Written by Scott W [Twitter: @ScottMHC14]
Hello and welcome to the first Bostik North round-up piece of the new year, on a day where there were no draws at all in the ten matches in the division.
Saturday 5th Jan
AFC Sudbury 0 – 2 Aveley | King’s Marsh (3G) | Att: 255
Aveley continued their almost unblemished recent form with a good win at King’s Marsh. Tom Rochardson broke the stalemate on 33 minutes to put thevisitors ahead. That lead was doubled nine minutes into the second-half by influential forward Andy Freeman. The Millers picked up their seventh win in their last ten outings to go into 4th place, five points off the promotion spot. The Suds saw their four-match winning run end here though still sit in 6th place, five points adrift of the play-offs.
Barking 5 – 1 Basildon Utd | Mayesbrook Park | Att: 72
The Blues added more misery to the Bees with this comprehensive win at mayesbrook Park. Justin Gardner’s side were three up by the half-hour as Kemo Darboe 5th-minute opener was added to by a brace by former Ware forward Ross Elsom [16′ & 26′]. Darelle Russell made it four, six minutes before the interval. Jeffrey Cobblah struck Basildon’s consolation [53′] though new boss Neil Blackburn’s re-building job isn’t going to be easy. Abs Seymour rounded out the scoring by getting the hosts’ fifth with six minutes remaining. Barking have won three of their last five matches which sees them reside in 12th spot. Basildon’s eighth loss in their last eleven matches sees them drop to 11th, a point clear of their opponents here.
Canvey Island 2 – 1 Mildenhall Town | Park Lane | Att: 208
Adam Vyse inspired Canvey to success over struggling Mildenhall. Town did take the lead in this one though through Abouhadje Kouassi [25′]. Vyse levelled matters from the penalty spot, seven minutes before the break. Vyse then got the winner with 16 minutes remaining to give the Islanders their third win in five matches, which sees them up to 9th spot. The Hall are winless in seven matches now, which sees the remain second-bottom, two points from safety.
Felixstowe & Walton Utd 3 – 0 Coggeshall Town | Dellwood Ave | Att: 560
Felixstowe upset Cogg to claim a much sought-after three points at Dellwood Avenue. All three goals came in a twenty-minute spell. First, Rhys Henry broke the deadlock right on the hour, and a brace from Josh Kerridge [73′ & 80′] sealed their first win in seven matches. They rise to 13th while Coggeshall drop to 5th, five points clear of nearest rivals Sudbury.
Grays Athletic 3 – 2 Bury Town | Parkside (3G) | Att: 192
Grays battled to victory in a match which saw most of the goal action after the innterval. Kieran Bishop added to his glowing reputation with the Ath fans with the opener just before half-time. Kyran Clements got an equaliser on 72 minutes though barely four minutes later, Bishop struck again to restore the home side’s lead. Aron Gordon made it 3 – 1 on 82 minutes and although Ryan Horne added a 90th-minute second for the visitors, it wasn’t enough to deny Ath a first win in five outings and go above their opponents here into 7th place.
Great Wakering Rovers 2 – 4 Maldon & Tiptree | Burroughs Park | Att: 103
Maldon came away with the points from this tussle at Burroughs Park. Wayne Brown’s side had the better of the first half as DeCarrey Sheriff’s spot-kick put them ahead on 16 minutes, before Sammie Mcleod’s brace [30′ & 32′] put the Jammers well ahead. Jake Gordon pulled one back for a stubborn Wakering side 12 minutes before the break. The first period ended with Sham Barnwell netting for the hosts and Sheriff grabbing his second for the visitors. The visitors held on without further incident to achieve their fourth win in their last six to stay third. Wakering’s 4th loss in their last seven sees them drop to 15th.
Heybridge Swifts 1 – 0 Bowers & Pitsea | Scraley Road | Att: 329
This battle of the top-two went the way of the hosts, with recent signing Charlie Kendall grabbing the only goal on 62 minutes. Bowers’ five match-winning run is over while Swifts continue to impress under boss Julian Dicks as they are unbeaten in seven matches now.
Soham Town Rangers 4 – 0 Romford | Julius Martin Lane | Att: 136
Soham won this ‘six-pointer’ with something to spare in the end to consign Boro to their sixth loss in their last seven. Soham were two goals up inside the first 20 minutes as Sam Mulready continued his fine scoring form with the opener on 11 minutes, before Callum Russell [18′] doubled the lead. Mulready put the game realistically beyond doubt with his second of the afternoon, ten minutes after the break. Michael Baulk added a late fourth to give his side a second straight victory to send them above their opponents into 17th, four points above the bottom two. Romford are two points behind Soham in 18th.
Tilbury 4 – 2 Dereham Town | Chadfields | Att: 101
The Dockers continued their fine run with a good win over bottom side Dereham. The visitors took the lead through David Hinton’s goal on 21 minutes though that advantage only lasted six minutes before talisman Lewis Smith levelled the match. A brace from influential midfielder Thomas Barton [56′ & 64′] turned the course of the game. Smith got his second of the day with 11 minutes to play. Joe Gatting grabbed a second for Town on the stroke of the 90 though the visitors winless run extends to nine matches. By contrast, Marc Harrison’s team has only tasted defeat once in eight matches and go up to tenth spot.
Witham Town 2 – 1 Brentwood Town | Spa Road | Att: 117
Witham extended their winning run to five matches with a hard-fought win over Brentwood at Spa Road. Ernest Okoh gave the visitors the lead on 24 minutes though Town restored parity ten minutes afterward through Toby Aromolaran and then led on the stroke of half-time thanks to Luke Mallett’s penalty. Witham sit 16th, seven points clear of the drop zone while Town slip to 14th because of results elsewhere.