Yellows maintain their lead- whilst the Tags keep up the pressure

AFC Sudbury, who started the day with a four point lead at the top, were on the road to Brentwood Town. We’d expected the Blues to be competing with the Yellows at the top end of the table, and perhaps they still might, but they found themselves down in eleventh place after hitting a bit of a bump in the road of late. The visitors took the lead after just five minutes, and of course the goal went to the top performing striker in the League, Nnamdi Nwachuku scoring his thirtieth goal of the season- and scoring for thirteenth successive match. The hosts levelled nine minutes before the break, Tom Richardson with the goal, but the Yellows were ahead once more with twenty six minutes remaining, Harrison Chatting with that one, and they ended the day with that same four point lead.

Image from Clive Pearson- more here. You really would have thought the Yellows would wear, well, yellow!

Hashtag United retained their second place with a comfortable looking win at Great Wakering Rovers. The Tags had won their previous four matches whilst Rovers were on a run which had seen them take only two points from their last twenty one, so it was no surprise when Emmanuel Okunja put the visitors ahead, but perhaps it was more of a surprise that with five minutes to go that was still the only goal. Sadly for the hosts, the second goal of the game then arrived, and it went to the Tags, substitute Toby Aromolaran doubling their tally. Okunja added a third in added time.

Heybridge Swifts travelled to former leaders Lowestoft Town, and the Trawler Boys went ahead seven minutes before the break, Jake Reed with his twelfth of the season. Swifts hit back midway through the second half, Rob Harvey with an equaliser, but the visitors made their own lives difficult with nine minutes to go as Louie Arrowsmith saw red. The hosts couldn’t capitalise, and both sides had to settle for a point.

Stowmarket Town and New Salamis met in a clash of two of our form sides. Fifth place Stow had gone eleven matches without defeat add have won nine of those, but they had to come from behind in this one, Zenon Styliandes opening the scoring nine minutes after the break. Salamis then went down to ten men when Taufee Skandari saw red, and almost immediately Tom Bullard equalised for Town, but if the ascendancy seemed to be with the hosts it soon went the other way, Albert Adu seemingly scoring the winner right at the end. It turned out not to be the winner, however, as there was still time for Ollie Sotoyinbo grabbed an equaliser.

Felixstowe and Walton United hoped to regain their place in the top five as they welcomed Witham Town. The Seasiders were one of three sides with a perfect home record- seven wins from seven going into this one- and had already defeated Town this season, a three-one win in the Velocity Cup, so it was little surprise that they did that again and made it eight from eight. The margin of victory was slightly larger this time, and all the goals came after the break. Noel Aitkens opened the scoring three minutes after half time, and just after the hour Josh Hitter made it two. Fifteen minutes from time Jamahl Godward halved the deficit, but if the visiting faithful had dreams of a point they were soon ended, two spot kicks- both converted by Joe Whight- making it four-one at full time. That’s one win from eleven for Witham, as United go fifth.

East Thurrock United have seen a good run take them to within four points of the top five, but they had to settle for a point at Basildon United. The Bees went ahead with twenty four minutes left, Shane Temple creating worship amongst the home faithful, but the Rocks earned a point when Sam Carter levelled nine minutes later. That’s only one defeat from twelve for the visitors.

Grays Athletic and Bury Town met in a mid table clash. Athletic had slipped off the pace by taking only one point from their last twelve, but they added three more and moved up to ninth when Courtney Homans got the only goal of the game on twenty five minutes.

Tilbury got back to form by hitting five at Gorleston last weekend, after four previous defeats- and the Dockers faced some similarly water-bound opponents as the Yachtsmen of Wroxham came to call. The visitors also got back to winning ways last weekend, defeating Brentwood Town, and they moved out of the bottom four with a one-one draw. Both goals came within a minute of each other midway through the second half, Charlie Morris giving the Dockers the lead, Shaun taylor almost immediately equalising.

Finally, Maldon & Tiptree welcomed Gorleston. Neither side welcomed a goal.

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