Seasiders and Blues lead the way in the Cup

Basildon United had played five matches in all competitions, and delivered five victories and three clean sheets, but they couldn’t find a way past Biggleswade of Pitching In Southern League Division One Central, their visitors winning their fourth match in a row, this one by the only goal. 

Brightlingsea Regent welcomed Haringey Borough, only a week after the sides met in the League at Coles Park- and they’ll have to meet again in midweek. Manny Yeboah put the visitors ahead just before the quarter hour, and they held that lead until ten minutes from time, Harry Mann with the equaliser. 

Brentwood Town saw their magnificent start to the season unravel on Monday as they were hammered at Concord Rangers, but they delivered a hammering of their own as they travelled to Enfield (Hertford Town). The E’s transferred to Pitching In Southern Division One Central in the summer and were looking much stronger than the side we watched last season, with only one defeat so far, but they were no match for the Blues, who won five-nil. Daniel Ogunleye was the chief architect of victory, claiming the match ball with the first, third and fifth goals, with Benas Vaivada and Rob Harvey also chipping in. 

Felixstowe and Walton United had scored thirteen goals in their first three home matches this season, so were confident as Leverstock Green of Southern Division One Central came to call- and rightly so, as they added five more in a five-one victory. It was only one-nil at the break, Charlie Warren with the opener, but the floodgates opened in the second half after the visitors levelled from the spot on fifty nine minutes. Within a minute Warren had put his side ahead once more, and after Joe Whight added a third Warren completed hit hat trick. The fifth and final goal came from Zak Brown, eight minutes from time. Image from Stefan Peck. 

We’d an all-North tie as Gorleston and Walthamstow met at the seaside. The Greens have been magnificent so far, coming into this match with five wins from five in all competitions- and that included victory over Stow on opening day courtesy of two Joseph Duffy spot kicks that brought them a two-one victory. They managed to deliver another miserable day to Stow, Ryan Curtis with the winner just after the break, and a red card for Jordan Peart just before the end summed up Stow’s day, and indeed their start to the season.

Waltham Abbey travelled to Suffolk to take on Leiston, and left the competition on the back of a four-one defeat. Tami Ogunnowo got their consolation a minute from time. 

Newmarket Town welcomed Ipswich Wanderers in an all-North battle, and the two will meet again in midweek after a late goal for the Jockeys earned them a replay. Wanderers went ahead after just five minutes, Tom Richardson with the opener, and they looked to be in control when Tom Williams was dismissed for the hosts, but a red card for George Forest saw both sides reduced to ten men by half time, and right at the end, with a win seemingly confirmed for the visitors, Stan Leech got an equaliser. 

Tilbury were back at Chadfields, with Brantham Athletic the visitors. The Dockers were three unbeaten, and their Thurlow Nunn Premier opponents had won their last three and hoped to be giant killers- and they did their best to put their hosts to the sword, going two goals up in the first half before going down to ten men after a red card for their skipper. Tilbury got a goal back four minutes into the second half, Sam Bantick with his fourth of the season, but it still seemed as if the Dockers were doomed, only for Bantick to add another ELEVEN minutes into added time to earn his side a replay. 

Witham Town were unbeaten in all competitions, winning their first four matches before a draw against Heybridge Swifts on Monday, and were favourites as they hosted Sherringham of Thurlow Nunn Premier. That label was justified, as Josh Osude fired them through with his seventh goal of the season, the only goal if the game. 

North Division

Friday evening brought us an Essex derby, as Grays Athletic welcomed Redbridge to Tilbury- twelfth v seventeenth. Both sides had one victory from their opening three league matches, but the Motormen started like an express train, going ahead on seven minutes through James Barlow and making it two only two minutes later, Tyler Dolan with the goal. Early in the second half Luke Hirst got a goal back, but that was as good as it got for the hosts. The Motormen climbed to eleventh. 

Bury Town had the chance to go back to the top of the table as they welcomed Sporting Bengal United, but they had to come from behind to pick up the required three points. Yassine Kachi put the visitors ahead on twelve minutes, but when you have Cemal Ramadan up front you are always likely to score, and the Town striker got his fifth of the season to level in first half stoppage time. Just before the hour mark Ollie Cancer put the hosts ahead, and they held on to hit the summit. 

Maldon & Tiptree and Cambridge City started the day separated only by goal difference, but a positive result for either side as they met at the home of jam would send them into the top five. That positive result went the way of the Jammers, but it was something of a smash and grab as they were behind for most of the game. George Smith, formerly of this parish, put City ahead on seventeen minutes, and there were only six minutes left when the equaliser arrived, debutant Matt Price doing what he does best. The winner arrived in added time, Kien Connolly sending the hosts into fifth spot.