Written by Scott W (Twitter: @ScottMHC14)
Hello & welcome to another round of the Bostik North round-up, here on the blog. This article looks at the action in the last weekend of November. How did your side do?
Saturday 24th November
AFC Sudbury 2 – 3 Grays Athletic | King’s Marsh (3G) | Att: 242
The Suds were the victim of a superb comeback by Grays, who celebrated the 128th anniversary of their formation with this victory. Thomas Monk [10′] and Ben Hunter [23′] put the hosts in a fine position. Though Michael Toner pulled one back on 32 minutes and Grays really pushed on after the break. Thomas Wade [61′] and Mitchell Hahn [68′] put Jamie Stuart’s side on course for their 4th straight win as they stay in 5th place. Sudbury first loss in five sees them drop to tenth.
Aveley 5 – 3 Brentwood Town | Parkside (3G) | Att: 254
The Millers powered to another win and hand Town their second 5- 3 loss inside a week. Alex Akrofi’s early double [9′ & 15′], the first of which from the penalty spot, put the the hosts in a good verve. Charlee Hughes kept up his good touch for scoring with another for the visitors on the half-hour. Tom Richardson got his first of the day three minutes later. Zack Littlejohn made it 3 – 2 to the hosts, five minutes before half-time. Richardson got his second seconds later though Town’s resolve wasn’t done as Ryan mallett got on the score-sheet again on 57 minutes. Richardson secured another fine hat-trick on 66 minutes to finally see Aveley to their sixth straight win and go top of the table by two points. Town’s fourth loss in five matches sees them down to 16th.
Bowers & Pitsea 2 – 2 Bury Town | Len Salmon Stadium (3G) | Att: 122
Bowers were held by plucky Bury Town at the Len Salmon. Returning hero Brad Warner broke the deadlock two minutes before the interval. David Knight made it two from 12 yards and you’d perhaps have thought it was set for another success for Rob Small’s side though it certainly didn’t pan out that way. Jake Kerins halved the deficit just past the hour before Jake Chambers-Shaw revoked the hosts’ lead on 66 minutes. Bowers fell to 2nd while Town are in 8th place.
Coggeshall Town 2 – 3 Maldon & Tiptree | West Street | Att: 123
Cogg’s 11-match unbeaten run ended in this cracker at West Street. Maldon led on four minutes through Jack Cawley though the home side levelled thanks to Sam Bantick (who else?) just before the half-hour mark. The Jammers restored their advantage through Decarrey Sheriff’s goal [49′] and Sammie McLeod’s deflected free-kick just past the hour. Correy Davidson made it a nervy end with his 89th-minute goal. Although Maldon ended with ten men following James Shepherd’s sending off, they held on for their fourth win in their last sixto stay 4th. Cogg stay 3rd though are only a point clear of their opponents here.
Dereham Town 0 – 1 Canvey Island | Aldiss Park | Att: 161
Canvey showed grit in achieving a rare win in recent weeks at Aldiss Park. New signing Adam Vyse got the only goal on 64 minutes although the hosts had to play nearly an hour with ten men after Robbie Linford’s dismissal. Dereham have only got two wins in their last nine now with the other 7 all being losses. Factor in a 3 point penalty for fielding an ineligible player and they are third bottom. Canvey rise to 11th place.
Felixstowe & Walton Utd 2 – 2 Witham Town | Dellwood Avenue | Att: 365
Witham pegged back Felixstowe twice to claim a much-needed point away from home. Prolific scorer Jack Ainsley gave the hosts ahead from the spot on 24 minutes Johnny Ashman took that advantage away with a leveller for Town six minutes before the break. Right on half-ttime, Ainsley struck again though they were stifled once again through another stand-out scorer for Town – Sam Ashford, again from the penalty spot nine minutes into the second period. The hosts stay 9th in the standings with Witham remaining bottom though they ended a three-match losing run here.
Heybridge Swifts 2 – 0 Barking | Scraley Road | Att: 258
Swifts got another home win, this time over the Blues. A double from Matt Price [25′ & 68′] saw Julian Dicks’ side home as they went up to 6th place, two points shy of the play-offs. Justin Gardner’s Barking side are in 13th after their third loss in their last five.
Romford 0 – 0 Basildon Utd | Rookery Hill | Att: 109
These two sides battled to a goal-less draw at Rookery Hill as both sides are finding in tough to get wins on the board of late. Romford are have ended a five-match losing streak, they reside in 14th while the Bees got their fourth draw in their last seven matches as they drop to 7th.
Soham Town Rangers 3 – 1 Great Wakering Rovers | Julius Martin Lane | Att: 126
Soham got their second win in their last five outings with a good performance. A fortunate OG by Rovers midfielder Brandy Makhendi gave the hosts the lead on 26 minuutes. That lead was doubled by Lloyd Groves nine minutes after the break. Marcus Bowers gave Wakering a slither of hope of a result by nabbing a goal with nine minutes remaining. Callum Russell snuffed out that possible chance by grabbing Soham’s third on 83 minutes. Their win sees them cut the gap to safety to two points. Wakering drop to 12th.
Tilbury 2 – 0 Mildenhall Town | Chadfields | Att: 101
Marc Harrison’s side got back-to-back wins with this triumph over the Hall at Chadfields. Another spot-kick from Lewis Smith [27′] and a George Sykes strike four minutes into the second half provided the goals. The Dockers had to battle with ten men towards the end as recent signing Darren Phillips got his marching orders. The win, only their third of the campaign, sees them rise to 15th, four points above the drop zone. Mildenhall suffered their fifth defeat in their last six as they drop below their opponents to 17th place.
That’s all for this round-up, thanks for reading.