Bury go level with the leaders on a frozen North Saturday

Bury Town were on the road to Redbridge, with a chance catching up with the leaders after Felixstowe and Walton United suffered a postponement. Although they had lost only one of their previous ten, Town had shown some uncharacteristic vulnerability of late, and they fell behind on twenty seven minutes, Fotsing Pitoula Wabo giving the Motormen the lead. With Cemal Ramadan leading the line you always expect Bury to score, and Ramadan’s eighteenth of the campaign brought them level from the spot just before half time- and then Ed Upson gave them the lead ten minutes into the second half. Despite the hosts best efforts, Town held on for three points which leave them behind the Seasiders only on goal difference. 

Fifth place Waltham Abbey travelled to face Concord Rangers, looking to get back to winning ways after a late New Years Day defeat to Walthamstow; whilst the Beachboys were three without a win despite delivering some improved performances. The breakthrough arrived eleven minutes before half time, and it came to the Abbotts, Kymani Thomas making it one-nil with his seventh of the season. Two minutes into the second half it was two-nil, Luke Deslandes giving his side some breathing space, and they needed it as Alfie Gibley almost immediately got a goal back for the hosts. Just after the hour the Abbotts prayers were answered with a third, Hassan Nalbant restoring their two goal advantage, but the Beachboys weren’t about to lie down- it’s a bit cold for sunbathing- and with ten minutes left Michael Okafor brought it back to two-three.  Sadly for the home fans, they couldn’t find an equaliser- and the Abbotts stay fifth, three points ahead of Tilbury, who have played two games less. 

Heybridge Swifts have finally found some home form of late, but had gone two matches without a win, which is why they had slipped to ninth- albeit only three points away from fifth spot. Swifts welcomed Haringey Borough to Scraley Road, the visitors four points from safety after a run of one win from ten- and Borough’s chances of changing that looked in trouble after Jack Adlington-Pile gave the hosts the lead midway through the first half. The visitors actually played well without reward in the first half, but they were rewarded for their efforts when Matt Young levelled with twenty two minutes to go. Again they couldn’t keep the hosts out and fifteen minutes from time Adlington-Pile restored Swifts lead from the spot- but once more they drew level, Olu Durojaiye equalising. There were eight minutes to find a winner, and then added time, which saw the visitors reduced to ten men after Derek Asamoah was shown a red card. That transgression didn’t change the outcome, Swifts five points from fifth place, Borough three points from safety.