Bury hit the top

Basildon United’s narrow defeat at Felixstowe in midweek left their lead at the top looking rather precarious, and they knew they'd probably need to get back to winning ways at Newmarket Town if they were to hold onto first place. The first half certainly didn’t go their way, Josh Lee- in fine form in front of goal- putting the Jockeys ahead with his ninth of the season on the half hour, and Troy Williams making it two-nil in added time- and the second half didn’t come with a comeback, Newmarket up to nineteenth and the Bees bounced off the top. 

Bury Town played host to Witham Town, both sides aware that victory would take them to the top if Basildon slipped up. Bury had won all of their home matches whilst Witham were unbeaten on the road, but by half time it appeared that only one of those records would last the afternoon, the Blues two goals up, Ethan Mayhew and- of course- Cemal Ramadan with the goals. The visitors didn’t give up, and a minute from time Deese Kasinga Madia got a goal back, but there was no late leveller despite their considerable efforts and Bury top the table, whilst Witham slip to fifth. 

Felixstowe and Walton United have been quite magnificent at home in all competitions this season- so opponents Tilbury would have been glad that they were the hosts, as the Seasiders travelled inland. The Dockers were four unbeaten, having won three of them and come from three goals down to draw with Newmarket in midweek- and in Alex Hernandez have a player in fine form, and it took him only six minutes to put them ahead from the spot, his fourth goal in only five appearances. The Seasiders drew level early in the second half, Josh Mayhew with the equaliser, and it looked like the match would end level- only for Hernandez to decide otherwise, heading home a winner a minute from time. The visitors saw Cameron Forde-Brown sent off in added time, a miserable end to a miserable afternoon. Tilbury replace the Seasiders in fourth- image from In Focus Photos. 

It was six v fifth as Concord Rangers welcomed Brightlingsea Regent. Regent saw a four match winning streak come to an end with defeat in Maldon in midweek, whilst the Beachboys were five unbeaten- five matches which had seen them concede only two goals. Rangers quickly conceded another, Teddy Collis putting the visitors ahead after just four minutes, and five minutes into the second half Regent added a second, Christian Frimpong making it two-nil. That was that, Regent up to third as a result, the Beachboys down to ninth. 

Walthamstow were back in East London after midweek defeat on the road, and welcomed Mildenhall Town. Stow had won three in a row prior to that defeat in Cambridge, and they had striker Brian Moses in fine form, with seven goals this season, whilst Hall had lost four in a row in all competitions, and had won only once on the road this season. In the first half those statistics didn’t seem to matter much, as it was the visitors who went in ahead at the break, Ben Nolan scoring the opener deep in added time- and Hall, and Nolan, quickly doubled the visitors advantage, making it two-nil three minutes after half time. Mildenhall held onto their lead, and climbed to fourteenth. 

Waltham Abbey travelled to take on Brentwood Town. The hosts started the day down in fourteenth, but had played three or even four matches fewer than the sides above them, courtesy of being busy in Cup and Trophy. They came into this one looking for a fourth consecutive victory, and of course had defeated Premier Division opposition in the shape of Cray Wanderers last time out. The travelling Abbotts got back to winning ways against Ipswich Wanderers last weekend, hitting their Suffolk visitors for four, but were still searching for consistency, having lost as many as they had won- four of each. The only result they were missing was a draw, and after a goalless first half they were half way to getting one of those, and ended up finally making their mark in the ‘D’ column as the second half had no goals, either. 

Heybridge Swifts are our draw specialists, five of their nine matches prior to this weekend ending level- but by half time in Wroxham looked to have three points wrapped up courtesy of goals from Andy Fennell, Scott Sloots and Manny Osei-Owusu. The Yachtsmen pulled a goal back on seventy two minutes, Ryan Miles scoring from the spot, only for Mikey Faulkner to quickly add a fourth for Swifts. The hosts weren’t done, and Freddy Lines quickly brought it back to two-four, before Ben Allen added a fifth in added time to send Swifts up to seventh. 

Mid table Redbridge welcomed Sporting Bengal United for an East London derby. The Motormen had gone three without a win- although the first two of those were draws- whilst United had gone six without a win in all competitions, including two defeats in the league- but those losses were against the top two so perhaps that didn’t tell us a great deal. Redbridge were quickly in front, Malachi Napa taking only five minutes to open the scoring, and eleven minutes later they doubled their advantage, Rodney Botuli making it two-nil. United struck back in the early stages of the second half, Damilola Olusesi giving them hope, but a minute from time Joseph Elliott made it three-one, and then in added time the same player added a fourth from the spot, the Motormen up to eighth. 

Finally, Ipswich Wanderers welcomed Haringey Borough to Suffolk, seventeenth v last. Borough would point out that they may not have been bottom of the table had they not been busy in Cup and Trophy, and they went ahead in this one on seventeen minutes, Jorge Djassi-Sambu with the opener, only to be pegged back in first half added time, Kris Rose equalising for the hosts, who were four unbeaten on their own patch. Borough regained their lead four minutes into the second half, Derek Asamoah with their second, and they made sure of a first league victory when Joe Waight added a third- his fifth in eight matches- with twenty two minutes remaining. That was that, but Borough remain at the bottom. 

Emirates FA Cup

We knew we’d have at least one Pitching In Isthmian club in the First Round as our next Fourth Qualifying Round tie featured two of them, as Horsham welcomed North Division Gorleston. The Hornets were familiar with the pressure that came with FA Cup success as they reached the Second Round last season, and they’ve got a First Round tie to look forward to once more, Reece Myles-Meekums scoring the only goal of the game four minutes from time. Congratulations to the Greens on a fine run- and coming so close to a replay.