Seasiders have six-appeal!

Yellow was very much the dominant colour as Basildon United, very good in patches last season, welcomed Haringey Borough, the visitors hoping to quickly acclimatise to the North Division. The Bees found their sting on twenty four minutes, Ramiah Mills opening the scoring, and that turned out to be the only goal. 

Brightlingsea Regent played host to Witham Town, the hosts hoping for a positive start but finding themselves behind after fifteen minutes, Callum Fitzer with the finish. It got even better for Witham when they sealed victory with two minutes to go, Deese Kasinga Madia making it two- and they added a third deep in added time, Josh Osude scoring from the spot. 

Concord Rangers hoped that their stay in the North Division would be a short one, looking to bounce back after two successive relegations, whilst visitors Bury Town were our title favourites in our Supporters poll. The visitors showed why they had that tag after sweeping their hosts away in the second half, a Cemal Ramadan double added to by Taylor Parr right at the end, three-nil the final score. 

Felixstowe and Walton United came so close last season, pushing eventual champions Lowestoft Town closely for most of the campaign, and the Seasiders hoped for a positive start against newly promoted Newmarket Town. They went ahead on twenty six minutes through Charlie Warren, and within four minutes Sam Ford had doubled the home advantage, making it two-nil at half time. The second half saw the hosts hit four more, Cameron Forde-Brown, Willie Clemons and two more from Warren to complete his hat trick making it six! The Jockeys got a consolation from the spot, Isaac Maynard with it, but it wasn’t much of a consolation really. A late red card for Stuart Ainsley was the only blot on a fine Felixstowe day. 

Charlie Warren is pictured with his Man of the Match Award. 

Heybridge Swifts welcomed a returning Cambridge City to Scraley Road, and they welcomed a goal just before half time, Jack Adlington-Pile scoring it. City grabbed a point, however, when Jayden Gipson levelled twelve minutes from time. 

Mildenhall Town, back with us after five years away, welcomed Grays Athletic, and the visitors broke through on twenty minutes, Elliott Sartorius putting them ahead. The Hall were level on twenty seven minutes, Adam Capel with the equaliser, but Athletic quickly restored their lead through Bobby Unwin. Right at the end, with three away points seeming secure, Jarid Robson grabbed a goal and a point for the hosts. 

Redbridge, with their new 3G pitch getting a competitive baptism, welcomed Brentwood Town- the Blues trying to pick themselves up after a second Play Off Final defeat in three seasons. The visitors went ahead just before the quarter hour, Daniel Ogunleye with the opener, and they gave themselves a cushion when Connor Witherspoon gave them a second two minutes before half time. The cushion became a chasm a minute before the break, Benas Vaivada- last seen winning promotion with Bowers and Pitsea- making it three-nil. The Motormen got one back six minutes into the second half, Rodney Botuli giving them hope, but it was as good as extinguished when Mekhi McKenzie added a fourth from the spot twelve minutes from time. There was still time for a hosts consolation in added time, bringing it back to two-four, but the Blues had a happy trip home. 

Newcomers Sporting Bengal United, at this level for the first time, played host to Waltham Abbey, the Abbotts returning to us after three seasons away. The visitors came so close to promotion to Step Three last season, losing narrowly in the Play Off Final, so should be amongst our promotion favourites- but they fell behind in this one, United taking the lead just after the half hour mark, Joe Gregory with the goal. Four minutes from time Freddy Tandon made it two, and an eighty-eighth minute goal from Tami Ogunnowo for the visitors made little difference to the outcome. 

It was good to see Tilbury back with us, and the Dockers were at home against Ipswich Wanderers- but the hosts were down to ten men on thirty four minutes as Sam Bantick, who scored a hat trick in the cup last weekend, had a rather different afternoon this time out, seeing red. On sixty eight minutes Wanderers made the breakthrough, Iuri Fernandes with the goal- and that turned out to be that, three points heading back to Suffolk. 

Walthamstow saw Gorleston arrive in East London, and they also saw the first North goal of the campaign, Louie Johnson scoring after five minutes to put them ahead. The Greens levelled from the spot nine minutes before the break, Joseph Duffy keeping his cool, and Duffy remained calm and collected when the Greens were awarded another spot kick just after the start of the second half, scoring once more. That was that, three green points. 

Wroxham welcomed Maldon & Tiptree to the beautiful Broads, but the Jammers weren’t looking at the scenery and went ahead after thirteen minutes, Luke Reeve with the goal. On twenty five minutes an own goal doubled their advantage, and the visitors had a third seven minutes into the second half, Rob Girdlestone with that one. Just before the hour Ryan Hawkins for a goal back for the Yachtsmen from the spot, but he was soon dismissed, and the ten men conceded a fourth two minutes from time, Kien Connolly making it four-one and three points Jammers.