Written by Scott W (Twitter: @ScottMHC14)
Hello & welcome to another Bostik North round-up, here on the blog.
Here’s the round-up, followed as usual by a list of the results in Bostik Division South this weekend as two sides secured promotion and one was relegated.
Saturday 14th April
AFC Sudbury 1 – 3 Ware
| Venue: King’s Marsh | Att: 242
Ware realistically secured their place in the division next season with this triumph at King’s Marsh. Louis Brown gave Ware the lead on 24 minutes, before Callum Harrison levelled for the Suds three minutes before the break. John Dreyer’s side stepped it up after the break though as strikes from Damian Green [68′] and Josh Oyibo [89′] secured their first win in four matches and takes them back to 20th, nine points clear of the relegation spot. Sudbury’s 5th defeat in their last eight sees them drop to 12th.
Aveley 0 – 5 Maldon & Tiptree
| Venue: Parkside | Att: 323
Aveley were surprisingly thumped by the Jammers at Parkside. Chris Millar set the visitors on course with the breakthrough 16 minutes in, before Eoin McKeown’s quick-fire double [26′ & 29′] gave Kevin Horlock’s side daylight. Lee Barnard’s spot-kick two minutes before the break and McKeown securing his hat-trick with 12 minutes to go sealed Maldon’s 20th win of the campaign and stay 7th, three points off the play-offs. Aveley’s third loss in their last ten matches sees them drop to 15th place.
Barking 3 – 1 Norwich Utd
| Venue: Mayesbrook Park | Att: 85
The Blues secured a important win as they seek a top-ten finish. Ben O’Brien set the tone for the hosts with his 3rd-minute opener, before Kiernan Hughes-Mason struck [56′]. Planters’ substitute Damon Cooper netted with 17 minutes left though Hughes-Mason settled the match with his second of the afternoon, two minutes from time. This was Barking’s fourth win in their last nine outings and they stay 9th, behind Dereham on goal difference. Things are somewhat more problematic for Utd as their winless streak extends to eight matches now and they slip below Romford into the danger zone.
Bowers & Pitsea 3 – 1 Mildenhall Town
| Venue: Len Salmon Stadium | Att: 133
Bowers prevailed over mid-table Mildenhall at the Len Salmon. David Knight broke the deadlock on 22 minutes though the Hall were level five minutes before the break thanks to Thomas Debenham’s strike. Rob Small’s side wouldn’t be denied though as Adam Vyse restored the lead five minutes after the re-start before Callum Leahy [61′] secured the points to extend Bowers’ unbeaten stretch to four matches. They stay 3rd, just a point shy of Potters Bar with two matches in hand on them. Town are 18th and haven’t won in seven outings now.
Bury Town 2 – 0 Brentwood Town
| Venue: Ram Meadow | Att: 283
Bury Town did the business over nine-man Brentwood at Ram Meadow. A brace from Ollie Hughes [13′ & 48′] was enough to grab all three points while Brentwood had both James Pugsley and Brenden Cavalier dismissed in what was a ‘day to forget’ for them. Bury stay 10th with three matches left while Brentwood have six matches to play and likely need one more success to finally shrug off any relegation doubts.
Canvey Island 2 – 1 Hertford Town
| Venue: Park Lane | Att: 272
Canvey obtained a much-needed win here at Park Lane over inconsistent Hertford. Martin Tuohy’s double [27′ & (pen) 37′] did the trick though Ricky Light added a late consolation for the visitors. The Islanders’ fourth win in their last ten matches sees them remain 5th, four points clear of Maldon in 7th. Hertford’s third straight defeat means they drop to 13th.
Cheshunt 1 – 0 Grays Athletic
| Venue: Theobalds Lane | Att: 185
The Ambers edged to victory over Grays at Theobalds Lane. Kyle Roberts got the only goal 21 minutes from time to assist Craig Edwards’ side to an important victory. Grays had influential winger Joao Carlos dismissed late on and haven’t won in five matches, slipping to 14th spot. Cheshunt stay 22nd though are six points clear of danger after three wins in their last five.
Dereham Town 0 – 2 Haringey Borough
| Venue: Aldiss Park | Att: 129
Haringey continued their impressive run with a ‘smash & grab’ win secured late on at Aldiss Park. Chinedu McKenzie [87′] broke the stalemate before Jordan Edwards doubled the lead on the cusp of 90 minutes. Dereham’s play-off challenge has surely faded after a run of six defeats in their last seven as they remain 8th on goal difference. Borough’s 8th win in their last ten leaves them still 4th, only four points off the second promotion spot.
Heybridge Swifts 2 – 1 Tilbury | Venue: Scraley Road
Swifts continued their recent good form with the win over out-of-form Tilbury. Kreshnic Krasniqi’s spot-kick [62′] opened the scoring for the hosts though the Dockers thought they’d grabbed a point thanks to Albert Keith’s leveller three minutes from time though Ryan Henshaw popped up ‘at the death’ to grab Heybridge’s 6th win in their last ten, impressive considering their lengthy fixture congestion – Jody Brown’s side stay 6th, three points clear of Maldon.
Romford 0 – 0 Potters Bar Town
| Venue: Ship Lane | Att: 118
Romford held Potters Bar to their second straight goal-less draw though importantly for Boro, it lifts them off the foot of the table, a point clear of Norwich Utd after a run of six matches without defeat now for Paul ‘Magic’ Martin’s side. Potters Bar retain 2nd spot by a single point and have only lost one of their last 12 matches now.
Waltham Abbey 1 – 2 Soham Town Rangers
| Venue: Capershotts | Att: 64
Soham condemned Abbey to another loss to give their faint hopes of a top-ten finish a boost. Sam Mulready gave the visitors the lead with 56 on the watch, before substitute Craig Gillies [74′] made sure of the points. Mitch Hahn’s 90th-minute goal was too little, too late for Abbey, whose torrid 2nd half of the season continues with only one win in their last 11 now,sitting 17th. Soham rise to 11th after their 3rd win in their last six outings.
Witham Town 1 – 6 AFC Hornchurch (P)
| Venue: Spa Road | Att: 178
The Urchins powered to victory at Spa Road to confirm promotion to Step 3. Brad Warner [20′] and skipper Elliot Styles [45′] gave the visitors a cushion at the break. Liam Whipps halved the deficit just shy of the hour though George Purcell’s penalty two minutes later signalled what was to come. Substitute Alex Bentley [73′], Warner’s second 10 minutes from time a late sixth from fellow substitute Christian Assombalonga made sure the travelling Hornchurch fans could begin their party, thanks to their side’s 30th win of a memorable season. Witham are in 16th spot after their 3rd loss in their last six.
Many congratulations to Jimmy McFarlane’s side on their promotion to Bostik Premier, it certainly hasn’t been for the want of trying!
Fixtures this early midweek:
Aveley v Haringey Borough | V: Parkside (Mon 16th April)
AFC Hornchurch v Mildenhall Town
Canvey Island v Norwich Utd
Dereham Town v Bretwood Town
Hertford Town v Heybridge Swifts
Soham Town Rangers v Ware
Tilbury v Maldon & Tiptree
Witham Town v Romford (all on Tues 17th Apr)
Bostik Division South – Saturday 14th April 2018
Ashford Utd 1 – 2 Greenwich Borough | Att: 280
Carshalton Athletic (P) 4 – 3 Whyteleafe | Att: 488
Cray Wanderers 8 – 0 South Park |
Hastings Utd 1 – 0 Shoreham (R) | Att: 300
Herne Bay 1 – 3 Guernsey | Att: 210
Horsham 0 – 3 Faversham Town | Att: 126
Hythe Town 5 – 3 Chipstead | Att: 255
Lewes (P) 2 – 0 East Grinstead Town | Att: 659
Molesey 1 – 1 VCD Athletic |
Phoenix Sports 0 – 1 Sittingbourne | Att: 108
Ramsgate 2 – 2 Corinthian-Casuals | Att: 181
Thamesmead Town 2 – 1 Walton Casuals | Att: 93
Fixtures to come:
Molesey v Herne Bay
Ramsgate v Carshalton Athletic
Shoreham v Walton Casuals
Sittingbourne v Thamesmead Town
South Park v Guernsey (all on Tuesday 19th Apr)