Worthing open up a gap, it's all change in the South Central, and- shock horror- the Jammers lose!

One thousand, four hundred and forty minutes. That’s how long it has been since league leaders Worthing last experienced league defeat, and today they opened up a five point lead at the top of the table after a three-nil win at Brightlingsea Regent. It took the Mackerel Men until ten minutes before the break to open the scoring, Alex Parsons with the opening goal, but they were two up before the break as Ollie Pearce notched a penalty and when the same player made it three twenty minutes into the second half it was as good as over as the visitors eased to victory.

Second place Folkestone Invicta travelled to face Worthing’s big rivals, Bognor Regis Town. Worthing couldn’t really have expected the Rocks to do them a favour, but they got one, as the hosts came from two-nil and three-one behind to take all three points. Invicta couldn’t have had a better start, as Ira Jackson opened the scoring after just eight minutes, and they were two up as Jackson notched his second from the spot nine minutes later. Mason Walsh pulled a goal back for the hosts just before break, but Invicta soon restored their advantage as Jackson got his hat trick on the hour- his second penalty of the game. Whether he wanted the match ball after what happened next must be debatable, as the Rocks, stung into action, pulled a goal back through Doug Tuck, and then drew level eight minutes from time through Matt Casey. Right at the death Brad Lethbridge stepped up to get the winner and send the home fans into dreamland and their team up to ninth.

Three points behind Invicta, in third place, we find Horsham. The Hornets last six games had seen them create an unwanted lose-win-lose-win-lose-win pattern, and that continued into a seventh match as the Merstham got back to winning ways by scoring the only goal of the game. Calvin Ekpiteta, who has had a dramatic impact since joining the club recently, got that goal just after the half hour.

Hornchurch started the day in fourth place, but ended it in sixth. The Urchins are unbeaten in ten league matches, but they couldn’t get the better of Leatherhead, as both sides had to settle for a point. Travis Gregory gave the Tanners a first half lead, but Jordan Clark got the hosts level twenty one minutes into the second half.

Carshalton Athletic entertained bottom side Wingate & Finchley, and survived a first half scare to win a five goal thriller and climb to fourth. Christian Forino-Joseph gave the Blues that first half lead, but after the break the Robins turned on the style and got three back, Paris Hamilton-Downes, Peter Adeniyi and Ricky Korboa turning the match on its head within twenty minutes of the restart. Olu Akinsanya reduced the arrears in the last minute but it was too little, too late. The Robins are up to fourth, the Blues have taken only two points from their last thirty three.

Cray Wanderers climbed to fifth with victory over Lewes at Hayes Lane. The Rooks might have been glad to be on the road, as they’d won five more matches on their travels than they had at home, but the Wands got the better of them by the odd goal in three. Karl Dent got the opener after eleven minutes and Jay Leader made it two on the half hour, but although Charlie Coppola pulled one back before the break the visitors couldn’t find an equaliser.

Enfield Town played the one thousandth fixture since their foundation as they travelled up the A10 to Cheshunt, and they were able to celebrate after ending the day on the right end of a five goal thriller. Billy Bricknell got the opener for the visitors in the very first minute, but Mo Camara got the Ambers level six minutes later. Sam Youngs restored the Enfield lead, but once more they were pegged back, Ryan Moss equalising ten minutes before the break. The second half saw but one goal, and that came once more to Bricknell, leaving the Towners three points off the playoffs.

East Thurrock United, who started the day in eighth place and four points off the playoff places, entertained Kingstonian- and ended the day still in eighth place but with a six point margin to make up after a three-all draw. They needed an equaliser three minutes from time to get that point, after the K’s came from two goals down to take the lead. Mitchell Gilbey and Ben Marlow goals made it look comfortable for the Rocks ten minutes before half time, but it turned out to be anything but comfortable, as Sean Clohessy reduced the arrears before the break and Dan Hector added two more in the second half. Matthew Price got that equaliser to give the hosts a share of the points.

Potters Bar Town’s had won their last two matches, but they couldn’t make it three at Haringey Borough. The hosts were impressive in drawing at Folkestone last weekend, and dug deep against the Scholars to come from behind and take three points. Ben Ward-Cochrane got his ninth goal of the season to put the visitors aheadafter eighteen minutes, and they held that lead for forty-four minutes before Roman Michael-Percil equalised from the spot. Three minutes later Borough were ahead, Romoluwa Akinola with the goal, but the Scholars were level ten minutes from time, Thomas Gogo getting the equaliser. Sadly for the visiting fans they weren’t level for long, as Rakim Richards sent the Bell End into a frenzy seven minutes from time, scoring what proved to be the winner. The “Bus Stop near Tottenham” are up to twelfth.

Margate travelled to Bishop’s Stortford with only one win from their last six, but for much of this match they looked like they’d be picking up three points. Kieran Monlouis gave them the lead after fourteen minutes, and they held that lead until ten minutes from the end when the hosts equalised, Mark Haines with the goal. Six minutes later, however, Gate were ahead once more- Adem Ramadan firing home. Surely they’d hold on? No. One minute later Shomari Barnwell got another equaliser, and the spoils were shared.

Finally, Corinthian-Casuals had been in good form of late- but visitors Bowers & Pitsea had been on a good run too, and continued it with victory. Bradley Warner got the only goal of the game on the stroke of half time, a result which lifted the visitors to fifteenth but left Casuals second bottom.

North Division

Yesterday we asked: Liverpool and Maldon & Tiptree. Which is better? Well unless Manchester United do the unthinkable tomorrow, the answer is definitely Liverpool, after the Jammers finally slipped to a league defeat. Perhaps we jinxed them?

Opponents Tilbury arrived in fine form, having charged up the table of late into fifth place, with only one defeat in their last ten matches and a collection of particularly impressive performances against the likes of Heybridge Swifts, AFC Sudbury and Canvey island. We wondered whether this would be the day when the Jammers became unstuck, and so it proved. When Laste Dombaxe gave Maldon the lead after fifty one minutes it seemed as if normal service would continue, but Thomas Barton equalised for the Dockers and an own goal three minutes later gave them the lead, and sparked a sigh of relief around the top end of the North Division which could have been heard in Witham Town, where Maldon’s local rivals Heybridge Swifts were climbing into second place. Swifts won two-nil, both goals- from Harrison Chatting and Alex Teniola- the latter with his eighteenth of the season- coming in the first half. Swifts are only a point behind their noisy neighbours, but Maldon have five games in hand.

Third place Aveley saw their match at Coggeshall Town postponed, which allowed fourth place Bury Town to close the gap by walloping Felixstowe and Walton United. Bury came into this match on the back of three successive defeats, their worst run of the campaign, but made sure that sequence came to an end as Joe White, Cemal Ramadan (2), and Emmanuel Machaya all found the net. George Clarke got one back for the Seasiders just before end final whistle.

Grays Athletic came into their match with Great Wakering Rovers in their worst form of the season, with four consecutive defeats, but a goal a minute from time got them back to winning ways. That goal from Joao Carlos was the only goal of the game, and saw Athletic up to tenth.

Finally- every other match was postponed- Soham Town Rangers entertained AFC Sudbury. Rangers had found points thin on the ground of late, having picked up only five from their last thirty, but got back to winning ways after Cameron Watson got the only goal of the game.

South Central Division

Last Saturday saw the top three in the South Central Division doing their version of the Hokey Cokey, as leaders Ware lost to third place Westfield, who jumped up to second, whilst Ware, down to third, were also leapfrogged by Hanwell Town, who came from behind to go back to the top. And guess what? This weekend it was all change again!

Our top match came from Hanwell Town, where the Geordies took on Westfield- a match which delivered a seven-goal thriller. The visitors took the lead after eleven minutes through Youssef Bamba, but the hosts were level three minutes later through Rob Laney and ahead just after the half hour through Harry Rush. The match then turned in nineteen second half minutes, as during that period Westfield scored three, Aaron Watson and Max Blackmore- who got two- giving them a commanding lead. Brendan Matthew got one back for Town just before the end, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Geordies slipping to third, whilst Westfield went top.

Ware hosted Bedfont Sports, and fought off a late comeback from the visitors to go second. Liam Hope gave the Blues the lead eight minutes before the break, and it seemed they were onto their way to a comfortable victory when Joshua Williams and Hope once more extended that lead within six minutes of the restart. However in the last two minutes of the match Sports got two back, Ezekiel Bademosi with them both- but there wasn’t time for them to force an equaliser.

Waltham Abbey started the day in fourth, but ended it in fifth as neither they nor hosts Marlow could find a goal. They were leapfrogged by Tooting & Mitcham United, who could have shared their goals around as they had more than enough, scoring SIX against FC Romania. The Wolves won last week for the first time in months, but they came nowhere near getting a point in this match as they were six behind by the break. Ahkeem Belford got two, Jamie Brissett, Connor French and Danny Bassett- and an own goal- got the others; but at least the visitors drew the second half nil-nil!

Another side in the goals were Uxbridge, who moved to within a point of fifth place by scoring five at Ashford Town. It was only one-nil at the break, Jack Beadle opening the scoring just after the half hour, but in the second half it became a rout, Beadle once more, former Tangerine Mark Bitmead, Callum Bunting and Mahlondo Martin completing an impressive victory.

Barking had been our form side over the previous ten matches, but had to come from behind to take a point against visitors Chalfont St Peter. Michael Dixon opened the scoring for the Blues early on, but the Saints equalised before the break through Dan Williams, and the same player gave them the lead with nineteen minutes remaining. Dixon had the last word, however, equalising two minutes later.

Eighth travelled to ninth as Chertsey Town headed to Larges Lane to take on Bracknell Town, and both ended in the same place as neither could find a goal.

Harlow Town travelled around the M25 to take on Chipstead. The Hawks, who don’t have a manager at the moment, looked like they quite liked being without a leader as they took a two goal lead, Tayo Oyebola and an own goal doing the damage. The Chips have been in superb form of late, however, and weren’t going to take that lying down- and they hit back with four goals, Tom Collins before the break, Kyen Nicholas six minutes after it, and two from Sam Bell giving them their sixth win in seven matches. That result saw Chipstead climb above their visitors into tenth place.

Another side who had been impressive in recent weeks were South Park, and they were impressive once more in picking up three points at Northwood, Leon Moore getting the only goal of the game two minutes from time- a result which saw them climb above Marlow into fourteenth.

Finally, Hertford Town took on Staines Town. The hosts had taken only seven points from their last thirty and had lost six of their last seven, whilst their visitors had only one more point from the same period and were without a victory in their previous six- so it looked quite evenly matched, but it turned out to be anything but. A double from Alfie Cue saw Hertford two up at the break, and although Sheridan Campbell got one back nine minutes into the second half, Cue got his hat trick soon afterwards and just before the end Luke Theo Gymer made it four-one.

Hertford opened up a five point gap over their third-bottom visitors.

South East

Hastings United, four points clear at the top, knew that no matter what happened against Haywards Heath Town they would still lead the Division. In the event Heath made it difficult for their hosts, but United defended their unbeaten home record successfully and added another three points to maintain their advantage over second place Ashford Town. Jack Dixon got the only goal of the game after twenty five minutes.

Second place Ashford United hosted a Kentish derby against Sevenoaks Town. United had won their previous five matches whilst scoring fifteen goals and conceding only one, and by the end had made it six and nineteen after winning by four goals to one. Jay May and Josh Wisson gave the Nuts and Bolts a two goal lead before Frankie Sawyer pulled one back, but it was three-one by half time, David Smith with the third, and Aaron Condon made it four fifteen minutes from time.

Whitehawk had been our form team over the last ten matches, during which they’d taken twenty six points and remained unbeaten- but that unbeaten run came to an end at Whyteleafe. The hosts were two-nil up at the break, Corie Andrews and Ronald Sobowale with the goals, and although the Hawksgot one back early in the second half through Ahmed Abdulla the two goal advantage was soon restored as Peter Wedgeworth made it three, and then extended as Emmanuel Mensah made it four-one. Matias Torres got another back for Hawks, but Leafe were already out of sight and climbed to fourth, replacing Cray Valley PM who slipped to fifth after a goalless draw at Faversham Town.

Herne Bay were six matches unbeaten when Burgess Hill Town arrived last weekend, but now needed to start that run all over again after falling to defeat by the game’s only goal. They boarded an early plane to the Channel Islands to take on Guernsey.

The Green Lions took the lead in the third minute through Matt Loaring, but were behind after five minutes of madness just before the break, as two own goals and a third from Zak Ansah gave Bay a three-one advantage. Ross Allen pulled a goal back with twenty minutes to go, but the majority of the eight hundred and nine in attendance left rather miserable.

VCD Athletic were impressive in defeating Whyteleafe last weekend, and strengthened this week with the signing of Cray Wanderers promotion-winning keeper Nick Blue. Blue made his debut as Vickers travelled to Chichester City, who defeated their visitors three-nil on 7th January, but any thoughts of revenge soon departed as Scott Jones surfed in the first goal for Chi and Jamie Horncastle gabbed a second, a result which saw City go thirteenth.

Phoenix Sports saw a three match winning streak come to an end last weekend, when Sevenoaks Town defeated them by the only goal of the match. They hoped to get back to winning ways once more as they hosted Three Bridges, who had only four points from their last thirty- but it didn’t pan out that way as the visitors struck three times in the second half to take the points. Tom Tolfrey got the opener from the spot three minutes after the break, and then in added time Andrew Sesay and Ben Bacon made victory certain.

Sittingbourne had been in fabulous form of late with three consecutive victories, ten goals scored and only one conceded- but came unstuck at Hythe Town. The Cannons were worthy opponents as they had won four of their last five, and the only goal of the game saw Frannie Collin move them above the Brickies into eleventh place.

Whitstable Town and East Grinstead Town met at the Belmont. The Oysterboys had gone five games without a win- although they did draw three of them; but that's a record that the Wasps would have sold their grandmothers for, given they had only three points- and no wins- from their last thirty. The visitors took the lead today through Shawnikki Clement-Peter, but Whitstable were level by the break, Tijan Jadama with the equaliser, and second half goals from Aaron Millbank and Marshall Wratten gave them two goal cushion in the second half.

Finally, Ramsgate hosted Burgess Hill Town. The Hillians travelled to the Kent coast last weekend and came home with three points, but fell behind early on as Toby Bancroft got a ninth minute opener. The Hillians weren’t having that, however, and cheeky chappie Max Miller got two in three minutes before Aaron Smith-Joseph made it three-one before the break. Miller got his hat trick twelve minutes from time, and although Nicholas Treadwell pulled one back for the Rams just before full time Burgess Hill ended the day up to sixteenth.