Seasiders return to the summit- and the Redbridge Cup run comes to an end

Felixstowe and Walton United had the chance to return to the top as they travelled to Takeley, the hosts three unbeaten- a run which had seen them climb out of the bottom four. It was a chance that the Seasiders took- but they had to work immensely hard to take the points.

Josh Mayhew was the visitors hero. He put them ahead on eleven minutes, restored their lead on forty minutes after George Pullen had levelled for the hosts, and completed his hat trick to make it three-one three minutes into the second half. By the time we reached the break the hosts were down to ten men, John Clarke sent off, but Takeley weren’t done and reduced the deficit to one just after the hour, Jordan Wescott scoring from the spot. 

United are three points clear at the summit- although second place Maldon and Tiptree have two games in hand. 

Image from Stefan Peck. 

Waltham Abbey hoped to follow up their fine win over Maldon at the weekend with three more points as they welcomed bottom side Brantham Athletic, and they did that in some style, scoring four- and sadly ensuring that their visitors were relegated. The first two arrived in the first seven minutes, Junior Deslandes and Kai Brown the scorers, and it was three-nil six minutes before half time, Nathaniel Orafu rounding off a fairly perfect first half for the home fans. 

Matthew Price added a fourth eighteen minutes from time, and a late red card for Tom Lawson ended a dreadful night for the visitors. The Abbotts remain third, eleven points behind the leaders, and ten clear of sixth place.

Witham Town played host to fourth bottom Lowestoft Town, the Trawler Boys desperate for points- and to avoid a fifth straight defeat. They managed the latter, at least, but they ended with only a point, despite Kyle Haylock scoring the opener on the half hour. Witham levelled fifteen minutes from time, Fred King earning the hosts a point and lifting them to tenth; and the Trawler Boys climbed out of the bottom four with their point. 

Eight place Wroxham were only three points away from the top five and hope to reduce that margin as they headed to Grays Athletic, but it was the hosts who took the points, despite playing much of the match with ten men. A red card for Ethan Cann looked to leave Athletic with an uphill struggle, but a goal from Caiden Remy-Dee delivered the points fifteen minutes from time. Athletic open up a five point gap between themselves and the drop zone.

Stanway Rovers were hoping to climb to fifth with victory at Mildenhall Town, and they did just that, leaving their hosts in the bottom four as a result. Nat Mardell put Rovers ahead on nine minutes, but it looked as if the hosts had grabbed a point when Adam Capel levelled in added time. Sadly for the home fans, there was still enough added time for Joe Debell to charge up the other end and score a winner for Rovers. 

Concord Rangers were at home to Brightlingsea Regent in a mid table seaside special, and it looked as if a sixty one minute goal for Owen Moore had given the Beachboys victory. It hadn’t, however, as deep in added time Cameron Jessup earned the visitors a point. 

It was also Velocity Cup Semi-Final night,  and Pitching In Isthmian North side Redbridge welcomed Premier opponents, Wingate and Finchley making the trip for a London derby with the prize a place in the Final against Ramsgate on April 15th. The visitors were undoubtedly the favourites, but their hosts were in fine form and- of course- had already slain a Premier giant this season, knocking out title-chasing Aveley in Round Four. That said, if Redbridge had a weakness, it was their form on their own patch- whilst their visitors had actually been better on the road.

The Motormen charged into an early lead, Ayo Olukoga scoring for the third match in a row- but the visiting Blues were level ten minutes before half time, Ruben Bartlett-Antwi delivering the equaliser. When it looked as if we were heading for a shootout, Remy-Lee Bennison decided otherwise, beating several defenders on the way to delivering a winner for the North Londoners five minutes from time.

By the way, Wingate also managed a red card- substitute Ben Watt was dismissed early on without ever setting foot on the pitch.