We've seven goal Grays, six goal Bay, and a collection of hat tricks on a Saturday full of drama

Premier Division

Enfield Town, top of the pile on alphabetical order, travelled to Folkestone Invicta- with both aware that at least one one hundred percent record was about to vanish. As it turned out, both of them did, as the sides couldn’t manage a goal between them.

That result allowed Kingstonian, who started the day with the same record as Enfield, the chance to go top- and it was a chance they duly took as they welcomed Hornchurch to Tolworth. They got the perfect start, Nyren Clunis breaking the deadlock after only eight minutes, made it two six minutes before the break through Fabio Saraiva, and held on to that margin to ease to victory.

Cray Wanderers fans might have expected it to take time before their new side gelled under new boss Danny Kedwell, but the Wands welcomed Worthing after confident victories over Lewes and Hornchurch. The Hayes Lane side were one of Worthing’s bogey sides during 2019-20, beating them at Woodside Road and drawing with them at Hayes Lane, but it was the Mackerel Men who went ahead in this one, Thomas Chalaye scoring for the second weekend in a row. They weren’t ahead for long, Ejoro Okosieme drawing the hosts level ten minutes before the break, but Dayshonne Golding restored the visitors advantage with seventeen minutes left and the Mackerel Men climbed to fourth, level with Wands on points but ahead on goals scored.

Cheshunt, who started the day in fifth, hosted Margate- who hadn’t conceded a goal before today. Was this going to be a battle of attack versus defence? Well it was the Blues attack that broke the deadlock, Vance Bola with the opener on nineteen minutes, but the Ambers were level just after the half hour through Reece Beckles-Richards, who was scoring in his third consecutive match. That was that, and they had to settle for a point apiece.

Bognor Regis Town, unbeaten after two draws, would have been looking for three points as they hosted Haringey Borough, but that quest didn’t start well as Christos Djamas opened the scoring after ten minutes. It got worse ten minutes later, full back David Olufemi making it two to the dismay of most of the six hundred and thirty eight present, and although Nathan Odokonyero got one back for the hosts with three minutes remaining there was no heroic comeback and Borough climbed to sixth.

Tenth played sixteenth as Potters Bar Town hosted Lewes. The Scholars won their last home game due chiefly to two Ben Ward-Cochrane penalties, and he got another to put them ahead today, but Joe Taylor got his first Rooks goal- also from the spot- to equalise with eighteen minutes remaining. We all know how deadly Taylor is in front of goal, and after getting his first for the club he soon had a second- three minutes later- to turn the match on its head- and sealed victory with his hat trick two minutes from time. Killian Colombie saw red for the Rooks, but it won’t matter all that much to their supporters as they head home happy.

Leatherhead made the long trip to Brightlingsea Regent as twelfth hosted eleventh. The last six meetings between the sides had seen three wins each, so perhaps we were due a draw- but we didn’t get one! Regent went ahead after twenty five minutes, Lewis Byrne-Hewitt with the opener, and that turned out to be the only goal of the game as Regent ended the day in seventh place.

Wingate and Finchley had a morale-boosting win at Leatherhead last time out, but fell behind to Corinthian-Casuals, Warren Mfula scoring his first of the campaign after fourteen minutes. The same player had his second fourteen minutes later, but after the break the Blues made things interesting as Bilal Sayoud scored for the second Saturday in a row. Just how interesting was shown six minutes from time, when Darnell Goather-Braithwaite made it two-two and ensured that the spoils were shared.

Merstham travelled to face a Horsham side still without a point. The Hornets started the day holding up the rest, but looked to put an end to that when Tom Kavanagh opened the scoring four minutes before the break. Three points looked certain when Jack Brivio made it two with twenty minutes remaining, delighting the majority of the five hundred and ninety nine present, and they were certain when Shamir Fenelon made it three right at the end. Horsham are fourteenth, Merstham eighteenth.

Carshalton Athletic hosted Bishop’s Stortford with both looking for a first win and three hundred and seventy three in attendance. The Robins saw Danny Bassett put them ahead after ten minutes, and doubled their advantage through Jalen Jones on sixty six minutes, holding on to climb to eleventh.

Finally, Bowers and Pitsea welcomed East Thurrock United to the Len Salmon. It took sixty three minutes before a goal came- remarkably that was the first goal of the second half across the Premier Division- and it came to the hosts, Quentin Monville rocking the Rocks. The visitors struck back twelve minutes from time, Alex Hernandez with an equaliser, and right at the end Paulius Ditkevicius nicked it for the visitors, who picked up their first win of the campaign. Bowers sink to the bottom following this result, United are thirteenth.

North Division

Favourites Maldon and Tiptree were looking to go back to the summit, but they had what looked a difficult match with Stowmarket Town coming to call. It looked even more difficult when Evan Collard put Town ahead with his third in three matches- one in each- put they were ahead for a matter of moments before Scott Kemp drew the Jammers level with his second in three. The hosts were ahead before the break, Brian Ifeanyi with his fourth of the season following his opening day hat trick, but the visitors weren’t going to lie down and Anthony Spyrou drew them level with seventeen minutes remaining. Ten minutes later, however, and we were surely able to tick off a home win as Kemp got his second of the game- and that’s how it proved. Our picture of a celebrating Scott comes from the club.

Barking suffered a disappointing cup defeat last weekend, but they hosted a mouth-watering clash with Heybridge Swifts and took an early lead, Elliot Omozusi putting them ahead after twelve minutes. The advantage was doubled on sixty seven minutes, Osaretin Otete with goal number two for the Blues, and it was a result that left them in third- one of five sides with a one hundred percent record.

In between Maldon and Barking sit Grays Athletic. Athletic certainly didn’t impress boss Jim Cooper when bowing out of the cup on Sunday, and the manager would have been looking for a reaction- and he got one after seven minutes when David Knight gave them the lead at Basildon United. The lead was doubled on the quarter hour mark, Anointed Chukwu with number two, and when Danny Gould made it three nine minutes later the away fans might have relaxed a little. They’d have been properly chilled out when David Knight- with a goal that was initially credited to Freddy Moncur- made it four seven minutes before the break.

The second half saw Chukwu get his second of the game for number five, then his hat trick for number six, before Knight also grabbed a hat trick to make it a rather incredible seven-nil.

Dereham Town hosted Hashtag United, and it was our social media darlings who struck first, Jake Lindsey putting them ahead after only four minutes. The Magpies have been in good form, and equalised just before the break through Robbie Linford, then went ahead soon after it, Rhys Logan scoring for the second game in succession. Shaun Bammant made sure of the points for the hosts nine minutes from time, and the Magpies are fourth.

Tilbury scored seven goals in the cup last weekend, but the highly-regarded Dockers went behind at Witham Town, Jack Nolde opening the scoring after fifty minutes- and Town held on to claim their second win from two and end the day in fifth place. Their fabulous Soccability squad also had a very good time, as you can see from our image!

Brentwood Town and AFC Sudbury started the day unbeaten- could they end it the same way? Joe Grimwood put the Yellows ahead just before the break, and that turned out to be the only goal of the game, which left the visitors in eighth place.

Canvey Island hosted Felixstowe and Walton United with both unbeaten so far, but the only thing contested in the first half was who had the biggest container ships- a discussion on Twitter involving their social media teams. After the break, however, Elliott Ronto quickly put the Gulls ahead, and that goal secured all the points and left the home side seventh.

Coggeshall Town hosted Romford. The two had contrasting results in the cup last weekend, the Boro picking up a morale-boosting win after that opening day thrashing, but both were searching for a first league win, and Romford took the first step towards that when Steve Carvell scored after eighteen minutes. Sam Bantick, playing against his former club, got the equaliser for the Seed Growers seven minutes before the break, but if Town relaxed then they were made to pay as Jesse Olukolu restored the Boro advantage just before the break.

Jermain Francis drew the hosts level twelve minutes after the restart, but once more the visitors struck, this time Aundre Spencer finding the back of the Seed Growers net. That turned out to be the winner, and Romford climb to eleventh.

Bury Town welcomed a Hullbridge Sports side who had shipped six goals in their two matches so far, but it was the visitors who opened the scoring, Brad Russell getting the opener six minutes after half time. Ollie Hughes will have drawn both cheers and sighs of relief from most of the four hundred and seventeen watching when he got an equaliser just after the hour, but it would have been exclusively cheers four minutes later when Cemal Ramadan put the hosts ahead from the spot. Sports lost their keeper to a red card, Lewis Greene taking that long walk, and it wasn’t then too surprising when Will Gardner made it three-one, but Sports made a fist of it, Russell’s second reducing the arrears for the ten men with ten minutes remaining. Town held out, and climbed to ninth.

South Central

We had fourth versus second as Uxbridge, who had started the campaign with wins in League and Cup, hosted a Westfield side who were very impressive in victory over Tooting & Mitcham United on the opening day before finally departing the cup on Tuesday night- a three-one defeat to Hythe Town following a mammoth match the previous Saturday in which they were two-nil down in the last minute only to go three-two up before an even later equaliser. Tony Mendy had scored in both Uxbridge victories, and he was at it again after eight minutes, putting the hosts ahead, and it was all about who got the second- and it again went to Uxbridge, although this one was an own goal. Afo Oludade got one back right at the end for Field, but it wasn’t enough. Uxbridge went to the summit.

Bedfont Sports have looked mightily impressive, defeating Herne Bay in the cup and Chipstead on the opening day, They were on the road for the first time, but they didn’t have to travel far, swapping a view of the end of the Heathrow runway for one of the airport fuel storage tanks as they headed to Ashford Town. Darryl Sanders opened the scoring from the spot and by doing so scored in his third consecutive match, and although Matt Bunyan got an equaliser seven minutes from half time the visitors restored their lead before the referee signalled it was time for a break, Connagh Wilks with their second. Jordan Espirit’s third of the season- one in each of the last three matches- made sure six minutes from time- although they were made to sweat a little, after Dan Brown pulled a late goal back for the Tangerines. Sports ended the day in second.

Chalfont St Peter travelled to Chipstead, the visitors looking to bounce back after cup defeat. The Saints were soon marching, Cheyce Grant putting them ahead after fifteen minutes, but they were halted when Tom Collins got the Chips equaliser eleven minutes later, and put into reverse when Collins got his second just before the break. Collins had his hat trick on sixty three minutes, this one from the spot, and then got his fourth of the day with eighteen minutes remaining, before Kieran Lavery got in on the act and made it five-one. The Chips are up to seventh.

Chertsey Town, who followed a league win over Staines Town with a cup win over Lingfield, had scored seven times in two matches coming into today, with Tony Halsey on three and Andrew Crossley on two. Visitors South Park had also scored a few of their own at late, but it was a new name who got their opener this afternoon, Alex Laing, newly arrived at the club, putting them ahead after fifteen minutes. They weren’t ahead for long, Jake Baxter with his second of the campaign, and soon afterwards Halsey took his season tally to four. After the break Baxter made it three-one, but Laing then reduced the arrears with his second before grabbing a debut hat trick with his third thirteen minutes from time to ensure the Sparks shared the points.

Basingstoke Town won a pulsating cup tie at the weekend- a match which saw three goals, all from the spot. They hosted Hanwell Town in what looked like our match of the day, and took the lead on eighteen minutes, Conor Lynch with his third of the campaign, but were unable to hold onto it as Harry Rush equalised on the hour. Four minutes from time, however, Lloyd Snell snatched it for the hosts, who end the day in third.

The Robins of Bracknell Town had started slowly by their standards, and were even slower today, visitors Sutton Common Rovers, who scored four in the Cup in midweek, opening the scoring through Kiyo Brown- his second in three days. Daniel Bayliss equalised for the hosts eight minutes after the break, and with fourteen minutes remaining Shamar Moore got the winner to send his side up to fifth.

Northwood hosted Binfield, the FA Vase finalists having lost both of their matches so far by one goal- but it was the visitors who opened the scoring in this one, Sean Moore with the first of the game on twenty minutes. The Moles doubled their advantage soon afterwards, Liam Tack with number two, and before the break it was three, Josh Helmore giving the visiting fans something else to shout about. The second half brought no further goals, but the visitors didn’t need any.

Thatcham Town travelled to Tooting & Mitcham United, both looking to kick-start their campaigns- and it was the Kingfishers who made the breakthrough four minutes before half time, Balai Dembele with the first goal of the game. William Edwards shocked the hosts by doubling the lead soon after the restart, with Andrew Sesay almost immediately pulling a goal back for the Terrors, but the visitors held on and climbed to sixth, whilst the hosts are rock bottom.

South East

Haywards Heath Town had scored seven goals without reply as they travelled to Sevenoaks Town, who were playing their sixth match of the season! Oaks saw Louis Collins put them ahead with his fifth goal of the campaign, but Heath drew level twelve minutes after the restart, full back Tom Cadman with the equaliser. Cadman then got another eight minutes from time, and that turned out to be the goal which sent his side top of the table.

Faversham Town hosted Chichester, a city with Roman foundations, but another Roman undermined their foundations today as Roman Campbell put the hosts ahead. Scott Jones put down his surfboard to grab the equaliser for City shortly after half time, but right at the end Joe Denny grabbed the winner for the hosts and sent them second.

Herne Bay followed their creditable opening day draw with Hastings United with defeat at Bedfont Sports in the cup. They welcomed Three Bridges to the seaside, but weren’t all that welcoming, JJ Naiwo putting them ahead on seventeen minutes, and had well and truly rolled up the red carpet when Dan Johnson made it two seven minutes later. Zak Ansah got number three before the break, Chinedu McKenzie got number four just after the hour, and when Dean Grant made it five with fourteen minutes remaining the travelling fans were undoubtedly wishing to bring forward their trip home. There was still time for Ansah to make it six, and send Bay third. We just hope, for Bridges fans, that the fish and chips were good.

Cray Valley PM travelled to face a Lancing side who had a painful start to life at Step Four, defeated four-nil by Sittingbourne in the League and four-nil by Haywards Heath Town in the cup, and more pain came in the twenty first minute when Marcel Barrington put the Millers ahead. The lead was increased by Francis Babalola just after the half hour, and it was three by the break, Ali Tumkaya surely sealing the points. The hosts then made a game of it, Finn Daniels-Yeomans pulling one back, but not for long, Barrington’s second of the match making quite sure on sixty three minutes. Matt Daniel made it two-four with four minutes left, but that wasn’t much of a consolation for the hosts. The Millers climb to fourth.

Ramsgate were playing their first league match on their pristine new 3G pitch, and they gave it a very positive baptism when Jordan Chiedozie put them ahead against title-favourites Hastings United with only seven minutes gone. The visitors drew level on thirty three minutes, Knory Scott with the equaliser, but were then hit by a double blow as first Jamie Coyle and then Josh Ajayi scored for the Rams. United stalwart Kenny Pogue made things interesting with seven minutes remaining, reducing the arrears, but the equaliser didn’t arrive and the hosts held on for a famous victory which sees them climb to sixth.

Sittingbourne’s four-nil win on the opening day put them top of our very early table, but they fell behind at Whitehawk when former Lewes star Ronnie Conlon put the hosts ahead five minutes after the break. That turned out to be the only goal of the game, with the Hawks up to eighth and the Brickies just below them.

VCD Athletic had scored three goals in each of their two matches so far this season- could they do it again? They may have been hoping that Hythe Town had a cup hangover after two mammoth ties against Westfield, and it may have looked that way when Anthony Adesite put Vickers ahead early on. The Cannons then went down to ten men, Noel Leighton departing early, but it didn’t dampen their spirits and not only did Jordan Sarfo manage an equaliser with fifteen minutes remaining, but Scott Doe then put them six minutes after that- and they held on for victory.

Burgess Hill Town played their first home match of the campaign against Phoenix Sports, and went behind on sixty three minutes, George Whitelock scoring for the visitors. It was double-trouble for the hosts when Jeff Duah-Kessie made it two six minutes from time, his fourth goal in two matches, and Sports end the day in eleventh.

East Grinstead Town and Whitstable Town came into this match with both still looking for lift-off- although the Oysterboys did put five past Alfold- the club that had knocked out the Wasps- in the cup last weekend. The Oysterboys had taken seven points from the last nine between the sides, but it was the hosts who struck first this time around, Marco Sousa Pina on fourteen minutes. Harry Stannard, with his fourth in two matches, drew the visitors level six minutes prior to half time, but the Wasps stung once more just after the hour through Bobby Dunn, and made sure when Shea Cascoe-Rogers made it three in the very last minute.

Corinthian and Ashford United didn’t manage a goal between them.

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