Woods go four clear as Swans fluff their lines

Northwood waved goodbye to forward Sydney Ibie last week, as he went up in the world and signed a professional deal with Dagenham & Redbridge, but it made little difference as they went four points clear with three points at Southall. Juwon Akintunde stepped up to fill that Ibie-shaped gap, but they had to come from behind to win, as Jaden Thompson-Brissett gave the hosts a twenty first minute lead. It could have been two-nil by then, as Andrew McCorkell had already saved a home penalty.

Akintunde equalised six minutes before the break, and then struck what proved to be the winner just before they all trooped off for their half time oranges, completing a double for our leaders.

Second place Walton & Hersham welcomed Leatherhead to the Sports Hub. Walton had already defeated the Tanners twice this season, winning two-nil in the league and three-one in the FA Trophy, and they knew that a third victory could have allowed them to take advantage of any Northwood slip up- but it was the Swans who slipped up on this occasion, conceding two penalties which were both put away by Kenny Beaney- on thirty four and seventy four minutes. A late red card for Chikanele Elechi didn’t dampen the Tanners day, and the travelling fans amongst the five hundred and sixty one watching on headed home delighted.

South Park, under new management, welcomed Merstham to Whitehall Lane. The Sparks won their last meeting by two goals to one, and they went ahead in this one, Marcell Campbell on the half hour, but the Moatsiders grabbed a point six points from the end, Bryan Zepo ensuring they got something from their efforts.

Chertsey Town got back to winning ways with a first half blitz at Hanworth Villa. Jonathan Hippolyte put them ahead after just four minutes, and on twenty minutes Will Montague made it two. Jake Baxter got his sixth of the campaign eight minutes before the break, and there was still time for Alex Paine to add a fourth before the half came to an end. The Curfews move up to sixth.

Thatcham Town are in their best form of the season so far, and they continued that with victory over Uxbridge. The two goals that delivered that victory both arrived in the last fifteen minutes, Ramarni Medford-Smith with the opener, and a Kiye Martin spot kick right at the end ending any Uxbridge hopes. That’s four wins from six for the Kingfishers, who move to within two points of their opponents and climb to fourteenth.

Bedfont Sports moved out of the bottom four after coming back from two goals down to take a point from Ashford Town. The Tangerines went ahead just before the break, Dan Brown with the opener, and Brown added a second just before the hour. Sports hit back from the spot, Sam Evans converting, and Evans earned the hosts a point right at the end.

Finally, two of our strugglers met at Imperial Fields, as Tooting & Mitcham United welcomed Guernsey. This looked like a must win for both sides, and it was the Terrors who took the points, Narhan Daly getting the only goal of the game eleven minutes from time. The Terrors close to within two points of safety. Image from Tim Marcus- more here.

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