LEAGUE NEWS

From Ian Thompson

New Year Match Round Up

Our leaders, Hornchurch, suffered a kick up the Urchins as they were hammered by second place Bishop’s Stortford on Boxing Day, but it looked as if they’d got back to winning ways against Carshalton Athletic last Monday - until the Robins found an equaliser with just four minutes left on the clock. Sam Higgins put away a flick on from Rickie Hayles to give hi s side a twenty sixth minute lead, but this season’s Athletic are made of stern stuff, and Femi Akinwande earned them a point just before the end. Lewwis Spence picked up a late red card, with 779 in attendance.

Bishop’s Stortford, with only one defeat from their previous ten matches, would have gone top had they won at Brightlingsea Regent - and, of course, they were favourites to do so, as Regent were wit hout a win since August Bank Holiday Monday. The hosts had other ideas, however, and ripped up the form book, a second-half double from Suleyman Zuhdu giving them an invaluable three points - and perhaps just as importantly the confidence to believe that they can build on this success. In between Zuhdu’s two goals Mark Haines was dismissed for the Blues, who slip to third. 406 watched.

Cray Wanderers welcomed second bottom side Herne Bay to Hayes Lane, and extended their unbeaten run to eight - and their winning run to four. Dan Bassett’s eleventh of the season gave the hosts a seventeenth minute lead, but Bay refused to lie down and remained in the match until the last ten minutes. Tom Derry, however, ended the contest with a second goal for the hosts nine minutes from time, and Jalen Jones made things comfortable by adding a third, three minutes from time. Bay are at the bottom, and have now taken only three points - all drawsfrom the last thirty three available.

Aveley welcomed Canvey Island to Parkside. The Millers had a three point and four place advantage over their visitors at kick off, but they were level on points and goal difference by the end, the Millers remaining in the top five only on goals scored . The only goal of the match went to Bradley Sach, the Gulls number nine moving on to twelve for the campaign - and the away fans amongst the 601 in attendance celebrated.

Potters Bar Town had a difficult end to 2022, having to contend with a change of manager and the departure of some of their established stars - and they had a difficult start to 2023, too. A goal in each half earned visitors Wingate & Finchle y the points at the Lantern Stadium, Ansu Janneh with the opener on fifteen minutes, Dernell Wynter’s fifth of the season after the break ensuring that the points went back to Summers Lane. The Blues open up a three point gap on the bottom four, whilst the Scholars slip to seventh.

Enfield Town returned to the top five with a hardfought win at Haringey Borough. The Towners have lost only one of their previous eight matches, and they went ahead on eighteen minutes at Coles Park, Josh Hill with the opener. The hosts remained in the match until five minutes from time, Adam Cunnington making it two, and although Scott Durojaiye got one back from the spot just before the end he then blotted his copybook by getting sent off. 801 watched on.

Horsham and Hastings United met in a Sussex derby, played in front of a crowd of 1,316. Neither side could manage a goal, although the hosts could have won it right at the end, a penalty miss denying them three points. Given that Hornets keeper Taylor Seymour had been far busier than his opposite number, United will undoubtedly feel they deserved at least a share of the spoils.

Bowers & Pitsea and Billericay Town also failed to manage a goal between them in front of 704 at the Len Salmon. However, both sides did manage a heartfelt tribute to former Bowers goalkeeper Martyn Guest.

Lewes welcomed Bognor Regis Town to the Dripping Pan - and got revenge for their FA Trophy defeat to the same opponents six weeks ago with a three-one win. Joe Taylor opened the scoring from the spot after just six minutes, his eighteenth of the season, and midway through the half Ryan Gondoh made it two with his first Rooks goal. Midway through the second half Nathan Odokonyero took his tally for the season to eighteen when halving the arrears, but right before the end the Rooks sealed the win, another from Taylor delighting the majority of the 1,295 watching on.

Folkestone Invicta welcomed manager less Margate to the Build Kent Stadium, but weren’t very welcoming, hitting four goals without reply in front of a crowd of 1,179. Ian Gayle put them ahead after seven minutes, and eight minutes before the break a surging run from Nathan Green ended with a decent finish to make it two. Nine minutes after the restart any chance of a Margate comeback ended when Ian Draycott converted a Green cut back, and Ade Yusuff got his customary goal - making it twenty-three for the season - six minutes from time. That’s five wins from seven for Invicta, who are up to thirteenth - only six points away from the play-off’s.

Finally, we had a Kingston derby as Kingstonian welcomed Corinthian-Casuals to Tooting & Mitcham United. Both sides were in need of points, but only one side got any - and that was the visitors, who moved them selves to within a point of safety with a two-one win. Casuals had only one win from their previous twelve matches with the K’s, but they defeated that history with two quick goals just after the restart, Sam Dowridge and Ricardo Thompson with the onetwo. Joe Boachie got one back for the K’s just before the end, but there is now only one point between the sides - and the K’s have picked up only one point from the last twenty one.

VITA RISK SOLUTIONS MANAGER OF THE MONTH - DECEMBER 2022

We’re heading to Hayes Lane, where we honour Cray Wanderers boss Neil Smith. The turnaround in form at the Wands since Neil took the reins last season has been truly remarkable, and December saw him steer his side into the top five. It was an unbeaten month, with four wins and a draw from five matches and some scintillating performances - which saw th em score fifteen goals, so Wands fans are not only seeing their side pick up points, they are being royally entertained.

Ab1 Golden Gloves Awardsdecember 2022

Once more, it’s the story of the Blues! Bishop’s Stortford had a fabulous December - an unbeaten month which saw them win three matches out of four and keep two clean sheets in the process. Jack Giddens has so many pairs of golden gloves that we suspect he could open his own shop, but now he has another set on their way, richly deserved. Many congratulations to Jack, and to his rather stingy defence.

Best Performance Of December

On Boxing Day Pitching In Isthmian Premier leaders Hornchurch arrived at the R&D Advisors Stadium to take on their closest challengers, Bishop’s Stortford. The Urchins took an early lead through Liam Nash, and it appeared as if they would be strengthening their position at the top - but it turned out that the opposite was true. The Blues levelled just before the break, Ollie Peters with the goal - and in the second half the home side ran riot, crashing home three more goals to deliver an incredibly impressive four-one win and take our prize. Ryan Henshaw, Jonny Giles and Frankie Merrifield were their second half scorers, and the result took the Blues to within a point of their visitors.