Woods win again- whilst Chertsey hit six!

By Ian Townsend

Marlow delivered a fine comeback to stay second, whilst we had wins for Walton, Basingstoke, Southall, Westfield, Rovers, Tanners and Guernsey

Our leaders, Northwood, started the day seven points clear at the top and had hopes of making that double figures by full time! Thatcham Town stood between Woods and more success, but they didn’t stand there for too long, Ergys Pepaj opening the scoring just before the half hour for Woods. Josh Helmore doubled their advantage with nineteen minutes remaining, and that was that- seven points remains their lead.

Bedfont Sports have had a nightmare start to the season by their standards, with only one league win, but they had a wonderful start at Marlow, taking the lead after just five minutes with Sam Evans fifth of the campaign. Marlow, starting the day in second place, were two down on eighteen minutes- Evans once more finding the back of their net- but they did get one back just before the hour, Elijah Oladunjoye halving the deficit. The equaliser arrived on sixty six minutes, Naheer Nawaf levelling, and then disaster for the visitors, as a late, late Curtis Chapple goal completed the turnaround for the hosts and kept them in second place. Image from f8digitalmedia.

Binfield and Walton & Hersham both have games in hand over the leaders- three for the Moles, four for the Swans- and the two sides met today in what looked like our match of the day. The Moles, unbeaten at home in all competitions, saw that record endangered as the Swans went ahead just before the half hour, Taurean Roberts getting his fourth of the campaign, and it came to an end when Eddie Simon got a late second for the visitors- who climb to fourth, nine points off the top with those four games in hand.

South Park Reigate, up to fourth last weekend after defeating Binfield, were on the road to Woking to face Westfield. The Sparks took four points from their encounters last season- but both matches were close, and Westfield delivered the first blow in this one after fourteen minutes, Florian Envoudou Ada opening the scoring. The Sparks levelled from the spot eleven minutes before the break, Ryan Healy making no mistake, but the hosts quickly regained their lead through Harry Carter. Five minutes after half time Envoudou Ada made it three-one, and the Woking Park faithful would have been delighted as their side held on for three points and climbed to tenth.

There were only three points between second and ninth at start of play, which meant that both fifth place Ashford Town and sixth place Chertsey Town had their eyes on second spot. The two met in Curfew land, and the Tangerines, who had won their last three league matches, took an early lead- Prince Mbengui scoring in the ninth minute- but Jake Baxter drew the hosts level just before the half hour and soon afterwards Kieran Murphy put the Curfews ahead. Two minutes before the break William Montague added a third for the hosts, and the same player made it four-one just after the hour, this one from the spot. Baxter then got a fifth on sixty six minutes, and just before the end Kai Hamilton Olise made it six. The Curfews climb to third.

Basingstoke Town, in eighth at start of play, were on the road to take on eleventh place Uxbridge, and went ahead twelve minutes before the break through Ezio Touray. The hosts then made their own lives more difficult, Maurice Nugent seeing red, and Touray quickly took advantage to double the visitors lead. Uxbridge then got one back, Mark Bitmead giving the ten men hope, but the equaliser didn’t come and Stoke move into the top five.

Southall welcomed Hanworth Villa. The hosts are our draw specialists, drawing half of their matches prior to today- but were quickly ahead in this one, Jack Roper scoring after just three minutes. The clinching goal came six minutes from time, Leonard Farhall sending them up to sixth.

Chipstead tried to follow up a fine win at Leatherhead last time out by winning another ‘green derby’ as Guernsey came to call- but the Green Lions went ahead just before the break, Matt Loaring converting a penalty. Will Fazakerley made it two-nil eight minutes after the restart, at which point the Chips decided to make a match of it, Michael Dixon getting one back. That was the end of the goals, Guernsey climbing out of the bottom four.

Sutton Common Rovers played host to Tooting & Mitcham United at Whyteleafe. Rovers were buoyed by winning twice over the last week, against Thatcham Town in the League and Three Bridges in the Velocity Trophy- whilst the Terrors had gone seven matches in all competitions without winning a single one and were soon looking unlikely to win this one, Kyron Richards and an own goal putting the hosts two up on nineteen minutes. The third and perhaps killer blow arrived on seventy two minutes, Jephte Tanga with the next goal for the hosts, and that was that. Rovers climb to eleventh, the Terrors drop into the bottom two.

Finally, Merstham played host to the Hayden Bird derby, as their former manager brought his Leatherhead team to Moatside. The Moatsiders started the day still without a league win, whilst the Tanners had only one, so both sides were desperate for three points- and it was first blow Tanners as Trey Williams opened the scoring on the hour. The Moatsiders equaliser came only three minutes later, a goal for Michael Aziaya, but a Tanners debutant, Dan Hector, then stepped up for a winner. Leatherhead are up to fifteenth, the Moatsiders remain rock bottom.

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Where next?

Rams hold their nerve- and their lead Chats late win sees them stay second, Millers hit five, and we’ve wins for the Hawks, Becks, Golds, Lancers, Oaks and Hillians
A Trawler Boys comeback leaves them eight clear Felixstowe go second, Swifts hit five, Rocks win again- and Brentwood deliver the comeback of the day

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