Seasiders and Blues are giant slayers!

Isuzu FA Trophy

Pitching In Isthmian North promotion chasers Felixstowe and Walton United had a second away match this week- and were hoping for a similar result. The Seasiders, who defeated Cambridge City in midweek, looked to have a tougher task as they took on a familiar name, Bishop’s Stortford, the Blues these days in Pitching In Southern Premier Central, but they went ahead after ten minutes, Cameron Forde-Brown (pictured, Stefan Peck) making the Blues blue. It was two-nil just before half time, an own goal giving the Seasiders much delight, and there was still time for Josh Mayhew to add a third before the half came to an end. A red card for the hosts five minutes after the break made the Seasiders lives even easier, and Mayhew made it four-nil- and although the hosts got a goal back on the hour, the visitors then got a fifth, Charlie Warren with that one. On sixty nine minutes Warren got another, to make it six-one, and finally United showed their higher ranked opponents some mercy. 

Bowers and Pitsea welcomed Chatham Town for the second time this season, having already lost two-nil to the Chats at the Len Salmon back in August. Since then neither side had been particularly positive, but the Chats were three unbeaten and went ahead in first half added time, Jack Evans converting from the spot- a red card for the hosts Dexter Peter rubbing salt firmly into the wound. There were no further goals, and the Chats march on. 

Brentwood Town, who knocked out Pitching In Isthmian Premier Cray Wanderers in the last round, were hope to repeat the feat as Cray Valley PM came to call- and complete a Cray ‘double!’ The Blues were six unbeaten, including five wins- and they started superbly, going ahead after just two minutes, Matt Cripps the scorer. It was soon two-nil, Jonathan Nzengo scoring the second four minutes later, but the Millers quickly halved the arrears, Danny Waldren pulling a goal back in the seventh minute. Brentwood added a third five minutes before half time, Jesse Olukolu scoring his fourth of the campaign, but the Millers again quickly struck back, Freddie Parker bringing it back to three-two, and there was still time for an equaliser, scored by Fumnaya Shomotun in first half added time. The second half looked like being goalless, but it wasn’t, as four minutes into added time the Blues claimed that Cray double and defeated a second giant, Romel Aarons Royal with the winner. 

Cambridge City were at ‘home’ for the second time this week, but hoping for a better result as they welcomed Pitching In Southern Premier side Royston Town. The visitors went ahead on eight minutes via an own goal, and doubled that lead only two minutes later, but City got one back ten minutes before half time, Marcel Lewis the scorer. They then made their lives difficult as Alex Warman was dismissed, and there was no coming back from that. 

Pitching In Isthmian North

Leaders Bury Town had a two point lead and a perfect home record as they faced seventh place Waltham Abbey, the Abbotts hoping to boost their own promotion hopes and ruin the Blues afternoon. Town had won five of their last six- the other a draw- and, as already mentioned, had been perfect at home, winning five matches and scoring two goals in each of them- but the visitors quietened the home faithful seven minutes into the second half, Prince Domafriyie opening the scoring, and with nineteen minutes remaining added a second, Aaron Eyoma securing three points and sending Bury down to third. That’s five unbeaten for the Abbotts, who are sixth. 

Second place Tilbury were hoping for a Bury slip up, but to take advantage they needed to win a difficult match against sixth place Brightlingsea Regent. The Dockers had been in superb form, seven matches unbeaten- a run which had coincided with the arrival of Alex Hernandez, who had scored in six of those seven matches and was hoping to add to his seven goals in seven games.- but it was a different name that got onto the scoresheet as the Dockers took the lead on thirty two minutes, that of Macauley Joynes. Hernendez did get his customary goal, however, making it two-nil from the spot with twenty minutes remaining, but Regent quickly got one back, Charlie Collis giving them hope. The hosts held on, and ended the day at the summit. 

Third place Witham Town had got back to winning ways during the previous week, defeating Newmarket and Mildenhall on their own patch, but they’d lost their last two on the road and wanted to make sure that didn’t extend to three as they travelled to struggling Maldon and Tiptree. The Jammers had lost five of their previous six, and had a terrible start to this one, seeing Anthony Wordsworth sent off and going behind on thirteen minutes, Josh Osude scoring his sixteenth of the season from the spot. It turned out that was to be the only goal, and it send Witham second, Maldon down in seventeenth. 

Basildon United travelled to Walthamstow knowing that they had an outside chance of returning to the summit, although they’d need Bury to lose whilst Tilbury and Witham would have to fail to win, so it really was an outside chance! It looked even more unlikely when Louie Johnson put Stow ahead five minutes before half time, and as it turned out that was the only goal of the game. That’s five away defeats in a row for the Bees in League and Velocity Cup. 

Redbridge welcomed Heybridge Swifts to East London. The Motormen looked to have turned a corner, losing only one of their previous six, whilst Swifts would have been glad to be on the road as they can’t buy a win at their own Scraley Road. Away from home Julian Dicks side were unbeaten in six matches in League and Cup, and they took the lead on ten minutes through Andy Fennell, but the Motormen were level on thirty four minutes, Rodney Botuli with the equaliser. The turnaround was complete when Tendi Quamina made it two-one eight minutes into the second half, but we weren’t finished yet! Eighteen minutes from time Mark Chidi levelled for Swifts, and six minutes later Scott Sloots put the visitors ahead once more, only for the hosts to level in added time, Malachi Napa making it three-three. 

Gorleston got back to winning ways in midweek, defeating Maldon and Tiptree- and the Greens were at home once more, Haringey Borough making the long trip to Great Yarmouth. Gorleston had lost five league matches in a row prior to their Wednesday night victory, but were quickly ahead in this one, Christy Finch opening the scoring on thirteen minutes. Finch added another seven minutes later, and two minutes before half time the Greens man claimed his second match ball of the season when adding a third- he has only scored in two matches, both hat tricks! The hosts weren’t finished for the first half, and before it ended they went four-nil up, Ryan Curtis the scorer. It was five-nil eight minutes after half time, Kieran Higgs with that one, and still they weren’t finished, Alby Matthews and Lewis Johnson getting numbers six and SEVEN. 

Mildenhall Town travelled to Ipswich Wanderers. Wanderers have lost their previous three, and indeed had only one win from seven in all competitions; whilst Hall had lost six of their previous seven in League and Suffolk Cup, so we expected a rather nervous afternoon and indeed it ended without a goal. 

Wroxham, still looking for a first home victory of the season as we kicked off, were hoping to get that win and at least get themselves level on points with some of the sides above them by defeating Sporting Bengal United, who sat three places further up. The Yachtsmen had lost their previous three, whilst United had taken only one point away from home all season, so we didn’t expect this to be high scoring. The hosts went ahead on sixty six minutes, Ryan Hawkins scoring from the spot, and as it turned out, that was that. The Yachtsmen stay bottom, but they are now one of four sides with eight points so only goal difference keeps them there.