Written by Scott W (Twitter: @ScottMHC14)
Hello & welcome to another Bostik North round-up, here on the blog.
Here’s the round-up of this weekend’s action as we entered the last five weeks of this weather-induced chaotic season, followed as usual by a list of the results in Bostik Division South:
Friday 30th March (Good Friday)
Norwich Utd 3 – 3 Maldon & Tiptree
| Venue: Plantation Park | Att:102
Norwich Utd produced a stirring comeback to deny Maldon victory at a sodden Plantation Park. In a topsy-turvy encounter, Ben Jones put Utd ahead two minutes before the break. The Jammers stormed back straight after the interval as new signing & former pro Lee Barnard’s delightful hat-trick [46′, 58′, 64′] saw Kevin Horlock’s side on course for a win though the Planters grabbed a point thanks to goals from Liam Jackson [74′] and a late Matt Blake strike. Utd remain 5 points clear of the relegation spot after Saturday’s action though are now without a win in their last six matches, Maldon sit 7th, outside the play-offs on goal difference after one win in their last six outings.
Saturday 31st March
AFC Hornchurch 1 – 0 Potters Bar Town
| Venue: Bridge Avenue | Att: 268
The Urchins edged to another important victory to put them within four wins of the Bostik Premier title. Kenzer Lee’s 6th-minute goal proved decisive to hand impressive Potters Bar their first loss in nine matches, the Scholars sit 3rd, outside the 2nd promotion spot on goal difference with six matches left.
AFC Sudbury 3 – 0 Cheshunt
| Venue: King’s Marsh | Att: 279
The Suds completed a good win over ten-man Cheshunt at King’s Marsh. The Ambers were a man light on 33 minutes as hot-shot Jason Hallett was dismissed. The hosts led three minutes before the break as an Ricky Sappleton OG added to the visitors’ woes. After the break, further strikes from Phil Kelly [56′] and Ryan Horne [81′] ended the Suds’ five-match winless run, they rise to 13th with 5 matches remaining. Cheshunt’s 3rd defeat in their last 5 sees them stay 22nd, eight points clear of danger.
Canvey Island 3 – 0 Waltham Abbey
| Venue: Park Lane | Att: 265
Canvey produced the goods to defeat a horribly out-of-form Abbey side. Frankie Merrifield struck on the half-hour to give the Islanders a slender lead at the interval. Martin Tuohy [53′] and a late OG by Abbey goalkeeper Hugo Rosetti sealed CIFC’s third win in their last five outings, they remain 4th with 7 matches left. Abbey are winless in their last seven now, they sit 18th.
Haringey Borough 6 – 0 Mildenhall Town
| Venue: Coles Park | Att: 194
Haringey stormed to a huge win at Coles Park. The hosts led as Ralston Gabriel [17′] and recent signing Chinedu McKenzie [32′] put them ahead at the break. After the interval, a devastating 25-minute spell more than quelled any doubts of who would prevail here. Firstly, it was the ‘Mc’ show as Anthony McDonald [47′] and Andre McCollin [53′] extended the lead before Gabriel struck twice [61′ & pen 72′] to complete another hat-trick for the talented forward and earn Haringey their 4th win in their last 6 matches to remain 5th, six points ahead of the chasing pack. Mildenhall are winless in their last four and their season is petering out in 16th spot.
Soham Town Rangers 1 – 1 Romford
| Venue: Julius Martin Lane | Att: 184
Try as they might, Romford couldn’t get a vital win they needed as they were held by Soham. Lewis Clayton put the hosts ahead just past the hour before Nick Reynolds levelled with ten minutes left. Soham’s 4th draw in their last six encounters sees them stay 15th while Romford have seven matches to haul themselves out of danger though managed their third draw on-the-trot here.
Tilbury 1 – 1 Bury Town
| Venue: Chadfields | Att: 87
Tilbury held Town at Chadfields. Jack Carlile put the Dockers ahead on 25 minutes though that lead only stood for six minutes before Jack Lankester levelled for the visitors. Joe Jeith’s side secured their fourth draw in their last seven matches here and stay 19th while Bury lost ground in the play-off race, they sit 10th, 4 points off the tip six though are unbeaten in their last four.
Ware 2 – 1 Dereham Town
| Venue: Wodson Park | Att: 77
Ware upset Dereham’s play-off charge to reach the hallowed 40-point mark here. Bradley Frazier natted after only four minutes for the hosts though Ryan Crisp levelled things four minutes before the break. Jordan Watson secured the points though for John Dreyer’s men, 16 minutes from time. Ware’s first win in four has pretty much extinquished any relegation fears, they are 12 points clear and rise to 20th. Dereham are winless in their last five encounters now and their hopes of a top-six finish are diminishing as they stay 8th.
Postponed/Abandoned matches this weekend:
Grays Athletic A – A Barking | Venue: Parkside
Hertford Town P – P Bowers & Pitsea | V: Hertingfordbury Park
Heybridge Swifts P – P Aveley | V: Scraley Road
Witham Town P – P Brentwood Town | V: Spa Road
Bostik Division South – Saturday 31st March 2018
Chipstead 0 – 1 Cray Wanderers | Att: 80
Corinthian-Casuals P – P Guernsey |
Faversham Town 1 – 2 Carshalton Athletic | Att: 214
Greenwich Borough 4 – 1 East Grinstead Town | Att: 166
Hastings Utd 1 – 1 Phoenix Sports | Att: 371
Hythe Town 2 – 0 Lewes | Att: 392
Molesey P – P Ashford Utd |
Shoreham P – P Whyteleafe |
South Park 2 – 1 Ramsgate | Att: 83 (Played at Whyteleafe FC)
VCD Athletic 2 – 3 Herne Bay | Att: 87
Fri 30th March – Sittingbourne P – P Thamesmead Town
That’s all for now, I will attempt to do another round-up for the Easter Monday schedule in Bostik Nth & Sth though watch this space.
survivor16b 