Written by Scott W [Twitter: @ScottMHC14]
Hello & welcome to another of my round-up’s of Bostik League North action, on the first week of December 2018. How did your side fare?
Saturday 1st December
Bostik Division North
Barking 0 – 1 Bowers & Pitsea | Mayesbrook Park (2pm KO) | Att: 54
Bowers got their fourth win in their last six league matches as ex-Blues winger Quentin Monville continued his superb season by getting the only goal with 21 minutes remaining. Justin Gardner’s men continue their intermittent form and drop to 15th spot while Bowers remain 2nd, two points behind leaders Aveley.
Basildon Utd 0 – 1 Coggeshall Town | Gardiners Close | Att: 78
The Bees were on the wrong end of another tight result as high-flying Cogg got the points at Gardiners Close. Correy Davidson struck on 32 minutes to give the visitors their 5th win in their last six, to keep hold of third spot in the standings. Basildon are in 7th place.
Brentwood Town 3 – 1 Felixstowe & Walton Utd | Brentwood Arena | Att: 136
Town produced a stirring fight-back to overwhelm Felixstowe in a match where all the goals came in the last 25 minutes. The visitors opened the scoring on 68 minutes through the prolific Jack Ainsley though Charlee Hughes levelled for Craig Shipman’s team eight minutes later. The hosts finished the stronger and took the points thanks to strikes by Albert Levett [82’] & Ryan Mallett [87’] which takes them up to 14th place. Utd remain 9th after only their second defeat in five matches.
Bury Town 3 – 3 Dereham Town | Ram Meadow | Att: 329
This see-saw encounter saw the hosts scramble a last-moment leveller. Cema Ramadan put Bury ahead though Dereham returned the favour from the penalty spot, as Karol Wengrzik [62’] converted from 12 yards. Ollie Ebbage put the visitors ahead on 71 minutes though only a minute after that, Jake Kerins fired the home side level. Then came the late drama as deep into added-time, Joe Gatting would have been forgiven for thinking he’d scored the winner. Not to be though as Ramadan snared another equaliser for Bury to ensure the points were shared. Bury stay 8th while Dereham drop into the bottom two on goal difference.
Canvey Island 0 – 1 Soham Town Rangers | Park Lane | Att: 133
Soham continued their recent resurgence with a huge victory at Canvey. Ryan Auger struck the solitary goal after ten minutes to see Soham out of the drop zone after their third win in their last four matches. Canvey’s fourth defeat in their last six league outings keeps them in 11th spot.
Grays Athletic 0 – 1 Heybridge Swifts | Parkside (3G) (2pm KO) | Att: 133
A moment to forget for home defender Stanley Muguo ended up being the difference for Grays in another tight battle this weekend. Heybridge’s moment of fortune came on 26 minutes when Muguo unwittingly put past his own keeper Lloyd Anderson. Swifts kept up their recent good run with one loss in their last six now and go above Grays into 5th. Ath are a point behind in 6th.
Great Wakering Rovers 2 – 3 Tilbury | Burroughs Park | Att: 111
Wakering fought hard but ultimately fell to defeat as the Dockers got their third straight victory. Lewis Smith put Marc Harrison’s side ahead on 33 minutes though shortly after coming off the bench, a quick-fire brace for Jake Gordon [55’ & 61’] saw Garry Kimble’s side ahead. Mitchell Gilbey’s strike saw that lead vanquished though only four minutes later and George Sykes got the decisive strike with six minutes remaining. Wakering sit 12th, ahead of their opponents by goal difference only, Tilbury are 13th.
Maldon & Tiptree 4 – 1 Romford | Park Drive | Att: 110
The Jammers enhanced their unbeaten run with this big win over Boro at Park Drive. Eddie-Louis D’Sane had a big part to play in that with his hat-trick [12’, 27’ & 90’] with Matthew Briggs snaring the other goal just shy of the hour. George Forrest pulled one back for Romford on 66 minutes though the long wait for a win goes on for Paul Martin’s side. Maldon keep 4th place while Romford slide to 16th.
Mildenhall Town 1 – 2 Aveley | Recreation Way | Att: 139
The Millers achieved their sixth win on-the-spin with this battling performance at Recreation Way. Andy Freeman put them ahead nine minutes in. Things didn’t go all their own way as former Aveley defender Hussein Jaffa restored parity for his current side, three minutes before the break. Alex Akrofi got the winner mid-way through the second half to keep the visitors at the top of the standings. The Hall reside in 17th, only outside the drop zone by virtue of goal difference.
Witham Town 2 – 0 AFC Sudbury | Spa Road | Att: 108
Witham finally ended a long drought with this triumph over Sudbury at Spa Road. John Watson’s double [17’ & 73’] made sure of only their second win of the campaign which tightens up the bottom five (Town are five points off Romford in 16th) while the Suds remain in 10th spot.
survivor16b 