Yellows hit Rovers for five- and are four clear

AFC Sudbury welcomed Great Wakering Rovers knowing that they would be at the top of the table no matter the result- but that certainly didn’t breed complacency, the Yellows hitting Rovers for five. Nnamdi Nwachuku continued to show why he’s the hottest striker in the league right now, adding another hat trick- his third of the campaign- to take his total to twenty nine in just twenty three games across all competitions, a quite phenomenal scoring record. He’s now scored in his last twelve matches- eleven in the league. Nwachuku’s goals were the yellows first, third and fifth, and own goal and one from Sakariya Hassan coming in between. That’s eight home wins from eight for Sudbury.

Image from Clive Pearson.

Perhaps our match of the day came from fortress Scraley Road, as Heybridge Swifts, in fourth, welcomed fifth place Felixstowe & Walton United. Swifts had won every single league match at home this season coming into this one, and that continued as they came from behind to defeat the Seasiders. Joe Whight ruffled home feathers with a goal after just four minutes, but Kieran Jones equalised midway through the first half and shortly after the restart Quba Gordon got what proved to be the winner, sending his side up to third- five points behind the leaders with a game in hand. The Seasiders slip to sixth.

Hashtag United are in second, within four points of the summit, and made it six wins from seven with a comfortable victory over local rivals Basildon United. The Bees had taken seven points from their previous nine, but were no match for their hosts, Matt Wooldridge, Alex Teniola and an own goal delivering a three-nil win- and a third win in a row for the Tags in meetings between the two sides, who sit three miles apart.

Lowestoft Town had gone from looking invincible to losing three of their last four- and now it’s four of their last five, after East Thurrock United got the only goal of the game at Rookery Hill. Roman Michael Percil scored it, just after the hour, and any chance of a Trawler Boys comeback was hampered when Josh Harvey saw red soon afterwards. Lowestoft seem to have developed a habit of losing on the road, and it’s one they’ll need to correct if they are to right their slump.

Stowmarket Town have been pretty much unstoppable in the league, undefeated since August 16th and with four clean sheets from their last five as they travelled to Bury Town. Another clean sheet and another win was duly delivered, Ollie Sotoyinbo sending them up to fifth with the only goal of the game- eight points behind the leaders with two games in hand.

New Salamis have been a surprise package this season, with four wins from their previous five including a victory over our then-leaders Lowestoft Town- but it was perhaps less of a surprise that they defeated Coggeshall Town, without a win all season, to make it five wins from six. Taufee Skandari opened the scoring just before the break, and deadly Derek Asamoah added two more in the second half- taking his tally to fifteen for the season. Salamis go seventh, Coggeshall stay bottom of the pack.

Grays Athletic have fallen off the pace of late, and lost their third match from four by falling to defeat at a side who were previously on a four match losing streak, Hullbridge Sports. The hosts went ahead just before the half hour through Darius Guinea, and made sure of the points sixteen minutes from time when George Smith made it two.

Brentwood Town had lost their last two and slipped all the way down to eleventh as they travelled to Wroxham- and they remain eleventh but now have three consecutive defeats as Shaun Taylor got the only goal of the game just before the half hour. The Yachtsmen are fourth from bottom, but will be delighted to add another digit to the W column.

Witham Town welcomed Maldon & Tiptree, the Jammers mourning the loss of supporter and volunteer Darren “Dazza” Gibbons, the life and soul of the club, who was tragically taken from them this week. They did him proud, winning four-two despite playing most of the match with ten men after the dismissal of Joe Turpin. Scott Kemp gave them an early lead and midway through the half Roman Campbell made it two, only for Turpin to depart early four minutes before the break. It made little difference, Kemp making it three soon after the restart, and Harvey Sayer adding a fourth on the hour.
At that point Witham awoke, and Adam Vyse got two back, but it was too little, too late.

Finally Gorleston, second bottom, welcomed Tilbury to Lowestoft. The Dockers had gone a month without a win- or even a draw, losing their last six matches in League, Velocity Cup and Essex Cup- but they got back to form in style, firing home five goals. The first three came in the first half, Charlie Moore the meat in a Martin Tuohy sandwich, the number nine scoring the first and the third. Tom Salter added a fourth just after the hour, which finally roused Gorleston, who saw Ross Gilfedder and George Keys get two back. The Dockers had the last word, however, Darnell Kithambo adding a fifth from the spot.

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