Rovers and Hawks finally taste victory

Leaders Enfield Town were at home to an in-form Dartford in our match of the night, first v fourth- and it was the visitors who struck first, Dan Smith scoring from the spot midway through the first half. The Towners faced an uphill struggle when Tyler Ibe added a second for the Darts on the hour, and the visitors held on to go level on points with their visitors- and climb to third. 

Welling United have had a terrific start to the campaign and hoped for more as they hosted Cheshunt. Wings went ahead on the half hour, Zak O’Keefe with the opener, and eleven minutes into the second half Nahum Melvin-Lambert made it two. That, as it turned out, was that- Welling remaining second but now level on points with the leaders. Cheshunt are fifth from bottom, and now the only side without a win. 

Fourth place St Albans City travelled to Flamingo Park to take on Cray Wanderers, and the Saints were almost immediately in front, Kai Brown scoring for the third time in four matches. Brown’s form has coincided with an unbeaten run for Saints, but the hosts drew level right at the start of the second half, Jakob Lowe with the equaliser, and were quickly ahead, Soul Kader turning the match on its head within six second half minutes. The Saints then quickly came from behind to draw level, Zak Sowden-Fletcher making it two-two, and then with only six minutes left they were ahead once more, Darion Furlong heading home to make it two-three. Finally, that looked to be that- but it wasn’t. Five minutes into added time up popped Seidou Sanogo- and it was three-three, a point apiece. 

Neither Brentwood Town nor visitors Stanway Rovers were in rude health, twentieth versus twenty second, but Rovers recovery looked more likely when Alfie Cutbush found the far corner on three minutes. Bradley Sach quickly levelled from the spot only three minutes later, but midway through the half Charlee Hughes- of course until recently of Brentwood- restored Rovers lead with a stunner from distance. Things got worse for the home fans when Luka Chalwell added a third six minutes before half time, but Town were back in the match seven minutes from time, Harry Gibbs making it two-three direct from a free kick. Sadly for the home fans that was as good as it got, and Brentwood fall to the bottom of the table whilst Rovers were able to celebrate their first Step Three victory. It looks a long way from last season’s Play Off Final for the blues, but it is only September. 

Lewes brought in defender Harry Mills in time for last weekend, and he scored his first Rooks goal after six minutes against Carshalton Athletic, putting the hosts ahead from the spot. Early in the second half Charlie Walker made it two-nil, and the Rooks looked home and dry when Ryan Gondoh made it three with twenty five minutes remaining. That was the end of the scoring, with Lewes up to fourth- two points behind the leaders. 

Eastbourne Borough and Chatham Town approached the break goalless but with a large amount of added time to be played after an injury for the visitors- and that proved positive for the hosts, as Liam Nash fired them ahead eight minutes after the half was meant to be finished. Town drew level midway through the second half, Brad Stevenson scoring from the spot, but within five minutes the hosts were ahead once more, Matthew Hayden restoring their lead- and this time they held onto it. Right at the end keeper Nathan Harvey was dismissed for the visitors. 

Leatherhead hosted AFC Whyteleafe in an all-green battle, and it was an all-green battle with no goals- although it did have a red card, Leafe’s Ade Cole dismissed nine minutes from time. Image from Stuart McAlister. 

Ramsgate were at home to Maldon and Tiptree, and with the match poised to be goalless at the break Billy Munday decided otherwise, putting the hosts ahead. Munday struck again eleven minutes into the second half, and the points stayed at home. Ramsgate go eighth. 

Whitehawk hoped to finally find a way to win as Three Bridges came to call, and the Hawks went ahead on twenty six minutes, Seokjae Lee keeping his nerve from the spot. Kamarni Ryan soon added a second, but Bridges were back in the match when Noel Leighton got a goal back ten minutes before the break- and they were level almost from kick off after the break, Ade Adeyinka making it two-two. The fifth goal of the evening went to the player who scored the second, Ryan making it three-two to the hosts, and this time they held on to record their first win of the campaign-and to climb above their visitors in the table. 

In the FA Cup, Burgess Hill Town and Jersey Bulls met in a replay, the Hillians running out three-one winners. Chris Whelpdale was the star for the ‘visitors’ (the match was played in Burgess Hill despite Bulls being officially the home team), scoring a hat trick. Jay Giles scored for the Channel Islanders.