Scott W reporting (Follow me on Twitter: @ScottMHC14)
Hello & welcome to another round-up of action that took place in the Ryman League Division North today (Sat April 1st) & one result from Friday night. After the results, check out the latest table to see where your side is, going into the final weeks of the season.
Friday Night (31.3) Result
Aveley 2 – 2 VCD Athletic Attendance: 123
Aveley’s fading play-off aspirations were halted by this draw in the final Friday night match at Mill Field. Hussein Jaffa put the home side ahead just before the break. Jaffa struck again eight minutes after the re-start to double the lead for Terry Spillane’s side. Though, Richard Butler pulled one back for VCD after 64 minutes from the spot, before denying Aveley the win with another penalty on 89 minutes. Aveley are now unbeaten in their last five league matches, although three of those are draws, they sit 10th after Saturday’s results. Whilst VCD have drawn four of their last six league matches and sit in 17th place.
Saturday’s Results
Bowers & Pitsea 4 – 0 Dereham Town Attendance: 96
Bowers powered to a comfortable win at the Len Salmon Stadium. After just five minutes, Lewis Manor gave the hosts the lead. Fifteen minutes later, fellow forward David Knight doubled the advantage. Second-half goals from Brad Warner on the hour and a late fourth from defender Martyn Stokes secured a vital win in Bowers’ play-off chase. Dereham are now winless in four league matches, and are in 15th place – needing two points to be mathematically safe from the drop.
Brentwood Town 0 – 1 Soham Town Rangers Attendance: 141
Soham continued their recent revival with a narrow win against fellow strugglers Brentwood at the Brentwood Arena. Adrian Cambridge got the only goal for the visitors eight minutes before the break. Brentwood had to play 28 minutes with ten men after Nick Hilder was sent off for two bookable offences. This result leaves Brentwood hovering over the relegation line in 21st, just two points clear of the final relegation position, held by Ware. Soham’s third league win in-a-row helps them rise back above today’s opponents into 20th, three points clear of Ware.
Brightlingsea Regent 2 – 1 AFC Hornchurch Attendance: 330
Leaders Brightlingsea kept up the charge to the title with a good win at North Road. Billy Hunt put Regent ahead on the quarter-hour mark, before Phil Kelly doubled the lead on the hour. Hornchurch got a late consolation through Elliott Styles as the final whistle approached. Regent’s 4th league win on-the-trot maintains their 9-point lead over Maldon at the summit. Hornchurch remain in 3rd spot though will be looking for momentum ahead of a probable play-off berth.
Bury Town 2 – 0 Thamesmead Town Attendance: 465
Bury Town completed a good win over fellow mid-table side Thamesmead in front of a bumper crowd at Ram Meadow. Leon Ottley-Gooch put the hosts’ ahead midway through the first half, before Ollie Hughes doubled the lead three minutes before the break. This win is Bury’s first win in four league matches and they remain 11th. Thamesmead inconsistent form continues, they remain 16th though are eight points clear of the bottom three.
Maldon & Tiptree 3 – 0 Wroxham Attendance: 121
Maldon secured a comfortable win against relegated Wroxham at Park Drive. Hot-shot Liam Nash put the home side ahead after 19 minutes, before Adam Mills struck two minutes from the break. A late goal from Sam Newson secured the points and Wroxham’s 30th defeat of a miserable season. Maldon stay 2nd, and look set for the play-offs. Wroxham remain bottom.
Norwich Utd 2 – 2 Cheshunt Attendance: 112
Both these play-off chasing sides had to settle for a point each at Plantation Park. Hot-shot Jason Hallett gave Cheshunt the lead midway through the first half, though Lee Mason levelled for the home side eight minutes later. Five minutes after the re-start, Christy Finch put Norwich Utd ahead. Though Cheshunt would grab a point late-on through substitute Luke Marshall’s goal. Norwich Utd are now winless in three league matches and are in 9th spot, 8 points off the top five. Cheshunt sit 8th, five points off the top five.
Phoenix Sports 3 – 2 Great Wakering Rovers Attendance: 76
Phoenix staved off a late comeback from Wakering to grab a important win at the Phoenix Sports Ground. Hot-shot Theo Fairweather-Johnson struck after just two minutes to give Steve O’Boyle’s side the lead. Three minutes after the break, Fairweather-Johnson struck again before completing his hat-trick just before the hour mark. Relegated Wakering showed their spirit once again though as substitute Billy Johnson grabbed a brace after 65 minutes and on the 90 mark respectively. Phoenix Sports’ 5th win in-a-row sees them remain 5th, three points clear of Haringey Borough. Wakering’s long winless run continues, they stay 23rd.
Thurrock 1 – 1 Haringey Borough Attendance: 123
Thurrock battled back to grab a point at Ship Lane against fellow play-off chasing side Haringey. Haringey hot-shot Ralston Gabriel put the visitors ahead just shy of the half-hour mark. After the break, Mark Onyemah grabbed a point for Mark Stimson’s men. Thurrock remain 4th in the table, whilst Haringey stay 6th, three points off the final play-off spot.
Tilbury 2 – 1 Romford Attendance: 93
Tilbury snatched a late winner at Chadfields. Emiel Aiken gave the Dockers the lead just six minutes in, before Greg Akpele levelled for Paul Martin’s side. With only minutes left, Michael Salako’s goal grabbed Tilbury’s first win in four league matches. Tilbury sit 13th in the table. Romford drop below today’s opponents to 14th after their 1st loss in 6 league matches.
Waltham Abbey 1 – 0 Heybridge Swifts Attendance: 92
Waltham Abbey battled to a narrow win at Capershotts. A solitary goal from Darelle Russell enabled the hosts to take all three points. Waltham rise above today’s opponents to 18th, while Heybridge drop to 19th, five points clear of the drop zone.
Ware 2 – 1 Witham Town Attendance: 102
Ware fought hard to grab a first win in their last ten league matches at Wodson Park. Lee White gave the home side the lead six minutes after the break. Witham levelled through Ryan Charles’ goal only four minutes later. Ware were not to be denied though as substitute Evandro Delgado got the winner, 15 minutes from time. Ware, who had the returning Kem Kemal back in the dug-out for the first time after replacing Anwar Uddin, remain 22nd though are only two points adrift of safety. Witham remain in 12th place, after their first defeat in six league matches.
Here’s a look at the updated Ryman North table…
| Position | Team | P | W | D | L | GD (+/-) | Points |
| 1 | Brightlingsea Regent | 42 | 29 | 6 | 7 | +47 | 93 |
| 2 | Maldon & Tiptree | 42 | 27 | 3 | 12 | +52 | 84 |
| 3 | AFC Hornchurch | 42 | 22 | 13 | 7 | +36 | 79 |
| 4 | Thurrock | 42 | 23 | 8 | 11 | +37 | 77 |
| 5 | Phoenix Sports | 42 | 22 | 9 | 11 | +6 | 75 |
| 6 | Haringey Borough | 42 | 22 | 6 | 14 | +32 | 72 |
| 7 | Bowers & Pitsea | 41 | 21 | 8 | 12 | +32 | 71 |
| 8 | Cheshunt | 42 | 20 | 10 | 12 | +18 | 70 |
| 9 | Norwich Utd | 42 | 22 | 4 | 16 | +5 | 67 |
| 10 | Aveley | 42 | 18 | 12 | 12 | +6 | 66 |
| 11 | Bury Town | 42 | 18 | 7 | 17 | +4 | 61 |
| 12 | Witham Town | 42 | 15 | 11 | 16 | +4 | 56 |
| 13 | Tilbury | 42 | 15 | 11 | 16 | -10 | 56 |
| 14 | Romford | 42 | 15 | 10 | 17 | -22 | 55 |
| 15 | Dereham Town | 42 | 15 | 8 | 19 | -14 | 53 |
| 16 | Thamesmead Town | 42 | 15 | 5 | 22 | -8 | 50 |
| 17 | VCD Athletic | 41 | 13 | 10 | 18 | -20 | 49 |
| 18 | Waltham Abbey | 42 | 13 | 9 | 20 | -13 | 48 |
| 19 | Heybridge Swifts | 42 | 12 | 11 | 19 | -14 | 47 |
| 20 | Soham Town Rangers | 42 | 12 | 9 | 21 | -18 | 45 |
| 21 | Brentwood Town | 42 | 13 | 5 | 24 | -20 | 44 |
| 22 | Ware | 42 | 12 | 6 | 24 | -21 | 42 |
| R | Great Wakering Rovers | 42 | 6 | 7 | 29 | -63 | 25 |
| R | Wroxham | 42 | 6 | 6 | 30 | -56 | 24 |
survivor16b 