Wins for the top four- whilst Sparks march on in the Trophy

FA Trophy

South Park (Reigate) welcomed Leighton Town to Whitehall Lane. The Sparks had already won two home matches over the previous week, and indeed were on a run of home victories which stretched back seven games, so will have been confident of adding to that- but they fell behind twenty minutes from time. Were they downhearted? Not for long! Aiden Brown levelled seven minutes later, and two minutes from time Ryan Healy kept his nerve from the spot to send the Sparks through to the next round. Town already had two Isthmian scalps this season- they weren’t getting a third.

Westfield had played some fine football and scored lots of goals of late, winning seven of their last eight matches and scoring twenty three goals in the process. They faced the test of Hungerford Town at Woking Park, their visitors three unbeaten in Pitching In Southern Premier South- and this proved a step too far for the hosts, but for much of the match it looked as if a giant killing was on the cards. Westfield went ahead on seven minutes through Quincy Rowe, but eight minutes before the break their life was made difficult when Jacob Breckon saw red. The ten men held their lead until fifteen minutes from time, but goals in the seventy fifth, eightieth and last minute saw the visitors win three-one.

South Central

We had a four team battle for top spot, but it was as you were as each of the quartet recorded a victory.

Leaders Raynes Park Vale quickly bounced back from their difficult period at the end of September/start of October to win their next three matches, and were be full of confidence as Ashford Town came to call. You never know quite what you’re going to get from the Tangerines, and they went ahead on nine minutes, Jack Arnold opening the scoring, but Vale levelled just before the break and took the points eight minutes later, Jordan Gallagher and Charlie Penny with the goals.

Southall have been in fine form, and the latest side to try and end their nine match unbeaten run were Corinthian-Casuals- but Casuals weren’t up to the task, despite taking an early lead. That early lead was delivered by Jason Kaate, but Casuals were then undone by Jaden Thompson-Brissett, who went on to score a rather incredible FIVE goals in a five-two win. His equaliser came on thirteen minutes, and he put his side ahead seven minutes before the break before Danny Campion levelled for the visitors. They were level for only a minute, Thompson-Brissett with his hat trick from the spot just before the break, and The All’s number seven added tow more after the break, taking his tally for the season up to twenty. Southall are second, a point behind the leaders.

Chertsey Town welcomed Chipstead. The Curfews had lost only once this season and had won their previous four, and they took that winning streak to five in a close match at Alwyns Lane. Oliver McCoy put the hosts ahead after just seven minutes, and it took until the sixty eighth minute before they got another, Gianluca Botti with that one. Almost immediately the Chips got a goal back through Jack Leahy, but they couldn’t find an equaliser. Chertsey are third, level on points with Southall.

Our big match came from beside the Thames, as fourth place Marlow took on fifth place Leatherhead. Marlow had won four in a row- and indeed seven of their last eight in the League- whilst the Tanners had slipped off the pace a little lately, winning only one of their last three- and that slipping continued as Marlow hit four goals without reply. It was three-nil at the break, a Josh Boorn double added to by Benjamin Mulley, and just after the break the ever-reliable Dawid Rogalski took his tally for the season to sixteen by scoring his sides fourth- and last- goal of the game. Marlow remain fourth, and the Tanners remain fifth, but slip to seven points behind the leaders.

It was eighth v tenth as Uxbridge welcomed Hanworth Villa in a local derby. Villa had lost only one of their last seven, and they had this one wrapped up by ten minutes after half time. Finlay Macnab opened the scoring for the visitors on nineteen minutes, and Guy Ansah-Palmer added a second twelve minutes before half time. On fifty five minutes Macnab added a third for the Villains, and a late, late goal by James Gurteen for the hosts made little difference to the outcome.

Badshot Lea have been in fine form of late. The Baggies had won nine of their previous ten in all competitions- that defeat coming from a penalty shootout- so travelled to Binfield full of confidence, not only because the Moles were still without a win this season, but because when the sides met in the Velocity Cup in August the Baggies won six-nil. Badshot Lea made it ten wins from eleven, but they were made to wait for that success, their opener only arriving nine minutes from time, Adam New opening the scoring. A minute from time Nick Medcraft made it two, and there was still time for Lamin Ceesay to make it three, the Baggies in seventh.

Hartley Wintney travelled to take on Sutton Common Rovers. The visitors had lost their previous two, the hosts had lost their last four, and both sides were be desperate to put something other than a red splodge in their form table- but it was very much one way traffic, Hartley Wintney triumphing five-one. The visitors went ahead on twenty minutes through Mason Obeng, only for Aaron Jenkins to level for Rovers six minutes later- but that was as good as it got for the hosts. The visitors were helped by the fact that Rovers played most of the match with ten men after Ben Holden’s dismissal. Taylor Morgan immediately put the visitors ahead from the spot on third nine minutes, and after the break Morgan added another, with late goals from George’s Wallace and Winser making it four and five.

Thatcham Town welcomed Northwood, both sides desperate for points. The Kingfishers had lost six of their previous seven in the League, whilst the Woods recent record was even worse, with one point picked up from the last twenty four available- indeed, if we added in cup competitions they had gone eleven matches without a win. That run went up to twelve, as a goal in each half gave Thatcham the points, Josh Blackwood with the first, Kyle Daniel-Spray with a late second.

Finally, the side in twentieth took on the side one place above them, as Guernsey welcomed Metropolitan Police to the Channel Islands. Both sides had to be content with a point, an own goal giving the Green Lions an early lead and looking to have given them three points only for a late, late Mason Galloway goal to earn a share of the spoils for the boys in blue. Keene Domaille saw red late on for the Green Lions.

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