Yellows hit five- with four goal Nwachuku taking the plaudits

AFC Sudbury welcomed Gorleston. The Yellows had been- expectedly- impressive so far, defeating East Thurrock United and Witham Town in the League and Stowmarket Town- after a replay- in the Cup, and they were impressive once more, striker Nnamdi Nwachuku scoring a seventeen minute hat trick with goals after twenty nine, thirty seven and forty six minutes to create an uphill battle for the visitors. Gorleston had conceded three goals in each of their last three matches, and they ended this one wishing it was three, as by then the hosts had rattled in five, another for Nwachuku and Jake Turner rounding things off. The visitors did get two of their own, however, Joe Corby and Mitchel McKay giving them some pride. Sudbury top the table.

Image from Steve Screech. More here.

Lowestoft Town started the day at the top of the pile. The Trawler Boys welcomed the Jammers, Maldon & Tiptree travelling to the seaside without a point to their name- and they fell behind in this one, Jake Reed putting Town ahead. The Jammers levelled from the spot five minutes from the break, Brad Ihionvien with the equaliser, but they held parity only until the fifty eighth minute, Chris Henderson making it two-one. The two sides hadn’t met in the League for twelve years, the Trawler Boys doing the double over their opponents during the 2009-10 campaign- and they are half way do doing that again, but fall to second place on goal difference.

New Salamis welcomed Bury Town to Coles Park (otherwise the home of Haringey Borough). Wins over Gorleston and Brentwood Town in their opening two matches had introduced Salamis to the league in a rather positive way; whilst Town had also been impressive, yet to concede a goal in four matches- two in the cup- and having scored eight of their own. The visitors got their noses in front early, Cemal Ramadan with his SEVENTH IN FIVE MATCHES- but Pap Jawara soon got the hosts level, scoring for the second game in a row. That was that, the hosts in six, Bury in ninth.

Tilbury welcomed Coggeshall Town to Chadfields, and after a goalless first half we had…a goalless second half. The Dockers are down to eighth.

Heybridge Swifts, who started the weekend in fifth, welcomed East Thurrock United. Swifts had conceded only one goal in their four competitive matches previously, and that was still the case at half time in this one, but they hadn’t scored one either. They put that right fifteen minutes from time, Ben Sartain with the opener, and Andrew Fennell made sure of the points with his fifth of the campaign four minutes later. That’s three games and three defeats for the Rocks, Swifts end the day in fourth.

Grays Athletic got through their opening two league matches without conceding a goal, but then conceded four to Stotfold in the Cup over two matches, eventually coming through by the skin of their teeth in midweek, coming back from two goals down to win the replay three-two. They welcomed Brentwood Town, the Blues still searching for their groove and without a win in league or cup so far. Town won both meetings between the two last season, but by half time in this one it looked as if further success would be an uphill struggle, as Sam Bantick had scored two for Athletic to give them a comfortable lead. So it proved, as Ronnie Winn made it three-nil two minutes from time- Grays in third.

Felixstowe & Walton United welcomed Basildon United to the seaside. The Bees hadn’t defeated Felixstowe in five attempts, and had lost four of them, and they fell behind in this one when Lamell Howell scored nine minutes before the break. It was two-nil on the hour, Billy Holland with that one, and that’s how it ended, the Seasiders in fifth.

Hashtag United and Stowmarket Town met in a mid table battle that we expect to be further up the table when the return clash comes around in March. The visitors went ahead just after the half hour through an own goal, but the Tags equalised just when it seemed all was lost-Pedro Carvalho earning a point right at the end.

Hullbridge Sports welcomed Witham Town- or rather they didn’t, because due to pitch issues at Sports the match had been moved to Basildon United. Town have had a fine start to the season, with two wins in the cup, one in the league, and their only defeat a narrow one to highly-fancied AFC Sudbury, and they were two-nil up by the break, Ramiah Mills with both of them. Sports got themselves back into contention five minuets after the break, Roland Oteniya halving the arrears, but the equaliser didn’t come and right at the end Jamahl Godward made sure of three points with a third goal for Town, who are seventh.

Finally, Wroxham welcomed Great Wakering Rovers. Rovers had played only twice prior to this match and were yet to score a goal, whilst conceding five- but they put that right comprehensively in this one. Eusebio Da Silva put them ahead on nine minutes, and ten minutes after the break it was two, Kewin Kwiek doubling their advantage. Almost immediately Alexander Hernandez made it three. Could the Yachtsmen still get anything from this match? Well they got a goal, Ryan Mills with it, and spurred on they then got two more to seal an unlikely but heroic comeback, Ryan Hawkins and Matt Hayden earning them a breathless point.

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