Wins for the top six- whilst the Cheshunt/Margate relegation battle continues

Champions Hornchurch headed to Margate needing nine points- and ten goals-from their remaining four matches to reach the magic one hundred on both counts, but they were facing a side with rather more important things to worry about, fourth from bottom Margate. The Hartsdown Park side somehow came from two down with twelve minutes left to win three-two against Potters Bar Town on Thursday night, a result that made it five unbeaten for the Blues and saw them close to within three points of fifth bottom Cheshunt. They very much needed to upset the odds and defeat the Urchins, but they fell behind nine minutes from half time, Sean Scannell meeting a Femi Akinwande cross at the far post. That turned out to be that, and the hosts remain three points from safety.

Continuing our focus on the wrong end of the table, Cheshunt travelled to Billericay Town hoping that they could at least match Margate’s result. The Ambers had four wins from their previous six, whilst Billericay had suddenly rediscovered their mojo and won their previous three whilst scoring ten goals and conceding only one, and were still hopeful of a play off spot- and their hope increased when Alfie Cerulli put them ahead midway through the first half, set up by home talisman Bradley Stevenson, who was celebrating his one hundredth appearance. The Ambers, however, quickly hit back, Alfie Pendlebury getting on the end of a long throw to finish, but their chances took a hit just before the break when keeper Sami Nabbad was dismissed. The ten men held out until nine minutes from time, Moses Emmanuel restoring the lead for the Blues, and a late red card for Billericay’s Sydney Ibie came too late to influence the outcome.

Billericay remain sixth, but remain three points away from a top five spot having played two more matches than the side currently occupying it. The Ambers retain a three point advantage over fourth bottom Margate, having played a game less.

Back at the top end of the table, second place Chatham Town hoped to mathematically secure their play off spot- and perhaps home advantage in those play offs- as they welcomed Folkestone Invicta. The Chats had lost only two of their last ten, whilst with five wins from seven Invicta were on their best form of the season and entirely safe.

The sides had already met twice this season in League and Kent Cup, the Chats wining both times, and it was the Chats who broke the deadlock on this occasion, too, Harvey Bradbury scoring just before half time. It was two-nil on the hour, Kareem Isiaka setting up skipper Simon Cooper, and that’s where the scoring ended, the Chats secure in a play off spot and very nearly securing home advantage.

Third place Enfield Town welcomed Potters Bar Town to the QEII, the Towners eleven League matches unbeaten and having won six of their previous seven. The travelling Scholars had lost their last four, but will still be wondering how they lost against Margate on Thursday night- indeed, anyone who watched that match would be wondering the same! Enfield’s finest had won five of the last six meetings between the sides, and they went ahead in this one on twenty seven minutes, Marcus Wyllie with his thirty second goal of a fine season- and Wyllie doubled the lead just after the hour. Almost immediately Reece Beckles-Richards made it three, but the hosts then went down to ten men, Micky Parcell seeing red. The Scholars managed to find a way past the ten men with ten minutes left, Temi Babalola with the goal, but that was that, the Towners secure in third- and almost secure in a play off spot.

Image from Tom Scott- more here.

Wingate and Finchley, in fourth at kick off, hosted already relegated North London rivals Haringey Borough on the back of a run which had seen them lose only once in their last ten matches. The visitors had only pride to play for- and having lost their last three matches whilst conceding sixteen goals without scoring, they need to quickly find some of that to give their fabulous fans at least something to sing about- but it was the Blues who broke the deadlock on fifty six minutes, Anointed Chukwu with his seventeenth of the campaign. That turned out to be the only goal, and it leaves the Blues requiring only one point from their two remaining matches to ensure their play off spot.

Fifth place Horsham were back on their own patch, and hoping to hold onto that hard-won fifth spot. The Hornets welcomed Cray Wanderers to the Camping World Community Stadium, and started the day with a three point lead over sixth place Billericay Town with two games in hand, a four point lead over seventh place Hastings United with a game in hand, and a six point lead over eighth place Carshalton Athletic with two games in hand. In short, their success was entirely in their own hands- and they looked even more secure when Daniel Ajakaiye opened the scoring on seventeen minutes. The Hornets added another just before the half hour, James Hammond scoring from the spot, and what they had, they held. They are three points clear of sixth place Billericay Town, having played two games less.

One thousand, four hundred and five watched on.

Hastings United welcomed Sussex seaside rivals Whitehawk to Pilot Field. United had four points to make up on fifth place Horsham at kick off having played a game more, and very much needed to win, but they fell behind with thirteen minutes left, Imran Kayani quieting most of the one thousand, seven hundred and forty eight watching on. United’s play off hopes hang by a thread- they’ll have to win their three remaining matches and hope that Horsham slip up.

Carshalton Athletic found themselves six points from the top five with three matches left to play at kick off, so their play off hopes were hanging by a thread despite some find form of late. The Robins welcomed Bognor Regis Town to Colston Avenue, and hosted their ‘club day’- and the watching throng of youth players and fans would have been delighted when Olubunmi Babajide opened the scoring after just four minutes. They had more to cheer about in added time at the end of the first half, Kwaku Frimpong making it two, but the visitors quickly struck back, Jasper Mather narrowing the deficit seven minutes into the second half. The Robins added a third with twenty two minutes left, Luke Read reestablishing their two goal advantage, but ten minutes from time the visitors once again reduced the arrears, Matt Burgess bring it back to three-two- and Burgess then grabbed his side a point, making it three-three with three minutes to go. That ends the Robins play off hopes, and leaves them in eighth- and that’s two three-three draws between the sides this season.

Hashtag United were on a fine run with only one defeat from ten, and will look to pick up silverware next Wednesday night as they take on Chatham Town in the Velocity Cup Final at Aveley FC. The Tags had only two matches left at the Len Salmon until they moved to Aveley for next season, and the first one of those saw already relegated Concord Rangers make the rather short trip- and the hosts went ahead at the midway point of the first half, Camilo Restrepo with the opening goal of the match. Alex Teniola made it two just after the hour, only for Rangers to get one back with seventeen minutes remaining, Frederick Agyemang halving the deficit. Three minutes from time Simo Mbonkwi levelled for the Beachboys, and in added time the visitors grabbed all three points with a third goal, Agyemang striking again. That lifts the visitors to twentieth.

Canvey Island needed points to ensure they’d be mathematically safe from relegation, but it was visitors Dulwich Hamlet who made the breakthrough in first half stoppage time, Danny Mills with the opening goal. Stoppage time at the end of the second half had a similar flavour, as Ryley Scott made it two. Despite the result, the Gulls are safe.

Lewes welcomed relegated Kingstonian to the Dripping Pan. The Rooks had only three wins from ten but have the Fenix Trophy Finals in Italy to look forward to (along with Enfield Town), whilst the K’s have had a season to forget, and had lost seven of their last eight coming into this one. The Rooks took the lead seven minutes after half time, Walter Figueira with the opener, and doubled their advantage twelve minutes from time through Ronnie Vint. Right at the end Jude Mason scored for the K’s, and there was still time for Lewes scorer Figueira to be sent off, but the hosts held on for three points.

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