Worthing hit Merstham for six- and the Millers make history!

Premier Division/FA Trophy

Folkestone Invicta and Worthing started the day with a number of things in common. Both had played twenty three matches. Both had won fourteen of those, drawn six and lost three. Both had forty eight points. And both were at home.

Invicta, who had lost only one of their last ten matches, hosted Haringey Borough. This season’s Borough were yet to recapture the form they showed in the previous campaign and had won only one of their previous seven league matches, but they held the leaders until ten minutes from time, when Joshua Vincent made the breakthrough. But that wasn’t that. With a minute to go, Romoluwa Akinola stepped up to grab an equaliser and earn his side a point.

Worthing, who had twenty four points from their last thirty and had last been defeated in the league as far back as October 5th- yes, more than three months ago- were at home to Merstham- and given the Invicta result, a victory was all they needed. The Moatsiders had only one win in ten and five points from thirty, and after showing signs of a recovery with victory over Haringey Borough and a draw with Carshalton Athletic had lost their last three matches, conceding ten goals and scoring only three, so it perhaps wasn’t difficult to predict the likely outcome. The manner of that outcome, however, exceeded anything we might have come up with.

The Mackerel Men were quickly ahead, Ricky Aguiar scoring after only nine minutes, and four minutes later they were two up, Jasper Pattenden with the second. Shola Ayoola halved the deficit for Merstham on twenty five minutes, but Worthing restored their two goal cushion- and delighted most of the nine hundred and five in attendance- seven minutes later, Alex Parsons with the goal. Worthing then went on to get a fourth and a fifth, Aguiar and Ollie Pearce adding to their advantage, and five minutes from time Marley Marshall made it six- a result which sends them two points clear and means that they’ve nearly made up Invicta’s goal difference advantage, too. That’s fifty five goals scored this season- far more than anyone else in our top flight.

Third place Horsham were also at home, against Corinthian-Casuals. The Hornets last four league matches had seen them win and lose then win and lose, so they’d have liked that pattern to continue- whilst Casuals were in their best form of the season, taking seven points from their last nine. It took until fifteen minutes from time for a goal to be scored, and it went to the Hornets, Harry Mills successful from the spot. That turned out to be the only goal of the game, and Horsham are now three points behind Folkestone, five behind Worthing.

Fourth place Hornchurch were in FA Trophy action. They hosted a mouth-watering Essex derby, as Aveley, in second place in the North Division, were the visitors. The Millers had already defeated FOUR higher division sides to get to this stage, so it was no surprise when they took a ninth minute lead, Shad Ngandu scoring from the spot- but the Urchins were level just before the break, another spot kick converted by Chris Dickson.

Aveley were then given a man advantage as the Urchins Mickey Parcell saw red, and quickly took advantage, Harry Gibbs putting them ahead once more- and that’s how it ended, putting the Millers into the last sixteen of the competition and making that five giants slain!

Carshalton Athletic knew they could climb to fourth in the Urchins absence, but to do so they had to defeat Lewes at the Dripping Pan. The Robins went ahead just before the break, Christie Pattisson opening the scoring, and that turned out to be the only goal of the match.

Cray Wanderers, in sixth, travelled to Bowers & Pitsea. Bowers have turned their form around of late, losing only one of their last six and taking some notable scalps along the way, including Folkestone Invicta and Enfield Town, and continued in a similar fashion when taking the lead just after the half hour, Brad Warner scoring from the spot. Joseph Taylor- it’s always Joseph Taylor- replied for Wands nineteen minutes into the second half, and then two minutes before the end Rhys Murrell-Williamson ruined Bowers day by snatching a late winner for the visitors, who go level on points with Hornchurch.

Enfield Town got over the disappointment- although in truth they were both delighted and disappointed at the same time- of losing Muhammadu Faal to Bolton Wanderers by putting five goals past Staines Town in the Velocity Trophy in midweek. They knew that they had a chance of returning to the top five by defeating Brightlingsea Regent at home, but the first goal came the way of the visitors, Jake Turner putting them ahead in the eleventh minute.

The lead lasted only until the twenty fifth minute, when Sam Youngs drew the hosts level, and the Towners were ahead eleven minutes from time, Lyle Della-Verde making it two-one. That perhaps should have been that, but an improving Regent equalised seven minutes from time, and both had to share the points. Romario Dunne got the visitors equaliser.

Leatherhead and Bognor Regis Town both had days to forget last Saturday, but the Tanners bounced back to win at Wingate & Finchley in midweek. The Rocks had suffered a recent blip, winning only one of their last four after a fine unbeaten run came to an end, but took the lead at Fetcham Grove early on, Brad Lethbridge firing them ahead after eleven minutes. It was level before the break, Charlie Hester-Cook scoring for the Tanners, but a last-gasp Tommy Leigh goal won it for the visitors.

East Thurrock United, in ninth, travelled to face twelfth place Margate. The Essex Rocks had been in reasonable form, losing only three of their last ten, whilst Gate are rather Jekyll and Hyde but had been very good at winning at Bognor last weekend. The breakthrough came only thirteen minutes from time, Frankie Merrifield getting it for the Rocks, and that turned out to be the goal that won the game. The Rocks clim to eighth.

Potters Bar Town hosted Bishop’s Stortford. The Scholars got back to winning ways against Merstham last time out, whilst the visiting Blues had three wins, two draws and two defeats from their last seven but had player/boss Jamie Cureton in fine form, the veteran striker having scored in their last five league matches- and indeed in seven of their last eight. The Scholars took an early lead through George Nicholas, and that turned out to be that, seeing them go four points clear of Margate in twelfth.

Kingstonian, in fifteenth, were another side in FA Trophy action. The K’s suffered the blow of losing striker Louis Theophanous to Romford last weekend, but needed to put the furore around that move behind them as they took on Leamington. Their visitors are in fifteenth place in National League North, where they had lost their last two matches, but they were in good form prior to that- and took the lead in the fifty sixth minute, profiting from a K’s own goal. The K’s weren’t going to go down without a fight, and earned a replay when Dan Hector got a last minute equaliser.

Finally, we had a big battle at the bottom end of the table, as bottom side Wingate & Finchley entertained Cheshunt. The Ambers were impressive in defeating Kingstonian last weekend, whilst the hosts had shown improved form in recent weeks without really improving their points tally all that much, and hadn’t won a league match since November 9th. Cheshunt took the lead six minutes before the break, Reece Beckles-Richards with the opening goal of the game, but the Blues were level seven minutes into the second half, Sean Grace with the equaliser.

Cheshunt were ahead again nineteen minutes from time, Ryan Moss scoring from the spot, and held on to move seven points clear of their hosts in eighteenth place.

North Division

Maldon & Tiptree, three points clear at the top with three matches in hand at kick off, are having a remarkable season by anyone’s standards. Fifth place Great Wakering Rovers were looking to be the first side to inflict defeat on them in the league this season as the Jammers travelled to Southend, but after a goalless first half Lance Akins got the opening goal for Maldon eighteen minutes after the restart, and try as they might Rovers couldn’t find an equaliser.

Second placed Aveley were at Hornchurch in the FA Trophy so both third place Bury Town, and fourth place Heybridge Swifts were looking to take advantage and leapfrog the Millers as they played each other. The opening goal at Scraley Road came to the home side, the always-impressive Evans Kouassi putting Swifts ahead just after the break- and that turned out to be the only goal, lifting Swifts to second- four points behind their local rivals but having played five games more.

Coggeshall Town, in sixth place, travelled to Basildon United full of confidence after they scored five in midweek, but neither side could break the deadlock and had to settle for a point each. The Seed Growers stay sixth, Basildon are eighteenth.

Seventh place Tilbury would also have been in a positive frame of mind as they travelled to AFC Sudbury. They’d thumped Heybridge in midweek, and were six games unbeaten- indeed had lost only one of their last ten- and went ahead in the eighteenth minute through Ola Ogunwamide. The opposing yellows were also in good form, with only one defeat in six, but couldn’t find an equaliser and the Dockers day was complete when David Knight made it two in the last minute, seeing them jump into the top five.

Canvey Island had climbed up the table to eight place courtesy of some fine recent form. The Gulls, who had beaten Bury Town and Soham Town Rangers in their last two matches, hosted the Magpies, Dereham undoubtedly heartened by their fine performance at Basildon in midweek which saw them get back to form after five matches without a win. Canvey got the breakthrough six minutes into the second half, Rob Lacey finding the Magpies net, but Dereham were level just before the hour, Robbie Linford with the equaliser. Deep into added time the Magpies stole the Gulls silver, Ryan Crisp snatching a late winner which also saw the visitors take Canvey’s eighth place.

Brentwood Town announced an attractive offer for their home match with Histon, letting supporters in for free and giving them a free drink upon arrival- but any new fans arriving saw the Blues fall behind after eighteen minutes, Max York scoring from the spot. Town were level just after the break, Temi Babalola scoring the second goal of the afternoon and the second one from the spot, and that was that, both sides having to be satisfied with a point apiece.

Grays Athletic, who had slipped down the table to eleventh place, travelled to Witham Town. After a good run which saw them take seven points from nine, Town had taken only one point from their last nine; whilst Athletic had lost their last three matches and conceded thirteen goals in doing so- so both sides were hoping for a positive reaction. Witham made the breakthrough in this one, two minutes before half time, Oliver Emsden scoring the first goal of the game and only the third of the afternoon in the North Division. It also turned out to be the last goal of the game and it saw Witham climb to fourteenth.

Cambridge City hosted Romford. City were desperate for an upturn in fortunes, as they had lost five of their last six matches, including the last three. Romford had strengthened substantially since their six-nil defeat at Aveley on the last Saturday of 2019, which was their most recent match, so we had no idea either who or how they would play- but Glenn Tamplin’s side fell behind in the sixty fourth minute as Nathan Olukanmi scored for the hosts, and couldn’t find an equaliser. They remain at the bottom of the table, eight points adrift.

Soham Town Rangers hosted Hullbridge Sports. The home side had only one win from their last ten matches, and didn’t help themselves in midweek by having two players sent off whilst a goal up against Canvey Island; whilst Sports, conversely, had turned around some patchy form to win two of their last three, and defeated Canvey three-nil last time out. It was the visitors who broke the deadlock in the sixty second minute, Joseph Wright with the opener, and that turned out to be not only the opening goal but the only goal as Sports became one of three clubs on twenty two points.

South Central

What a match we had in prospect at Woking Park, where our form side- Westfield- played our leaders- Ware. Field had been magnificent in recent weeks- unbeaten in nine matches and with five consecutive victories under their belt- and knew that a home win could see them replace the Blues at the summit; but Ware seemed to have put their indifferent form behind them with wins over FC Romania and Chertsey Town. It took until three minutes after the break before we got the opening goal, and it came to the hosts- Max Blackmore getting his seventeenth of the season- and it was soon two-nil, Arsen Ujkaj doubling their advantage.

Aaron Watson put the outcome beyond doubt with the third eleven minutes from time, and there was still time for Tinashe Nkoma to get a fourth from the spot- a result which saw Ware drop to third.

If Ware were to succumb to the yellow hordes, however, Westfield would only go top if second place Hanwell Town failed to defeat Marlow. The Geordies started as if they were doing their best to fulfil their side of the bargain, as Marlow were two up within the first quarter of an hour, Kameron English and Devontae Romeo with the goals- but the hosts did get one back just before the break, Harry Tamplin sending them into the dressing room with some hope restored.

That hope was realised seven minutes into the second half as Harry Rush got an equaliser, and in the sixty second minute the turnaround was complete, Rob Laney making it three-two to the Geordies- and that’s how it remained, a result which saw Hanwell return to the summit, one point clear of now second place Westfield and Ware.

Fourth place Waltham Abbey would have been top of the table were it based only on the previous ten matches. The Abbotts were unbeaten over that period- but visitors Bedfont Sports were also in good form with only one defeat in ten, and struck first in this one, Lucas Sinclair putting them ahead after fourteen minutes. Sports struck second, too, Nathan Wood doubling their advantage, but a goals from Leonne McKenzie got the hosts back into the contest. Both sides then went down to ten men, Lucas Sinclair departing for Sports and Mark Twumasi taking an early bath for the Abbotts, and it was the hosts who coped better initially, Billy Holland getting an equaliser.

The Abbotts then went down to nine men, Junior Appiah being dismissed, and that turned out to be a step too far for the hosts, as Max Oldham got the winner for Sports, who are up to twelfth.

Tooting & Mitcham United, in fifth, seemed to have regained their early season form, winning four of their last five- but faced a tough task as sixth place Uxbridge travelled to Imperial Fields hoping to narrow the five point gap that has opened up between themselves and the top five. The travelling red army quickly had something to sing about as Callum Bunting put their side ahead after only three minutes, but the Terrors were level before half an hour had been played, the ever-reliable Danny Bassett with the goal.

The next goal was always going to be important, and it came to Uxbridge. Mark Bitmead put them ahead once more with nineteen minutes to go, and that turned out to be the last goal of the game. The reds stay sixth, but are now only two points behind the Terrors.

Seventh place Barking were at home to Northwood. The Blues had lost only two of their last ten, winning seven of them, whilst the Woods headed to Mayesbury Park with a collection of new signings but on the back of four consecutive defeats. It was the visitors who went ahead seven minutes after the break, Matthew Hall with the opener, but in the last five minutes of the match Barking turned the game on its head, Michael Dixon and Junior Dadson giving them a two-one victory which moved them to within three points of Tooting.

Eighth travelled to ninth as Harlow Town head to Chertsey Town. After eight matches without a win Harlow got back to winning ways last time out with victory over Staines Town, whilst the Curfews had only one win in nine but announced two new signings just before kick off- but it wasn’t a new name who opened the scoring for the Curfews, as Jake Baxter got the first goal just after the half hour- and Baxter did it again four minutes before the break. That wasn’t the end of the first half agony for the Hawks, as just before the half time whistle Lubomir Guentchev made it three, and with no further goals after the break Chertsey took the Hawks eighth place as Town dropped to tenth.

Bracknell Town, much changed and much improved of late, hosted Hertford Town. The Robins had seven points from their last nine and defeated Premier Division side Lewes in the Velocity Trophy earlier this week, whilst the visitors had suffered five defeats in their last six, the only win coming against fellow strugglers FC Romania- and their poor run looked set to continue when Joy Mukena put Bracknell ahead four minutes after the restart. Bracknell were two up nine minutes later, Max Herbert doubling their advantage, and that’s how it remained, seeing the Robins climb to ninth.

Chalfont St Peter hosted South Park. The Sparks, newly reinforced with the arrival of former Tooting striker Omari Hibbert, had only one defeat in five, whilst the Saints had gone three matches without a win. It was another Sparks striker who made the breakthrough, and as usual it was Great Evans, eleven minutes after the restart; but in the sixty eight minute the hosts were level, Juwon Akintunde with the equaliser.

South Park weren’t done, and went ahead once more eleven minutes from time, Ainh-War Tran-West winning the prize for the most hyphenated footballer in the Division- perhaps the world- and the prize of three points for his side.

Chipstead, who had been in fine form with four wins and that draw from their last five matches, travelled to face Staines Town. The Swans desperately needed a win, having taken only two points from their last fifteen, but fell behind just after half time due to an own goal. Sam Clayton made it two-nil for the Chips twelve minutes from time, and that result saw the Chips up to eleventh.

Finally, our bottom two met in Cheshunt, as Ashford Town travelled to take on FC Romania. Cosmin Miron put the Wolves ahead after twenty six minutes but the Tangerines were level only four minutes later, Darryl Harrison with the goal. Into the second half the the next goal came to the home side, George Taban with it, and the Wolves made it three eight minutes from time through Lawrence Nzuruba- and although the visitors did narrow the gap when Dan Brown scored a last minute penalty it wasn’t enough to stop them slipping to the bottom.

South East

Hastings United had lost only once in the league all season coming into today’s match with second bottom Ramsgate. The Rams strengthened with three new signings yesterday, but were soon behind, Daniel Ajakaiye delighting the home faithful after only eleven minutes. Ben Pope made it two just before the break, and then got the third four minutes after the restart. The dismissal of Craig Stone for Hastings perhaps gave Ramsgate some hope, but it was a forlorn hope as United held on for the points.

Second place Ashford United went into their match with Faversham Town with four straight victories under their belt, and went ahead two minutes after the break- Aaron Condon opening the scoring. Condon got his second-and the second of the match- nineteen minutes from time, and that was enough to move the Nuts and Bolts six points clear of third place Whitehawk, whilst remaining four points behind Hastings.

Cray Valley PM, who started the day in fourth place, travelled to Haywards Heath Town. The Millers had gone off the boil a little lately, with only one win in seven, whilst Heath had lost only one of their last eight- including three wins and four draws- and were quickly ahead in this one, Josh Spinks opening the scoring in the fourth minute. They were two up before the break, benefitting from an own goal, but the Millers pulled one back two minutes after the restart, Gavin Tomlin finding the back of the Heath net. The hosts weren’t downcast, and a minute later Trevor McCreadie made it three-one- and that’s how it ended, a resukt which saw Heath go twelfth.

Whyteleafe travelled to VCD Athletic looking to get back to winning ways after losing their first match in nine against Hastings last time out. It didn’t go their way, however, as the Vickers were ahead after twenty five minutes- Henry Ikeije- and two up fifteen minutes later through George Monger. Leafe halved the deficit four minutes after the restart through Ronald Sobowale, but couldn’t find an equaliser. Vickers ended the day only a point away from the top five.

Herne Bay had been in superb form recently, unbeaten in six and with only one defeat in ten. They hosted Burgess Hill Town, who saw a five match unbeaten run come crashing to an end when Ashford United put seven goals past them last weekend- and it was the travelling green army who were the first to celebrate, Aaron Smith-Joseph putting the Hillians ahead just after the break. The travelling army were last to celebrate, too, as the Hillians held on to move ten points clear of third bottom Three Bridges and fifteen clear of bottom side East Grinstead Town.

Phoenix Sports, who had climbed the table by winning their last three matches, headed to Sevenoaks Town. The game had but one goal, and it came to the hosts thirteen minutes from time, Ryan Hayes getting it from the spot to move Oaks back into the top five.

Sittingbourne hosted Three Bridges. The Brickies had won three of their last four and had looked very impressive in doing so- their only defeat in that sequence coming to Hastings- and took the lead just before the break, Ikechi Eze with the goal. That turned out to be the only thing on the scoresheet, and saw the Woodstock Park faithful celebrate as their side climbed to tenth.

Chichester City, who put a run of four games without a win behind them when walloping VCD last time out, hosted Whitstable Town- and took the lead eight minutes before the break through Lloyd Rowlatt. The Oysterboys weren’t done, however, and got their share of the points eight minutes from time through Aaron Millbank.

Finally, Hythe Town hosted East Grinstead Town. The Cannons lost heavily against Whitehawk last time out, but prior to that had three consecutive victories, and went ahead in this one just before the break, an own goal doing the damage. The Wasps got an equaliser three minutes from time, Michael Uwezu surely earning them a point- but no, in the last minute Sam Blackman got the winner for the hosts. Hythe climb to fourteenth.

Whitehawk look like they could challenge at the top- so long as the weather doesn’t see them have any more matches postponed. The Hawks, who have two games in hand over Hastings and three over Ashford, travel to Guernsey on Sunday- and will have live coverage of their match in the clubhouse for those who can’t get to the Channel Islands. The Hawks have played nine matches- seven victories- since their last defeat, whilst the Green Lions have seen their winning streak come to an end; indeed they haven’t won in five matches.