Worthing go five clear, Canvey score six, Bracknell go top, and Staines slay!

Pitching In Isthmian Premier

Our league leaders, Worthing, travelled to North London to take on Wingate & Finchley having won eight and drawn one of their last nine matches across all competitions, and now it’s nine wins from ten as they recorded a comfortable three-one victory. All of the goals came after the break, and indeed the three scored by the Mackerel Men came in a thirteen minute period midway through the half, Pat Webber, Reece Myles-Meekums and Danny Barker giving them a three-nil lead. Bilal Sayoud got the blues consolation four minutes from time, but Worthing are now five points clear at the top. That’s six wins from their last six matches against the Blues, who must be getting rather sick of the sight of them.

Folkestone Invicta were hoping to at least keep pace with the Mackerel Men, but their match with Hornchurch produced no goals whatsoever. Invicta are third, six points behind the leaders- but still unbeaten and with two games in hand.

Lewes climbed in to the top five, their elevation partly due to their victory over Carshalton Athletic and partly because Margate were being taken apart at Corinthian-Casuals. The previously free-scoring Rooks were limited to one, and it went to Michael Klass sixteen minutes from time.

Image courtesy of James Boyes

Casuals hosted a Margate side who had won their last three matches, but the visitors certainly couldn’t make it four- indeed they were three down by half time. Bobby Mills opened the scoring on twelve minutes, an own goal doubled their tally on twenty six, and Warren Mfula got number three five minutes before the break. Ben Greenhalgh got one back on the hour to give the visiting supporters something to warm them up apart from the famous Casuals cheesy chips, but that was that. Margate slip to sixth, Casuals are sixteenth.

Casuals image- Andy Nunn.

Pitching In Isthmian North Division

Our unbeaten leaders, Canvey Island, welcomed Witham Town to the seaside having won won their last five league matches and scored twenty goals in the process. Well it’s now six and twenty six after the Gulls simply swept their visitors aside. The six goals were neatly shared out, too, Matt Price getting a couple, Evans Kouassi a brace, and Conor Hubble also getting two, and to increase the symmetry there were three in each half. That’s fifteen so far for Price, thirteen for Kouassi and ten for Hubble, and a four point lead at the top of the table for the Gulls. Witham are still without a win since August Bank Holiday Monday.

Grays Athletic would have been hoping for a Canvey slip up, but instead they were the ones to slip, falling to defeat at Great Wakering Rovers. The hosts put up an ‘Under New Management’ sign last week and were unlucky in losing to Step Three Walton Casuals at the weekend, but with only one win in the league all season dearly needed another-and a goal from Charlie Morris on the half hour provided just that.

Athletic drop to third, replaced in second place by Dereham Town, who won a hard-fought match against Bury Town by two goals to one. All of the goals came in the first half, Shaun Bammant and Rossi Jarvis giving the Magpies a two goal lead before Taylor Hastings got one back for the visitors, and the hosts held on to take all of the points, whilst Bury ended the match with ten men after Ollie Fenn saw red in the last minute.

Pitching In Isthmian South Central

Bracknell Town took over at the top with a two-nil win at bottom club Northwood. Both goals came before the break, and indeed within four minutes of each other, Dave Tarpey with a twenty first minute opener and Anthony Cheshire with the second shortly afterwards.

A customary late goal for Bedfont Sports saw them earn a point at Westfield. Sam Evans had put the hosts ahead ten minutes into the second half, but in the ninetieth minute Eze Bademosi popped up with the equaliser. That’s six goals in the ninetieth minute or later for Sports so far this season- you really don’t want to leave one of their matches early!

We had another draw at Chipstead, but the Chips will be disappointed after letting a two goal lead slip against Chertsey Town. Andy Kabuikusomo gave the hosts a very early lead, Jeremy Boakye made it two just before the break, and the score was still two-nil with only seven minutes left. Darryl Harrison pulled one back at that point, and then right at the death an own goal earned a point for Ian Selley’s new charges.

Pitching In Isthmian South East Division

Fifth place Herne Bay hosted sixth place Ramsgate in a Kentish seaside derby, and by the end the two still occupied those positions, but the other way around! Two from Joshua Ajayi gave the Rams a comfortable lead at the break, and although Kieron Campbell struck back for Bay in the forty ninth minute Lee Prescott made it three for Ramsgate fifteen minutes later, after which the nets were untroubled.

All eyes were on the Pilot Field, as title-favourites Hastings United tried to come to terms with the departure of their manager Chris Agutter. A stylish second half showing meant that they got back to winning ways in convincing fashion, putting four goals past visitors Whitstable Town. Sam Hasler gave United an early lead with his ninth goal of the season, but the Oysterboys drew level eleven minutes into the second half, Harry Goodger with the goal. That seemed to provoke the hosts, and a Ben Pope double sandwiched a Tom Chalmers effort to delight the majority of the seven hundred and ninety present. Hastings are seventh, a point off the top five and ten off the top, but they do have three games in hand over the leaders.

Faversham Town forced a famous victory over Premier Division Leatherhead at the weekend, but couldn’t continue in the same way as they welcomed a much changed Hythe Town. Liam Smith put the Cannons ahead seven minutes before half time, Darren Oldaker doubled the score seven minutes after it, and a late Mobalaji Dawodu goal for the hosts was no more than a consolation.

Buildbase FA Trophy

Staines Town hosted Brightlingsea Regent after the original match was postponed on Saturday. Regent arrived at Wheatsheaf Park as a giant looking likely to be slain, having lost their last six, and that’s exactly what transpired. The goal came very early indeed, Noah Amissah scoring for the Swans in only the second minute, and that turned out to be the only goal of the game so woe betide you if you were late! The swans march- swim- on into the next round, and Regent really need to find an antidote to their recent woes.

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