Farnham hold on at the top- the K’s still a point behind

Kingstonian had been slowly reeling leaders Farnham Town in, helped by a seven match winning run. The last side to defeat the K’s- and indeed the only side to take any points off them since August Bank Holiday Monday- were Ashford Town, with a remarkable seven-four win on October 8th, and the sides met again at Raynes Park with the K’s looking for a little revenge and eyeing that top spot. Kingstonian went ahead on thirteen minutes courtesy of Bradley Wilson’s fourteenth goal of the season- but as he’d also scored the last time they met he certainly wouldn’t have been taking anything for granted. The second half saw no further goals, and the K’s held on to make it eight wins from eight- and remain a point behind the leaders. The Tangerines dropped to twenty first.

Farnham Town hoped to hold onto their pole position and make it four wins in a row- and perhaps record a fourth consecutive clean sheet- but they knew they were unlikely to have an easy afternoon as their visitors were third place Raynes Park Vale. Town had defeated Vale as recently as October 15th, a two-one win which saw the hosts end the match with nine men, but Vale were also looking for a fourth successive win- and to make up some of the nine points between themselves and their opponents. The visitors went ahead seven minutes before half time, Cameron Black the scorer, but Town hit back on sixty three minutes, Joseph Jackson with the equaliser, and seven minutes from time they went ahead, although it took an own goal to do it. What they had, they held- despite Vale’s best efforts, and they also held onto their one point lead at the top. Nine hundred and eighty seven watched on. 

Image- LJP Photos. 

Harrow Borough had slipped to fourth at kick off, and hoped to get back to winning ways as they travelled to Horndean. Borough had lost three in a row, by far their worst run of the campaign so far, whilst the Deans, only four points away from the top five, had also struggled for consistency. The Deans went ahead midway through the second half, Billy Allcock the scorer, and that turned out to be the only goal, a result which lifted them to tenth and saw Borough drop four places to eighth. 

Hayes and Yeading United had climbed into the top five with a run of only one defeat in ten, and travelled to take on an Ascot United side looking for a third win in a row- and knowing that they would climb above the West Londoners should they get it. The Yellas went ahead just after the hour courtesy of Sean McCormack, and enjoyed that so much that just two minutes later they did it again, Ben Harris making it two. United struck back with fifteen minutes remaining, George Sippetts giving the travelling fans hope, but it was hope which was soon dashed by the full time whistle. Ascot went into seventh place, whilst their visitors dropped to ninth. 

Hartley Wintney had dropped out of the top five after a run of four consecutive defeats, and they travelled to take on South Park Reigate determined to put that right. The hosting Sparks were undefeated at home and looking for revenge for a five-nil hammering against The Row last month, but the visitors went ahead on seventeen minutes, Tyler Hayles the scorer- and they doubled their lead just before the hour, Charlie Postance the scorer, only for the Sparks to finally spark into life, Ryan Healy quickly getting a goal back. The hosts hopes finally departed in added time when Danny Dudley saw red, and the Row climb up to fourth, the final score two-one. 

Hanworth Villa played host to Binfield. The Villains got back to winning ways in style in midweek after two defeats, winning five-three against Harrow, and were only a point outside the top five, and they were given a boost five minutes before half time as the Moles saw Jamie Hilton dismissed. It seemed that the ten men would hold on, indeed the match was still goalless as we entered added time at the end, but on ninety plus three Villa finally made a breakthrough, Sam Merson with his eighth of the season. That ended the visitors resistance, and three minutes later Finlay Macnab scored a second and sealed victory for the hosts, who climbed back into the top five as a result. Binfield haven’t defeated the Villains in six attempts. 

Uxbridge had closed to within a point of the top five after a fine run which had seen them lose only one of their previous ten- and they’d been particularly good at home, so will have been delighted to be hosting Guernsey. The Green Lions had ended a seven match winless run with victory over Hanworth Villa last weekend, and had actually been in better form on the road than at home, but they fell behind on nine minutes, Ada Okorogheye with his eleventh of the season and third against these particular opponents. It was two-nil a quarter of an hour later, Leo Donnellan doubling the advantage, and three-nil at the break, Casey Bocarro ensuring a comfortable lead with goal number three on thirty six minutes. The visitors got a goal back with twenty five minutes left, Charlton Gauvain the scorer, but James Taylor quickly made it four-one and that was that, Uxbridge outside the top five only on goal difference. 

Southall, in twelfth at kick off, welcomed Westfield, in tenth. The All were finally beginning to show some consistently good form, and had won four of their previous five, their only defeat during that period coming against…Westfield, a one-nil win for the Yellows on October 22nd. Could they get some speedy revenge? It started well for the hosts, as Jordi Ebanda put them ahead after just three minutes, but the visitors drew level eleven minutes before half time, Jack Beadle with the equaliser. Only five minutes of the second half had elapsed before The All regained their lead, Anthony O’Connor the scorer, and this time they held it, climbing to eleventh- just above their opponents. 

Rayners Lane hosted Met Police. Lane have been good on occasions but were still looking for consistency, three wins and three defeats from their last six- but had been very good at home, and headed into this one undefeated on their own patch. It looked as if they’d remain undefeated as the match was still goalless as we entered added time, but they did better than that, earning all three points when Shermandin Artmeladze scored with seven added minutes already played. Lane are thirteenth, having won five, drawn five and lost five. 

Leatherhead welcomed Moneyfields, fifteenth v sixteenth. We’re not sure anyone would have predicted the Tanners poor start to the season, and there had been moments where they had looked superb, but sadly for the fans at Fetcham Grove there had been too few of those. Four wins from ten- and none in their last three- told the Tanners story, and this particular chapter didn’t look as if it would end well when James Franklyn put the visitors ahead with only fourteen minutes left. There was to be no way back for the hosts, and the Moneys are up to fourteenth having done a Leatherhead double. 

Finally, Sutton Common Rovers, in nineteenth, welcomed bottom side Badshot Lea. The two sides were not in good form, Rovers, recently depleted by injuries and absences, having gone eight matches without a win, six of the last seven ending in defeat- and without a win at home; whilst the Baggies were without a win anywhere but had a number of new signings on show. Rovers went ahead just before the half hour, Christian Gyamfi with the opener, and on the stroke of half time doubled their advantage, Troy Walters making it two-nil. Rovers added a third ten minutes into the second half, Luke Ige getting that one, and climbed to seventeenth- a second three-nil win over the Baggies this season.