We’re back- with hat-trick Saturday!

Tommy Fagg of Ashford United, Ahmed Abdulla of Sittingbourne, Brian Ifeanyi of Maldon & Tiptree and Alexander Sami of Leatherhead will each have to find room for a match ball in their kit bag after grabbing a hat trick, but it was an afternoon of special performances across our four Divisions. Here’s what happened.

Premier

The match of the day in the Premier Division, on paper at least, was Folkestone Invicta v Worthing- or as our Supporters Prediction series suggested, 3rd v 1st. The first half was goalless, but Ollie Pearce broke the deadlock for the visitors six minutes after the restart and there was a second goal soon afterwards, this one delighting those in stripes- we suspect most of the eight hundred and thirty six in attendance- as Ian Draycott equalised. Invicta then took the lead, and it was Draycott once more finding the net, before the hosts entered dreamland as David Smith made it three-one.

The scoreboard image comes from Rhys Griffiths, via Twitter.

FA Trophy winners Hornchurch had what looked like a difficult match in prospect, as they travelled to Horsham. The Hornets have strengthened over the summer, but they were unable to stop the Urchins taking the lead on fourteen minutes, Liam Nash the scorer- and Nash doubled his tally on the half hour to seal victory.

At Hayes Lane we had the Tony Russell derby, as Cray Wanderers hosted Lewes. Home fans might have looked at the players and struggled to work out which was their team, but they soon knew, as Anthony Cook got first one goal and then another to put them two goals up after twenty five minutes. Ollie Tanner halved that deficit for the Rooks eight minutes before the break, but Wands struck next, Jamie Yila getting the hosts third after sixty seven minutes and that’s how it ended. Celebration image courtesy of Hilliger Pix- see the rest here.

Another team strengthened and highly fancied, Kingstonian, hosted Haringey Borough. The K’s struck from the spot after twenty six minutes, Gus Sow beating Jonathan Miles in the visitors goal, and that turned out to be the only goal of the game.

Bognor Regis Town fans approached the new season with confidence as they hosted Bishop's Stortford, but it may have been dented when Craig Robson saw red midway through the first half. Six hundred and fifty seven turned up, and that red card turned out to be the only other number to write about as the game ended goalless.

Alexander Sami got the first Pitching In Premier Division goal of the day at the right end, although it was the wrong end for Bowers and Pitsea as Leatherhead went ahead on nine minutes. The hosts got one at the right end for them five minutes later, Bradley Sach with the leveller from the spot, but the Tanners were ahead once more by thirty three minutes, Sami striking again, and they made it three as the player got his hat trick on sixty-nine minutes. Sach perhaps also wanted a hat trick, getting his second to reduce the arrears with eighteen minutes to go- again from the spot- but couldn’t manage it, and the Tanners left with the points.

Brightlingsea Regent and Merstham waited sixty eight minutes for a goal, and when it arrived it came to the hosts, Jake Clowsley breaking the deadlock. Lewis Byrne-Hewitt doubled the Regent advantage three minutes from time and sealed victory.

Carshalton Athletic are amongst the favourites but had a terrible start as they hosted Enfield Town, an own goal breaking the deadlock in the first minute. They levelled, however, Harry Ottaway with the goal twenty minutes later, and were ahead before the break, Luke Read completing the turnaround right on half time. That lead lasted only five minutes, before Mo Faal- back with the Towners for now- equalised for the visitors, and the Towners were ahead again in this see-saw match on the hour, as Lewis Taafe found the net, and put daylight between themselves and their hosts when Faal scored again to make it two-four and take the points.

Cheshunt were going great guns when 2020-21 fell apart, and opened the scoring against East Thurrock United when Theo Osinfolarin scored eight minutes before the break. It was two-nil before the half time whistle, Reece Beckles-Richards doubling the score, and three soon after it, Ken Charles with the next one. That was that, three points and three goals to the Ambers. Our image showing a tribe of Craig Edwards lookalikes comes from the lens of 'Local Bus Driver' see more, generally Craig-free snaps, here.

Potters Bar Town and Corinthian-Casuals didn’t manage a goal between them in the first half, but the visitors quickly got one after the break- three minutes after the break to be exact, Benjamin Cheklit with the opener. Devonte Aransibia equalised just after the hour, and then the hosts took the lead through ben Ward-Cochrane, who scored from the spot. Ward-Cochrane then netted another spot kick at the end to confirm victory.

Wingate & Finchley fell behind on the half hour as they hosted Margate. Ben Greenhalgh has looked impressive in pre-season and took that form into the campaign with the opening goal after thirty one minutes, and that turned out to be the only goal.

North Division

Maldon and Tiptree yesterday announced so many signings that we’ll need to bring them to you in a very long list tomorrow, but their list was very impressive indeed and cemented them as title favourites. Away at Romford, they started as you might expect, Brian Ifeanyi opening the scoring after just four minutes, and the same player doubled that advantage midway through the first half before getting his hat trick five minutes after the restart. Brian then allowed someone else to score, Scott Kemp making it four, Charlee Hughes with number five, and John Gilbert with number six fifteen minutes from time. Still they weren’t done, and Malachi Napa got number seven to leave Romford shellshocked.

Aveley travelled to a much-changed AFC Sudbury, and the much-fancied Millers went ahead soon after the break, Alex Akrofi with the goal. Luke Hipkin equalised with twelve minutes remaining, and that was that.

Dereham Town scored the first goal of the afternoon as they hosted Heybridge Swifts, Robbie Linford getting it on two minutes. They doubled that advantage seven minutes before the break, Shaun Bammant with that one, and although Alex Teniola got one back a red card for Archie McFadden ended Swifts flight, the Magpies increasing their lead through Luke Johnson soon afterwards. Before the game Swifts remembered 'Mr Heybridge' Mick Gibson- Alan Edmonds took the photo, and you can see more here.

Felixstowe & Walton United have made some impressive signings, but Basildon United didn’t care, and took the lead from the spot after twenty seven minutes, Samuel Jeremiah from the spot. They weren’t ahead for long, Zak Brown equalising five minutes later, and a point each was what they got.

Grays Athletic welcomed two hundred and seventy four to Parkside for the visit of Bury Town, and most of them would have been overjoyed when Joe Paxman and then Ryan Sammons scored two goals in two minutes just before the break. Jake Chambers-Shaw got one back with twenty two minutes remaining, but the equaliser didn’t come and Athletic claimed the points.

Great Wakering Rovers fell behind against Witham Town just after the half hour, Ben Search lighting up the away end, but struck back quickly through Mitchell Gilbey. Town roared back and were once again in the lead before the break, Chinedu Osadebe making it one-two, and it was one-three just before the hour, Osadebe with his second of the game. A red card for Luke Ige gave the hosts hope, and they reduced arrears three minutes from time through Martin Tuohy, but there was no equaliser and the points left with Town.

Hullbridge Sports saw Barking take the lead just before the break, James Folkes with the goal, and they’d doubled it before anyone could have an orange segment, Charlie MacDonald making it two. MacDonald made it three just after the break, and George Purcell got number four seven minutes from time to end the contest.

Stowmarket Town hosted highly-fancied Canvey Island, and the always impressive Evans Kouassi put the Gulls ahead on thirty six minutes, but the lead only lasted fourteen minutes before Josh Mayhew equalised for Town. Matt Price restored the Canvey advantage on the hour, but again the hosts struck back through Evan Collard to earn a share of the spoils.

Tilbury are one of the promotion favourites, but it was Brentwood Town who found the net first, Tom Richardson with the opener. The opener turned out to be the only goal of the game, and it was three points Town.

South Central

We had a real clash of the titans in the South Central Division, as favourites Bracknell Town travelled to Middlesex Senior Cup winners Hanwell Town. It was the Geordies who broke the deadlock, Tomasz Siemienczuk with the opener on twenty minutes, but they couldn’t hold out for long, Daniel Bayliss equalising just before the half hour. That was that, and they had to settle for a point each.

Twenty minutes of the 2021-22 South Central Division had elapsed and we didn’t have a single goal, but we did have a red card, Alex Witham departing for Uxbridge, who were hosting Sutton Common Rovers. No goals followed, but in the second half Ryan Healy for Rovers also ended up in the changing room earlier than expected, and then Uxbridge found a breakthrough, Tony Mendy opening the scoring. The always reliable Mahlondo Martin doubled the advantage with seven minutes remaining.

Bedfont Sports hosted Chipstead, and just as the fans were heading for their half time chips, the Chips scored, Daniel Moody breaking the deadlock. Jordan Espirit equalised four minutes from time, and then Sports snatched the win right at the end, Darryl Sanders scoring from the spot.

Binfield joined the Pitching In Isthmian League and hosted another newcomer, Basingstoke Town- and it was the visitors who opened the scoring, Scott Armsworth finding the net on seventeen minutes. That turned out to be the only goal.

Chalfont St Peter, perhaps spurred on by the outcome of our supporters predictions this morning, saw Cheyce Grant give them a first half lead against Ashford Town (Middx)- and made it two eleven minutes after the break, Shamal Edwards doubling the advantage and making sure of the points.

Marlow kicked off their campaign fifteen minutes late, but still got the first goal of the afternoon in their division, Adam Richards putting them ahead against South Park- and a couple of moments later it was two, Jordan Brown doubling the advantage from the spot. On seventy minutes Junaid Bell made it three,

Staines Town have an almost entirely new squad, but they took the lead against Chertsey Town when Sheridan Campbell scored midway through the first half. The Curfews hit back just before the break through Tony Halsey, and Jake Baxter gave them the lead ten minutes from time before Campbell got an almost-immediate equaliser. There was a winner, however, and it came right at the end, Andrew Crossley marking away win in the box with a penalty for Chertsey.

Thatcham Town got their noses in front just before the break against Northwood, Bradley Pagliaroli with that, but Shakeel Morris got an equaliser for Woods with sixteen minutes remaining and the two couldn’t be separated.

Westfield went ahead nine minutes before the break as they hosted Tooting & Mitcham United, Kai Hamilton-Olise with the breakthrough- and they had another before half time, Afolabi Owlade ruining the Terrors teamtalk. It was three soon after the restart, Aidan King with that one, as Tooting’s much-fancied tag was trampled into the turf. Lanrewajh Ladipo saw red for the hosts just before the end, but it didn’t impact the result.

South East

Hastings United, title favourites, had what looked like a difficult start to the campaign as they hosted a Herne Bay side who were on a great run when last season shuddered to a premature halt. The home side started as they finished last time out, with a goal- new signing David Martin scoring after only four minutes- but the visitors were level midway through the half, Adem Ramadan finding the net. Nine hundred and forty nine watched the match, which saw no further goals.

Faversham Town were having a fabulous 2019-20 before the world fell over again, and started well at Phoenix Sports, Stephen Okoh putting them ahead after eleven minutes. They ended well, too, as that was the only goal of the game.

New boys Corinthian had a fabulous start at Hythe Town, Jack Mahoney giving them the lead on eleven minutes, but the Cannons levelled midway through the second half, Alex Brown with the goal. That was that- or was it? Luke Tanner won it for the visitors right at the end, giving Corinthian a dream start to their Step Four life.

Sittingbourne were written off in our Supporters Predictions, but took no notice and Ahmed Abdulla put them ahead on fifteen minutes, to the delight of most of the one hundred and sixty one in attendance. Visitors Lancing must have been fed up with Abdulla when he made it two on the half hour, and goodness knows how they felt when he got his hat trick nine minutes before the break. It slowed up after the break, but Michael Akin made it four with twelve minutes remaining and the Lancers had a real baptism of fire. Ian Mulcahy took the shot of Ahmed celebrating, and many more, which you can see here.

Ashford United and Burgess Hill Town soon put a goalless first half behind them, Tommy Fagg finding the back of the Hillians net on fifty eight minutes, and the same player made it two four minutes later. Elliot Cross got one back with nineteen minutes remaining, but Fagg got his hat trick right at the end to claim the match ball and end Hillians resistance.

Chichester City fell behind on twenty minutes as they hosted VCD Athletic, Malachi Hudson opening the scoring for the visitors, and it was two not long afterwards, Marcus Elliott doubling the advantage. Number three came to Anthony Adesite just after the break, and that was enough as City were able to show no resistance.

Cray Valley PM and Whitehawk are both amongst the promotion favourites, and the Millers got their noses in front twelve minutes before the break, Ade Adeyemo beating Nathan Stroomberg in the Hawks goal. Just after the break James Fraser drew the visitors level, and that was the end of the goal action.

Haywards Heath Town hosted East Grinstead Town in a Sussex derby, and took the lead on nineteen minutes, Tom Gilbert with it. They doubled the advantage eleven minutes after the break- deep breath- Dadigildo Portulez Carvalho Fernandes Cravid, a man who has to wear an XXXL shirt just so they can fit his name on it, with that one- and the same player (we’re not writing all that again) made it three just before the end.

Three Bridges and Ramsgate faced off in Crawley, and Ryan Brackpool gave the hosts the lead after twenty eight minutes. That simply woke the Rams, Jordan Chiedozie getting an equaliser nine minutes before the break and Joshua Ajayi completing the comeback a few minutes later. The hosts levelled nine minutes after the restart, Brannon O’Neill with that one, but had to end the match with ten men after Curtis Gayler saw red. They did get a point, however, as Ramsgate couldn’t take advantage.

Whitstable Town welcomed Sevenoaks Town to the seaside, but they weren’t very welcoming early on as Jake Mackenzie put them ahead after twenty five minutes. Oaks were level before the break, Jason Thompson with the equaliser, and ahead soon after it, Thompson once more doing the damage.