsanya double and an own goal meant that Matthew Rush delivered only a consolation for Harlow.

The side Ware defeated at the weekend, Chalfont St Peter, travelled to face a Hertford Town side who seem to be in disarray after conceding sixteen goals in their last three League matches- nine of them in defeat to Westfield at the weekend. That disarray continued, and the Saints turned sixteen into twenty one, Dan Williams getting a first half hat trick with Luke Illsley and Kahlil Francis adding two more after the break. Prince William Domafriyie got one back for the hosts, but it made little difference and Chalfont are fourth.

We started the night with four sides still looking for their first victory. We ended it with three. The team at the bottom of the pile, Ashford Town, hosted a Chertsey Town side who have started their first South Central campaign in promising fashion, and continued in the same vein as Samuel Murphy and Casey Maclaren goals gave them a two-one victory- Dan Brown scoring for the Tangerines.

Second bottom Barking hosted a Waltham Abbey side who were still searching for consistency, but the Abbotts came from behind to win a pulsating match by four goals to three. Junior Appiah gave the visitors an early lead, but by half time the Blues had their noses in front courtesy of a Shermadin Artneladze double. After the break, however, the pendulum swung once more, Leonne McKenzie, Billy Holland and an own goal giving the Abbots a two goal cushion- although Ryan Mallet cut that to one five minutes from time.

The other two sides yet to win, Northwood and Staines Town, faced each other at Northwood Park. Woods had played far better than their points tally would suggest, whilst the Swans have been magnificent in cup competitions, but their league form continues to desert them and Woods got their first three point haul of the campaign, Alex Witham, Harry Lodovica and Liam McCrohan scoring their goals in a three-one win. Dara Dada-Anite got one for the Swans, but it didn’t do them much good.

Chipstead were in good form, having won their last four matches in all competitions. They hosted a South Park side who ended a run of four games without a win by walloping Staines at the weekend; but it was one point each last night, and no goals.

Marlow, who suffered a surprising home defeat to Chertsey at the weekend, looked to bounce back against Uxbridge- but the visitors weren’t short on confidence after winning six-nil on Saturday and recorded another victory, Mahlondo Martin and Jack Beadle with second half goals for the Reds.

South East

At the top of the South East table Chichester City hosted another Sussex side in Three Bridges, and lost their top spot. The game had but one goal, and it went to the visitors, Tom Tolfrey doing the damage from the spot.

A third Sussex side, Hastings United, took over at the summit, goals from Ben Pope and Jack Dixon enough to win another Sussex derby, Whitehawk slipping into sixth place.

Sevenoaks Town have had a fabulous start to the season, and moved up to second place with a win at a Hythe Town side who haven’t won a league match since August 20th. Frankie Sawyer got the only goal of that match.

Ashford United still have a one hundred percent record, and climb to fourth, but have played two matches less than their top of the table rivals. They hosted a Sittingbourne side who must have been sure they were going to leave with a point after the match entered the last minute with the scores level, but David Smith’s second goal of the night sent the Nuts and Bolts fans wild. Johan Caney-Bryan had earlier equalised for the Brickies.

Cray Valley slipped from first to fifth at the weekend, and last night slipped to seventh despite picking up a point at Whitstable Town- which perhaps illustrates how tight things are at the top. Cray must have thought they had three points wrapped up as they entered the last minute a goal up, Francis Babalola scoring it before the break- but Marcus Elliott popped up to get the Oysterboys a draw.

VCD Athletic, who started the day in sixth place, ended it in third after victory at Faversham Town. VCD were undefeated in four matches where they have taken ten points, and now it’s five and thirteen- a late Abdul Lyoubi goal giving them victory after Jack Sellens had equalised Alfie Cue’s opener.

Guernsey, who started the day as our top scorers, headed to face a Haywards Heath Town side who had gone off the boil a little of late. The Green Lions were still top scorers by full time, but now shared the honour with VDC after a one-one draw at Hanbury Park. Both goals came after the break, Trevor McCreadie putting the hosts ahead from the spot, Will Fazakerley equalising for the Channel Islanders.

Bottom side Ramsgate really haven’t started the season as well as expected, taking only one point so far- and that continued against local rivals Herne Bay at Southwood. Bay had lost their last three matches whilst conceding eleven goals, but they weren’t about to concede any more and a Zak Ansah double and a goal from Chris Saunders gave them an emphatic victory and left the Rams at the bottom.

Finally, Phoenix Sports got their first win at the weekend, and last night got another- as well as hosting our highest-scoring match of the day. A first half hat trick from Jeff Duah Kessie- and a goal from Ben Allen- sent them in four-nil up at the break, and shortly after it George Whitelock and Allen made it six. At this point visitors East Grinstead Town finally woke up, and Karn Miller-Neave, Olu Akintunde and Dean Bown- recently arrived from Lewes- got three back, making the score look a little more respectable.