Wands get five and Sports get seven as the first day brings us goals galore!

Title favourites Worthing haven’t had the summer they might have liked, being forced to switch to playing away matches at the start of the campaign whilst even more work is being carried out on their troublesome pitch. Being forced to travel to face rivals Folkestone Invicta, who defeated them twice last season, on the opening day might have given the Mackerel Men faithful the jitters, too, but if so they weren’t transferred to the pitch as Ricky Aguiar, scorer of eleven goals last season, opened his account in the forty second minute.

Ollie Pearce made it two seven minutes after the restart, but David Smith got one back to make the last twenty minutes interesting. It wasn’t interesting enough for most of the five hundred and eighteen who watched the game, as Worthing held on.

Cray Wanderers ended last season without a defeat after Boxing Day, and the enforced six month break seemed not to have affected them greatly as Joseph Taylor gave them the lead against Kingstonian. By half time it was two, Jason Banton with the second, and when Rhys Murrell-Williamson made it three only six minutes after the restart it was game over for the K’s. It got worse for the visitors when Freddie Parker made it four, and although Corrie Andrews did get one back, Taylor made it five with his second of the day nine minutes from time to seal victory.

The first Pitching In Premier Division goal of the day came at Fetcham Grove, and it came in the very first minute. Misha Djemaili got it for Leatherhead to the delight of most of the five hundred and thirty eight in attendance, but visitors Horsham knew they had eighty nine minutes to get one back. It took them until nine minutes from time, but Jack Brivio grabbed them a point.

Brightlingsea Regent were bottom of the table when last season came to an end, and they didn’t have the best start in this one when Luke Carey gave visitors Margate the lead on the Essex coast. The visitors got a second, through Toby Bancroft, in the sixty sixth minute- but Valter Rocha almost immediately got one back for Regent. Sadly for the hosts, they couldn’t get a second.

Bognor Regis Town have been quietly going about their business during the summer, a successful crowd funding appeal allowing them to make a collection of ground improvements- and in recent weeks they’ve improved their squad too, with a number of notable signings. They travelled to Bishop’s Stortford, for whom the end of last season can’t have come too soon as they appeared in freefall, and this campaign didn’t start well for the Blues either after Tommy Leigh gave the Rocks the advantage. They doubled it four minutes after the break, Jordy Mongoy opening his account, but the Blues were back in the game when Thomas Richardson scored from the spot eleven minutes from time, and a second spot kick from the same player levelled the match five minutes later. A point each was what they ended up with.

Cheshunt were entertaining the other Rocks, East Thurrock United, and the Ambers got their noses in front after twenty eight minutes, Nana Adarkwa with the goal. That turned out to be the only goal, and the hosts celebrated victory.

Enfield Town entertained Lewes, and took the lead through Shaun Okojie in the twenty fourth minute, then doubled it with an own goal three minutes before the break. Aaron Cosgrave reduced the arrears for the Rooks almost immediately, but straight after the break Ryan Blackman restored the Towners two goal cushion. That cushion was three goals with eleven minutes left as Lyle Della-Verde made it four-one and sealed the points.

Carshalton Athletic and Potters Bar Town couldn’t be separated during the first half at Colston Avenue, but the hosts took the lead seventeen minutes after the break through Omar Koroma, and doubled it with an own goal nineteen minutes from time. Jordan Cheadle made sure with the third in the last minute.

Corinthian-Casuals hosted Haringey Borough at King George’s Field, and after a goalless first half Daniel Akindayini gave the visitors the lead in the fiftieth minute. Four minutes later Laste Dombaxe made it two-nil, and although Bradley Wilson added tension to the last two minutes by getting one back for Casuals, Borough held out for victory.

Hornchurch hosted a Merstham side who have announced several signings over the past few days, and the Moatsiders held their own during the first half, which ended goalless. After the break the Urchins got the breakthrough, Jordan Clark opening the scoring, but Calvin Ekpiteta- it seems to be always Calvin Ekpiteta- equalised nine minutes from time. The Urchins didn’t have much time to find a winner, but find it they did, Lewwis Spence a minute from time.

North Division

Your title favourites Aveley hosted Dereham Town at Parkside, and the Magpies shocked them by taking the lead in the twenty sixth minute, Toby Hilliard making the breakthrough. On the stroke of half time the Millers levelled through Bradley Sach, and they got their noses in front on sixty three minutes through Wyan Reid. Manny Ogunrinde may have thought he’d made it safe with a third fifteen minutes from time, but Ryan Crisp pulled one back with seven minutes remaining to make the closing stages nervous. The Millers held on for the points, however.

The first goal of the North Division day came at Witham Town, and it went to visitors Hullbridge Sports, Callum Fitzer with it. The visitors doubled their lead ten minutes before the break, the same player doubling his- and their- account, and then made it three soon afterwards through Emmanuel Okunja. When Nathan Scarborough made it four just ten minutes into the second half it was all about whether Town could make the scoreline respectable. They couldn’t, Lewis Watson made it five with ten minutes remaining, and it got worse as Watson got a sixth and Fitzer grabbed his hat trick to make it Witham Town nil, Hullbridge Sports SEVEN.

AFC Sudbury came from behind to win in the FA Cup last weekend, but decided to make it easier for themselves by opening the scoring this time out, Kane Munday after eight minutes putting them in front against Coggeshall Town. Joe Grimwood made it two just after the restart, but Nnamdi Nwachuku made things interesting when he pulled a goal back twenty one minutes from time. Not interesting enough for the Seed Growers, however, who couldn’t find an equaliser.

Tilbury had a wonderful 2019-20, and started 2020-21 in the same vein, Brian Moses giving them an early lead at Cambridge City. That turned out to be the only goal of the game.

Basildon United lost their manager this week, and then lost a goal after twenty six minutes this afternoon, Cruise Nyadzayo getting it for Bury Town. They lost a player before the break, too, Jamie Marsh marching off with a red card, but there were no more goals and Town took the points.

A much changed Heybridge Swifts hosted Histon, and fell behind just after the half hour, Buster Harradine opening the scoring. Harradine got another three minutes before the break, but Swifts halved the deficit just before the hour through Chris Gregan. Sadly for the home faithful, the equaliser didn’t come.

Maldon and Tiptree are also much changed, but they took the lead at Soham Town Rangers soon after the break, Shomari Barnwell breaking the deadlock. They couldn’t hold it, however, Cameron Watson levelling just after the hour, and both sides had to be content with a point each.

Brentwood Town are much changed and much fancied this season. They entertained Grays Athletic, and the visitors made the breakthrough with twelve minutes to go, Tony Stokes with the goal- and they got a second. In the last minute through Moroyin Omolabi to head back to Parkside with all of the points.

Two fancied sides met on the Island, as Canvey hosted Romford. Neither could find a goal, and the story was the same as Great Wakering Rovers played host to Felixstowe and Walton United.

South Central

Staines Town, who finished bottom of the table last season, hosted Ware, who were top when the world crashed down around our ears. The Swans shocked their visitors as Seb Osei-Obengo put them ahead in the fourth minute, but the Blues were soon level through Louis Rose, and then ahead midway through the first half through Liam Hope. The Swans drew level when Osei-Obengo got his second of the game midway through the second half, and then shocked the visitors again as Kain Adom made it three. Ware had twenty one minutes to find a leveller, but they couldn’t do it, and the hosts held on to banish the memories of last season with a fantastic victory.

Tooting and Mitcham United are amongst the fancied sides this season, but they were shocked by Hertford Town in the ninth minute, Girsawek Jagdev with the opener, and then shocked again as David Ogbonna made it two before the half hour. Tom Jelley reduced the arears before the break, but the equaliser wouldn’t come and Town held on for three points.

Waltham Abbey took an early lead as they hosted South Park, Nathan Koranteng opening the scoring after six minutes, but it took until five minutes from time before Jason Hallett sealed the victory.

Hector Mackie scored Harlow Town’s first goal of the league campaign just after the half hour against FC Romania, and Christian Adu Gyamfi made it two seven minutes after the restart. That was that, and the Hawks had three points.

Bracknell Town had a magnificent run at the end of last season, and looked to continue it against Chipstead, Max Herbert opening the scoring just before the break. The sealed victory when Louie Soares made it two seven minutes from time.

Hanwell Town were in second place when last season ended. They hosted Bedfont Sports, and took the lead twenty one minutes from time through Dwayne Duncan, before holding on for a one-nil win.

A much changed Westfield side entered the field at Woking Park against Northwood, and took the lead just before the break through Maciej Tajs. Soon after the break it was two, Darnell Goather-Braithwate with that one, and when Aderi Dede made it three from the spot it was as good as game over. It soon was game over, and the hosts had all the points.

Barking hosted Marlow. Marlow don’t concede many, but their Achilles heel last season was an inability to score enough goals of their own- but they took the lead five minutes before the break through Ashleigh Artwell. The same player made it two twelve minutes after the break, but then the away defence was breached not once but twice, Keaton Moore and Junior Dadson grabbing a point for the Blues.

Chalfont St Peter and Ashford United had a goalless first half, but the Tangerines made the breakthrough twelve minutes after the restart, Sam Humphreys with the goal- the only goal of the game.

Chertsey Town and Uxbridge couldn’t be separated for eighty minutes, and then in the eighty first Jake Baxter got the only goal of the game for the hosts.

South East

East Grinstead Town were everyone’s whipping boys last season, but their transfer business during the summer suggested they weren’t going to let that happen again- and they certainly started well, walloping Haywards Heath Town by four goals to one. Michael Owezu and an own goal gave the Wasps a two goal half time advantage, Louie Theophanous and Jerry Amoo made it four before the hour, and a last minute consolation from Hamish Morrison wasn’t much of a consolation at all.

Two other sides also got four, the first of them Sevenoaks Town, who demolished Three Bridges four-one. Alex Barbary gave Bridges an early lead only for Kyle De Silva to equalise just before the break, but it was one-way traffic after the restart, two from Jason Thompson and a late goal from James Bessey-Sakdana making it four.

Whyteleafe travelled to fancied Herne Bay and perhaps got the result of the day in the South East Division, going four-nil up by half time- two penalties from Ryan Gondoh and a double from Omari Hibbert doing the damage. Mobolaji Dawodu pulled one back midway through the second half, but the damage was already done.

Ramsgate were trying to put last season behind them, and started well at Chichester City. It was nil-nil at the break, and seventeen minutes later the Rams were three-nil up, Mitchell Chapman and a double from George Nikaj making the match safe. Josh Clack got one back for the hosts, but that was that.

Hythe Town started last season by receiving a hammering from Burgess Hill Town, but on this occasion they took the points as the Hillians travelled to Reachfields. A Kane Phillip double was cancelled out by Alex Laing and an own goal, but just when it seemed the points would be shared Frannie Collin popped up to make it three-two in the last minute.

Woodstock Park also hosted a five goal thriller as Sittingbourne defeated Whitstable Town. The Oysterboys took an early lead through Tijan Jadama, but were behind by the break, new arrivals Andy Drury and Kane Rowland turning the game around. Harry Goodger gave the Brickies breathing space fifteen minutes from time, although Luke Medley got one back for the visitors just before the end.

Phoenix Sports delivered something of an upset- if there can be such a thing in the first game of the season- by travelling to Homelands and defeating Ashford United. Johan Ter Horst gave the Nuts and Bolts a first half lead, but in the last twenty minutes Sports sprung a surprise, Jeff Duah-Kessie and Ollie Andrews earning them victory.

VCD Athletic hosted another highly-fancied side, Whitehawk, and came from behind to take the points in the last five minutes. Marvin Hamilton gave the Hawks an early lead, and they held it until the eighty fifth minute, when Malachi Hudson scored. The same player then got the winner from the spot with two minutes remaining.

Hastings United and Cray Valley PM cancelled each other out, neither managing a goal.