Seasiders return to the summit

Felixstowe and Walton United had a fifteen match unbeaten run as they travelled to Bury Town in midweek, but now needed to start another one as they travelled to take on ninth place Heybridge Swifts. Swifts were three without a win- although only one of those was a defeat- but had finally found some home form, four unbeaten at Scraley Road. United took four points from the meetings between the sides last season, something of a change of fortune after Swifts had won their six prior league meetings, and they went ahead in this one, too, Ashton Boswell opening the scoring seven minutes before half time. Boswell, who made his debut from the bench as the Seasiders lost at Bury, made the match his own and sealed the points for his side on sixty seven minutes, making it two-nil, and that was that. United return to the summit on goal difference. Image- we suspect- from Stefan Peck. 

Third place Brentwood Town welcomed fourth place Witham Town in our match of the day, two points between the sides. The Blues were looking to extend their unbeaten run to ten matches, whilst Witham had become rather inconsistent, their previous six matches following a W-L pattern- which we’re sure they’d have wanted to continue for just one more day! Brentwood’s always deadly Daniel Ogunleye put them ahead on nineteen minutes- his twenty fourth of the season- and on sixty six minutes they added a second, courtesy of Mekhi McKenzie. Thirteen minutes from time three points were secured, Benas Vaivada making it three-nil, and that was that. 

Four hundred and ninety three hardy souls braved the cold, and most of them will have been rather warmed up by what they saw. Brentwood are eight points above the side in sixth, and eight behind the leaders. Witham haven’t defeated Brentwood in the league since January 2019- that’s now ten matches without a win, only two of them ending level. 

Walthamstow travelled to Redbridge for an East London derby. The eighth place visitors, five points away from the top five, were on a good run- having won five in a row and seven of their previous eight; whilst the Motormen, under new management, were looking to end a run of five defeats in a row. The hosts went ahead on fourteen minutes, Olamiji Ayoola with his second goal of the season. Stow missed a chance to level, a spot kick hitting the upright, before going two down in the early stages of the second half, Tendi Quamina with the second goal for the Motormen. On the hour the hosts added a third, Joseph Elliott the scorer, and that was that- the hosts up to twelfth.

Haringey Borough, three points from safety, played host to Mildenhall Town, who were three places and six points better off having played two games less. Hall were five unbeaten, and had a fabulous start in this one, Ryan Swift opening the scoring after only four minutes- his second goal in three matches. The visitors hardly had time to celebrate, however, before Sydney Ibie equalised for the hosts, bit on twenty eight minutes Swift struck again to restore Town’s advantage, to the dismay of the majority of the four hundred and ten in attendance.  They remained dismayed at full time, Mildenhall up to fourteenth.