Wins for the top four as Worthing maintain their lead

By Ian Townsend

Hornchurch made it eight wins from nine, Kingstonian climbed back into the top five, and Bowers got back to winning ways. It’s our Pitching In Isthmian Premier round up.


Folkestone Invicta travelled to Worthing last night knowing that they had an impressive record against our league leaders, but the Mackerel Men weren’t about to let that run continue and recorded a three-one win.

Invicta had won three out of their previous four against these opponents, including a three-one win on opening day, but in a stormy match which saw eight yellow cards and one red the hosts were never likely to give up their grip on three points, nor allow their lead at the top of the table to be cut.

It took almost half an hour for the opening goal, and it went to Callum Kealey for the hosts. Invicta had already had one chalked off for offside by that point, Ade Yusuff’s effort disallowed, but the Mackerel Men had made most of the running and Kealey’s left footed finish was reward for their efforts. It was two just after the break, Ollie Pearce’s two match scoring ‘drought’ coming to an end as he notched his thirtieth of the season (pictured- Marcus Hoare), and although the visitors pressed on occasions and Yusuff again came close Kealey made it three on fifty four minutes and that was as good as that.

Lewes v Cray Wanderers- James Boyes

Lewes v Cray Wanderers- James Boyes

Alfie Paxman gave the travelling fans something to cheer seventeen minutes from time, and Danny Barker saw red for the hosts just before the end, but there was no stopping Worthing, who remain four points clear at the top- and eleven clear of their visitors.

It looked for a while as if the Mackerel Men’s lead would be extended, but that was before an Enfield Town comeback against Carshalton Athletic. Lewis White gave the Robins the lead midway through the first half, only for Nathan Smith to equalise just before the break. Seven minutes after the restart the Towners got what was to be the winner, and there are no prizes for guessing who scored it.

That’s thirty one for the season for Mo Faal, and three against these opponents. Sadly you can’t claim the match ball by scoring them over two matches!

Three points further back are Lewes. The Rooks hosted Cray Wanderers, and it was that famous former Wand Joe Taylor who scored his twenty sixth of the campaign to give the hosts the lead just before the break (pictured- James Boyes). Nine minutes after the restart Razz Coleman De-Graft got number two, and that was that.

Bishop’s Stortford, who started the day in fourth place, ended the day there, too. They welcomed Bognor Regis Town and took the lead just before the break, Chris Harris scoring not only the first goal of the match but the first goal in one hundred and thirty five minutes between the two sides this season. It took only eight minutes for the second, Frankie Merrifield’s twelfth of the campaign, but when Jordy Mongoy halved the arrears it made for a nervous end to the match for the home faithful. Those nerves were calmed when Darren Foxley made it three-one, four minutes from time.

Kingstonian’s promotion charge was hit hard against Enfield at the weekend, but they’d been in good form prior to that match, having won four of their previous five. The K’s travelled to Haringey Borough, and by half time were two goals down, Jorge Djassi-Sambu with both of them, but roared back after the break. Ollie Cook got one back just before the hour, Elliott Buchanan equalised just after it, and then three minutes from time Buchanan grabbed the winner, sending the K’s back into the top five.

Hornchurch are our form side. They were unbeaten in eight matches, with seven wins, coming into last night’s match with Horsham- and now it’s nine and eight, after a two-nil triumph. Tobi Joseph opened the scoring eleven minutes before the break, but it took until two minutes from time before victory was confirmed- Tom Wraight scoring his second late goal in two matches to seal victory. The Urchins have closed to within two points of the top five.

Bowers & Pitsea had lost seven successive matches as they arrived at Cheshunt, but they put an end to that run and earned three points which lifted them three places up the table. The match had but one goal, and it went to Lewis Manor, fifteen minutes from time. That’s thirteen for the season for Manor.

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Where next?

Woods make it five! Five away wins in a row for Northwood, Marlow and Uxbridge cancel each other out, and the Tangerines get back to winning ways. It's our Pitching In Isthmian South Central round up.

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