Worthing increase their lead despite a draw, whilst Ashford and Hanwell get six, and Bracknell hit seven!

Leaders Worthing got back to winning ways in midweek, and travelled to Kingstonian with a five point lead at the top of the Premier Division. Could they widen the gap between themselves and Folkestone Invicta?

Well it turned out they could, but they picked up only one point as the K’s drew their fourteenth match of the season- that’s half of all the matches they’ve played- as they held the Mackerel Men nil-nil at King George’s Field. Three hundred and eighty four turned up to watch.

Second place Folkestone Invicta hosted second bottom Wingate and Finchley. The visiting Blues were in their best form of the campaign, unbeaten in four and with eight points from twelve- and they showed just how much they have improved by leaping out of the bottom three altogether and putting a large dent in their hosts automatic promotion hopes, Jayden Antwi scoring the only goal of the game for the visitors nine minutes after the break.

Third place Hornchurch travelled to face Bishop’s Stortford, so Jamie Cureton faced the club he was managing until a few weeks ago. The Urchins didn’t have a win in four matches, but they have one now, as Chris Dickson and Matt Johnson got the goals that saw them leave with victory. That was Stortford’s fifth consecutive defeat- they’ve taken only three points from their last thirty.

Carshalton Athletic slipped up at East Thurrock United in midweek, the Rocks bringing their opponents three match winning streak to an end. The Robins headed to the Kent coast to take on Margate, who had drawn their last three matches, and now they’ve drawn their last four as today’s encounter ended in a one-one draw. It was very nearly a home win, Elliott Reeves putting the blues ahead in the first half, and Ricky Korboa equalising for the visitors in the very last minute. Carshalton slip to fifth.

Cray Wanderers travelled to Rookery Hill to take on East Thurrock United unbeaten in nine, and without a loss this decade. They are now unbeaten in ten, and up to fourth, as Rhys Murrell-Williamson’s second half strike was the only goal of the game.

Horsham remain sixth, but recorded their second win in a row with victory over a previously resurgent Cheshunt. The Hornets got a goal in each half, Lee Harding continuing his rich vein of form with the first, Jack Brivio adding the second seven minutes into the second half.

Enfield Town have two or even three matches in hand over the top five. They stay in seventh place, but have closed to within five points of fifth place Carshalton with a four-one hammering of Merstham at the Whisky Bible Stadium. The Moatsiders had been unbeaten in five, but they didn’t ever look like making it six as Ken Charles and Sam Youngs gave the visitors an early two goal cushion. Shola Ayoola got one back for the hosts but six minutes after the break Lyle Della-Verde made it three one, and five minutes from time Billy Bricknell got number four.

Bognor Regis Town travelled to White Hart Lane to take on Haringey Borough. The Rocks had only one win in four, whilst their hosts had only two wins from their last ten matches, but it was Borough who got back to winning ways this afternoon. Georgios Aresti gave the hosts the lead just after the break, and although Harvey Whyte was able to equalise soon afterwards Anthony McDonald sealed victory for the side in yellow eight minutes from time.

Leatherhead, in tenth place, travelled to Bowers and Pitsea strengthened by the signing of two strikers yesterday. It didn’t help them much. Bowers, who defeated Brightlingsea Regent seven-nil in midweek, were on the scoring trail once more after five minutes, Quentin Monville with the opening goal, and just before the break Lewis Manor got number two. Brad warner put the icing on the cake three minutes from time, scoring their third.

Potters Bar Town, who started the day in thirteenth, entertained Corinthian-Casuals- although the Casuals faithful won’t have been particularly entertained as Ben Ward-Cochrane fired in a hat trick for the hosts. Nathaniel Pinney got a consolation for the visitors in the last minute, but it wasn’t really much of a consolation.

Lewes came into their match with Brightlingsea Regent having won only one home match this season, and they left it the same way as Regent became the tenth side to win at the Dripping Pan. Jake Thompson- one of four Jake’s in their squad- became for a moment the most important Jake, as he scored the only goal of the game. The Rooks are now only two points ahead of Regent, and perhaps more importantly only two points clear of relegation.

North Division

Maldon and Tiptree started the day six points clear at the top, and ended it with that advantage increased to eight. They travelled to Parkside to face Grays Athletic, and two first half goals from Connor Hubble and Jorome Slew gave them victory, despite Nathan Fox getting one back for the hosts in the last minute.

Heybridge Swifts and Aveley started the day in second and fourth places respectively, and ended the day with that unchanged after a one-one draw at Scraley Road. It was so nearly a home win, Alex Teniola’s first half goal seeing Swifts in front until the very last minute, but Connor Witherspoon stepped up at the death to rescue a point for the Millers.

Bury Town, who started the day in third, hosted Great Wakering Rovers and probably wished they hadn’t bothered, as the visitors swept them aside by three goals to nil. Connor Martin got the opening goal in the first half, Ayo Odukoya made it two with twenty five minutes remaining, and five minutes from time Martin Tuohy put the gloss on a great day for Rovers with number three- a result which takes them to within six points of their now fifth place hosts.

Tilbury lost in midweek for the first time since mid November, but they made sure that it wasn’t going to happen again as they climbed to third with victory at Histon. But they left it very, very late to make sure, both of their goals coming after the first eighty nine minutes had been goalless. David Knight and Ola Ogunwamide provided the late fireworks that sent them third.

Coggeshall Town hosted Hullbridge Sports. The Seed Growers had closed to within five points of the playoffs, in no small part due to the form of returning striker Nnamdi Nwachuku, who had been back with the club for four matches and scored in all of them. He continued that record with two more, and Aryton Coley got a goal in between them to secure a three-nil win for the hosts, who close to within four points of the playoffs with three matches in hand over the side above them.

Canvey Island and their visitors AFC Sudbury have both been bedevilled by inconsistency this season, and had to settle for a point each on the Essex coast. Canvey came close to ending the day with nothing despite taking a first half lead through Michael Finneran, as first Baris Altintop and then Callum Harrison turned the match on its head. George Woodward earned that point for the Gulls with a last minute equaliser.

Soham Town Rangers had been in excellent form of late, winning five of their last six, but that all came to a dramatic end as they hosted a resurgent Romford. Carlos Djalo So, Adam Morgan and Louis Theophanous gave Boro a three-nil half time lead, and although Sam Mulready got one back just after the hour mark Morgan got a late second to seal a four-one victory.

That result could have lifted Romford off the bottom. That it didn’t was due to that fact that second bottom Felixstowe and Walton United halted Brentwood Town’s recent good form by defeating them two-nil at Tilbury. Ollie Canfer got the first, continuing his record of a goal every two matches, and Miles Powell got the second in the very last minute. The Seasiders stay three points off the bottom, although Romford have five games in hand.

Dereham Town have been magnificent going forward but not as solid at the other end. They travelled to Witham Town and managed to both score one and concede one, a point for each side being earned by Liam Whipps for the hosts and Adam Hipperson for the Magpies. Witham’s Soccability players are featured in our picture, with their new kit!

South Central

The South Central Division has been full of goals this season, and that continued in a big way with Hanwell Town managing six and Bracknell Town getting seven!

Ware remain top, although they were made to work for their three points as they had to come from behind to beat bottom side Northwood. The Woods have now lost ten matches in a row, but they took the lead in this one, Romario Hart scoring from the spot seven minutes after the break, before Liam Hope and Gareth Madden turned the game in favour of our leaders.

Second place Hanwell Town increased their unbeaten run to six matches, and they did it in style, walloping Waltham Abbey who dropped out of the top five as a result. Ogo Obi got a hat trick as the Geordies ran riot like a real Geordie might if somebody knocked over his pint, Gianni Crichlow, Joel Jacobs and Rob Laney putting them six-nil up before Billy Holland got a last minute goal for the Abbotts. The Geordies remain two points behind ware, with a game in hand.

Westfield, in third, are nine points off the top- but they did win again today. They hosted Harlow Town, who have now won only two of their last eleven matches after they fell to a three-one defeat at Woking Park. Two goals in the first ten minutes from Max Blackmore clipped the Hawks wings, and although Tayo Oyebola got one back five minutes before the break Aaron Watson made sure that the points were staying at home with Westfield’s third in the sixty fourth minute.

Chertsey Town had been in superb form of late, winning their last five games and scoring twenty two goals in the process. They travelled to FC Romania, who had lost eight of their last ten. The Wolves took an early lead through Sergiu Maximov, and although Bryan Taylor got an equaliser for the Curfews they couldn’t get a winner and remain fourth.

Uxbridge moved level on points with Chertsey with victory at Chalfont St Peter. Jack Beadle put the visitors ahead in the first half, and they got a second in added time at the end of the match, Mahlondo Martin making it two. The Saints have taken only four points from their last thirty three.

Bracknell Town had been in superb form, the Robins soaring upwards like a far more majestic bird with a much larger wingspan. Nine matches unbeaten, and with seven victories in that run including the last four, they hosted Staines Town, who had sunk to second bottom after a run that had seen them pick up only three points from their last thirty nine, and who parted company with their manager yesterday. The Robins had no time for sympathy, and crashed seven goals past their hapless visitors. Nathan Minhas got a first half hat trick, Max Herbert added a fourth, and after the break Daniel Bayliss got two and Seb Bowerman another. The Swans did get one goal, William Efambe scoring it, but they were already seven behind by then and it can’t have cheered up the travelling fans very much.

Tooting and Mitcham United had struggled a little of late, and those struggles continued as they fell to a two-one defeat at Barking. Dan Williams gave the Terrors an early lead but Michael Dixon equalised after twenty seven minutes and a goal from Dumebi GB-Dumaka twenty minutes from time gave the hosts victory. Barking are now level on points with the Terrors, who stay eighth but have slipped seven points behind fifth place Uxbridge.

Our form side had been Chipstead, who had taken twenty six points from their last thirty and remained unbeaten since the end of November. That unbeaten run came to an end at Hertford Town, Chris Gosling and Alfie Cue giving the home side a two-nil victory which gives them a nine point cushion over the two sides in last place.

Bedfont Sports faced Ashford Town in a battle of Heathrow, and nobody managed to emerge victorious, or even score.

Finally, Marlow hosted South Park, and a goal at the end of the first half from Jordan Brown followed by a second fourteen minutes later from Louis Rogers gave them victory. Darrul Siaw got one back for Sparks, but the equaliser wouldn’t come and Marlow end the day in eleventh, ten points off the playoffs with three games in hand.

South East

Ashford United looked as if they had a tricky afternoon in prospect, as they got on a jet plane to head to Guernsey, but the truth proved to be very, very different as they massacred the Green Lions in front of a crowd of seven hundred and eighty eight. Three goals in each half did the damage, a Tom O’Connor double and one from David Smith giving them a three-nil half time advantage, Aaron Condon, Tariq Ossai and an own goal making it six-nil before the end. Our headline picture, borrowed from the Nuts and Bolts, sees the travelling party about to leave on a jet plane- their trip back will undoubtedly be joyous!

Hastings United, meanwhile, made sure that the Nuts and Bolts remained under pressure at the top, by scoring three first half goals of their own against Sittingbourne at Pilot Field. Ben Pope and two from Sam Adams gave them that advantage, and Adams completed his hat trick in the second half to secure a four-nil win. United remain behind Ashford only on goal difference.

Third place Whitehawk hosted bottom side East Grinstead Town. The visitors have improved of late despite remaining bottom of the table, and fought hard once more, but a goal twelve minutes from time from Ahmed Abdulla secured victory and kept them three points behind the leaders.

Cray Valley PM had swept back to their earlier form, winning five matches in a row and scoring eighteen goals in the process. The Millers made it six consecutive victories with a win over Burgess Hill Town, but despite Ryan Flack scoring after two minutes couldn’t add a second, so their supporters had to bite their fingernails for the next eighty-eight. They remain fourth, whilst the Hillians are fifteenth.

Herne Bay, who started the day in fifth, had seen their impressive run halted by a draw and a defeat in their last two matches but got back to winning ways with victory over Three Bridges. They had to come from behind to do it, Charlie Towning giving the visitors a seventh minute lead, but Ryan Cooper equalised on the stroke of half time and Zak Ansah got what proved to be the winner midway through the second half.

Whyteleafe made it three consecutive victories and kept the pressure on the top five with a hard-fought win over second bottom Ramsgate. Andrew Sesay gave Leafe a perfect start after five minutes, but only four minutes later the shellshocked hosts were behind as Tom Chapman got a quickfire double. They weren’t behind for long, Corie Andrews making it four goals scored in the first sixteen minutes, and they got the winner eleven minutes into the second half, Freddie Parker ensuring that they remain only three points behind Herne Bay with a game in hand.

Chichester City welcomed Hythe Town having won four of their last five, and they made it five of their last six with a two-one victory. Hythe had only one defeat in ten, but they fell two goals behind after Kaleem Haitham and Scott Jones gave Chi an advantage, and although Alex Brown got one back two minutes from the end they didn’t have time to find an equaliser.

VCD Athletic, who were unbeaten in three, hosted Whitstable Town- and kept their good form going by scoring the only goal of the game. Alex Gaggin got it after only eight minutes, as Vickers went eighth.

Haywards Heath Town travelled to Sevenoaks Town last week and picked up three points, and got the same outcome as Oaks came to Hanbury Park. The game saw only one goal, and Byron Napper got it seven minutes from time, ensuring his side stayed fourteenth.

Faversham Town hosted Phoenix Sports. Sports had slipped down the table after losing four of their last six, although the Lilywhites had been in much worse form, going eight matches without a victory. That number is now up to nine, but they came mightily close to getting that win as it took a last minute equaliser to earn the visitors a point. Jeff Duah-Kessie gave Sports the lead only for Anthony Adesite to equalise, and after the break Adesite gave his side a lead which they held right until the end, Kenny Alireu getting the goal that robbed the hosts of three valuable points.

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