Seasiders open up a three point lead at the top

Our early action came from Basildon, as the Bees of United welcomed the Blues of Brentwood Town. The visitors went seven matches unbeaten and picked up three points, but it was close, the only goal of the match arriving eleven minutes from time. When it arrived it came from an expected source, Daniel Ogunleye taking his tally for the season up to twenty three and his side- for a few hours at least- up to third, but they were back down to fourth by five o’clock! Basildon are fifteenth, after one win from eleven. 

Leaders Felixstowe and Walton United welcomed bottom side Ipswich Wanderers. The Seasiders were thirteen matches unbeaten, and had dropped only two points at home, only Brightlingsea Regent escaping with a point; whilst Wanderers had lost nine of their previous ten, were without a league win since September 17th, and were nine points from safety- but determined not to give their hosts an easy ride. The only goal of the game arrived eight minutes before half time, and it went to Thomas Warren, United’s number three scoring his seventh of the season and giving his side a three point lead at the top. The gap between Wanderers and salvation got no larger, at least. Image from Stefan Peck. 

Mildenhall Town were the hosts for second place Bury Town. Bury had been in super form, an eight match unbeaten run which contained seven wins being brought to an end by Brightlingsea Regent on Saturday, and they hoped to get quickly back to winning ways, but they couldn’t find any way through Hall’s defence. The six hundred and eighty two watching on were not entertained by a goal- at either end. Town are three points behind Felixstowe with a game in hand- but the Seasiders have a much better goal difference. 

Witham Town remain in third place, but it looked like they’d let three points slip away at Concord Rangers- only to collect them deep into stoppage time. Witham went ahead midway through the first half, Madia Reese with the opener, and quickly added a second through Kamani Mcfarlane, but Thomas Stagg then took control of the match for the Beachboys, getting a goal back in first half added time and then scoring an equaliser in the last minute of the match to seemingly earn his side a point. As it turned out, however, Rangers ended the match with nothing, as four minutes into added time Mcfarlane delighted the travelling fans with a winner- his eighth of the season.  

Sporting Bengal United welcomed Cambridge City, the visitors back in East London for the second match in a row after their win at Redbridge on Saturday. City were hoping for a third win in a row, and they delivered just that- indeed they wrapped up three points so beautifully it needed only a bow and some glitter to make it perfect. They went ahead on seven minutes, Jamie Dicks the scorer, doubled their lead nine minutes before half time, Samrai Gebrai making it two, and were out of sight just before the break, George Smith converting from the spot. Just after the hour Junior Mubiaya added a fourth, and right at the end Ed Tassell made it five, City up to eleventh. United are seventh without a win, and only a point above the drop zone. 

Tilbury and Grays Athletic met in their Chadfields derby. The Dockers had slipped to seventh after a run of one win in six, whilst Athletic had lost three in a row, a run which had seen them slip down to ninth- and it’s now four in a row and tenth after the landlords defeated the tenants. Tilbury went ahead five minutes before half time, Daniel Trendall with the opener, and they had another before the half time break, Jordan Clark converting a penalty in added time. Five minutes into the second half and Athletic got back into the match, Luke Hirst giving them hope, but there was no way back for the visitors, and their match ended in defeat and with ten men, Alex Moss dismissed deep in added time. 

Wroxham, two points from safety at kick off, had looked much improved of late, having lost only one of their previous five. The Yachtsmen welcomed Newmarket Town, four points and two places behind them, and it looked as if they’d taken three points, only for a late, late leveller to leave them with one. Josh Harvey scored just before the hour to put Wroxham ahead, and the Jockeys leveller arrived four minutes into added time, Ash Walter the scorer. The Yachtsmen close to within a point of eighteenth place Sporting Bengal United. 

Brightlingsea Regent hoped to build upon their impressive win at Bury Town on Saturday as they welcomed Gorleston-and they did just that, courtesy of two goals and a clean sheet. Jake Clowsley gave them the lead in first half added time, and they added a second thirteen minutes from time, Kenzo Shabazz-Edwards making sure of the points- only one defeat in nine for Regent, who are up to eighth, and only two points away from the top five. 

Heybridge Swifts, in fifth place at kick off, welcomed neighbours Maldon and Tiptree to Scraley Road. Swifts hoped that Saturday’s win over Basildon had finally buried their home hoodoo, and to build on a run which had seen them win seven of their previous nine- but they had to be content with a point against their local rivals, and they had to score five minutes into added time to get it. The travelling Jammers were seven matches unbeaten, and when Matt Price scored against his former club with fifteen minutes to go it looked like they’d take local bragging right, but deep in added time Billy Crook found an equaliser. Swifts slip to sixth, the Jammers are fourteenth. 

Waltham Abbey hoped to climb into the top five as they travelled to Redbridge- and they did just that, taking fifth place on goal difference. The Abbotts were very impressive when walloping Witham on Saturday, and had won four of their previous five, and they made it five wins from six with two second half goals in East London. The opener arrived on sixty three minutes, and at the time of writing we’ve no idea who scored it, but we do know who got the second five minutes later, Sam Robins taking the plaudits.