Seasiders and Regent lead the way on North Trophy Saturday

It was FA Trophy weekend for our North clubs. 

Barton Rovers of Pitching In Southern Division One Central were the hosts for Waltham Abbey. The sides knew each other well, as the Abbotts were in that Division during the last few years, and the last six meetings between them had seen two Abbotts wins, three draws and one victory for Rovers. Both of their meetings last season ended all square, but this had to have a winner and it was advantage Abbotts on the half hour, Declan Rydings opening the scoring- but the hosts levelled from the spot with twelve minutes to go, and were then better from the spot when the match went to penalties, winning four-two. 

We had a North v North clash as Brentwood Town welcomed Witham Town, both sides in fine form. The Blues had previously played five matches in all competitions and won four of them; whilst Witham had been wonderous so far, winning five of their six matches and drawing the other.  The hosts were quickly ahead, Daniel Ogunleye with his fifth goal of the season after just five minutes, but Witham were quickly level, Liam Whipps with the equaliser, and went ahead just after the half hour as Josh Osude scored for the third match in a row. Things got worse for the Blues as they had Marlow Agyakwa sent off with twenty four minutes to go, but the ten men levelled eleven minutes from time, new arrival Kai Brown with the equaliser. The hosts then went down to nine, Romel Aarons Royal also seeing red, which left the visitors eight minutes plus added time to take advantage- but the winner came at the other end, Jesse Olukolu creating unexpected Blue delight. Witham have defeated Brentwood only once in eleven meetings. 

It’s been a good start to the North Division campaign for both Felixstowe and Walton United and Basildon United, and the two sides met at the seaside. The Seasiders had a one hundred percent home record in League and Cup coming into this one, and had wowed the Martello Ground faithful by scoring eighteen goals on their own patch so far- in five games- so it perhaps wasn’t too much of a surprise when they added a nineteenth in the first minute, Ollie Caley-Brown with the opener. The travelling Bees have a one hundred percent league record, and indeed had a one hundred percent record in all competitions until a narrow defeat against Biggleswade last weekend- and they were level on the quarter hour, Kye Jude with the equaliser. They weren’t level for long, Charlie Warren taking two minutes to restore home advantage, and in the second half the Seasiders sailed away, Thomas Warren adding a third, and Charlie Warren getting the fourth. Just before the end Nidal Berri pulled a goal back for the Bees, but that was that, four-two the final score. Image from Stefan Peck. 

Grays Athletic, who played some impressive football in defeating Walthamstow (on penalties) in the Velocity Cup in midweek, hoped to build upon that first away win of the season as they travelled to take on Pitching In Southern Division One Central side Hadley. The hosts were undefeated in the League after three wins and a draw, and were ahead in this one after just four minutes. Athletic pushed for an equaliser but two minutes from time found themselves with ten men, Matas Skarna dismissed. The hosts made it two-nil from the spot, and although Aron Gordon quickly got a goal back, it was too little, too late. 

We had a local derby- indeed a rather fierce rivalry- as Heybridge Swifts hosted Maldon & Tiptree. The winner- and indeed the only goal of the match- arrived two minutes from time, and it went to the travelling Jammers, Anthony Wordsworth giving them a joyous, and short, journey home. 

Ipswich Wanderers was the destination for North Division one hundred percenters Gorleston, and Wanderers were quickly ahead, Michael Bareck taking only five minutes to open the scoring. The second half was only one minute old when Wanderers struck again, Zach Pedro making it two, and a red card for George Keys seventeen minutes from time effectively ended the Greens challenge. 

Leverstock Green, conquerors of Heybridge Swifts in the Cup, were the hosts for North Division leaders Bury Town. Town fell behind in first half added time, and that turned out to be the only goal of the match, leaving the Ram Meadow side to concentrate on the league. 

Another all-North tie saw Mildenhall Town take on Brightlingsea Regent. Hall were yet to win a match this season- although they had only played four- whilst Regent had been excellent on occasions but were yet to find consistency, although that had perhaps not been helped by playing nearly half of the season so far against Haringey Borough. The hosts were quickly ahead, Callum Anderson scoring after just two minutes, but they weren’t ahead for long, Jayden Robinson with the equaliser nine minutes later. The visitors went ahead ten minutes before half time, Harry Mann completing the turnaround, but four minutes into the second half Jarid Robson made it two-two. The hosts saw substitute Max Kirby dismissed on the hour, and the visitors took advantage, Mann and Marley Andrews adding a third and fourth to see them through. 

Another all-North tie saw Redbridge welcome Haringey Borough for an all-London encounter. The Motormen seemed to be finding their feet after winning their previous two matches, whilst Borough hadn’t yet picked up a League point but were unbeaten in three knockout matches, and went ahead in this one seven minutes before half time, Richard Ennin giving the Bell End something to chime about. Eleven minutes from the end Abs Content Thompson levelled for the hosts and looked to have sent the match to penalties, but in added time Manny Yeboah restored Borough’s lead- and there was time for them to score a third, too, Joe Waight, on from the bench, scoring on his debut. 

Tilbury were at home to Welywn Garden City of Pitching In Southern Division One Central. The Dockers were five unbeaten in all competitions and had Sam Bantick in his customary fine form with five goals so far, but it was another familiar scorer, Alex Akrofi, who opened the scoring on twenty two minutes. That looked to be that, but the hosts were reduced to ten men eleven minutes from time, Alfie Fry dismissed, and in added time the visitors scored from the spot to send the match to a shoot out. That was close, and tense, but the Dockers won it six-five. 

Walthamstow were at home for the second time this week and rather desperate for a win as Real Bedford made the trip to East London. Stow played well in the second half of their Velocity Cup tie against Grays Athletic on Wednesday night before losing a shootout, and we suspected that their Pitching In Southern Division One Central opponents might prove a tough test, having won four and lost only one of their five league matches so far, kept four clean sheets, and scored a rather impressive seventeen goals! Bedford were ahead on seventeen minutes, but Stow levelled just after the half hour mark, Te Wihongi finding the net. Sadly the visitors got a winner, two minutes from time. 

Newmarket Town travelled to Wodson Park, where they will took on Pitching In Southern Division One Central side Ware. The hosts lost to North Division opposition in the Cup last month, Brentwood Town, but were unbeaten since, and they went ahead in this one after just six minutes, and went two up just before the break. The Jockeys hit back eight minutes into the second half, Prince Mutswunguma halving the arrears, and just before the hour they were level, Josh Lee with the equaliser. Off we went to spot kicks, and the Jockeys triumphed, four-two. 

Wroxham, new manager in harness, welcomed Pitching In Southern Division One Central Aylesbury United to the Ginger Pickle Arena. The Yachtsmen had lost their last four in all competitions, whilst their visitors are top of the table, five unbeaten, and had conceded only one league goal- but Wroxham came through, winning a shootout four-three after a goalless draw. 

We have two North sides in action today.

Cambridge City host Kings Lanley of Pitching In Southern Division One Central. The visitors have lost their last two in League and Cup after an unbeaten start to the season, whilst City are still playing in St Ives whilst awaiting the completion of their new home, and have perhaps unsurprisingly had a mixed start to the season.

Littlehampton Town welcome Sporting Bengal United, South East v North. The Golds have been rather short of football so far, having played only one league match- a narrow defeat- and three knockout matches, the last of those a victory in the previous round of the Trophy, a shootout win over Rayners Lane after a two-two draw on August 27th. This wilkl be their fifth consecutive home match- they haven’t yet played away from the Sportsfield. United have played four league matches so far, winning two and losing two, and if that pattern continues are due a victory!