LEAGUE NEWS

From Ian Thompson

SaTURDaY 4TH PREMIER ROUNDUP

Bishop’s Stortford, with Aveley and Hornchurch breathing down their necks, couldn’t afford any slip up’s as they travelled to face play-off chasing Folkestone Invicta, but the Blues did slip up three minutes before half time, conceding a penalty which Ira Jackson converted for the hosts. During the break there was a bizarre red card for Stortford sub Ben Marlow, dismissed from the bench for dissent, and with nineteen minutes to go Jackson added another to make victory as good as certain. It was entirely certain when Louis Collins made it three with five minutes to go, a result which lifts Invicta to sixth. 834 watched on.

aveley hoped to go level at the top with Stortford, but to do that they’d have to defeat play-off chasing Carshalton athletic. With seven consecutive wins the Mil lers were in good form, but they couldn’t make a breakthrough in a goalless first half - nor in a goalless second half, although they did hit the woodwork on two occasions. They remain second, two points behind the leaders having played a game more, whilst the Robins are eighth.

Hornchurch hoped to defeat Lewes to pile the pressure on the leaders and celebrate boss Mark Stimson’s new contract, but it was the Rooks, without a win in three, who struck first - and, of course, it was Joe Taylor who did the striking. The visiting number nine got his THIRTIETH goal of the season to open the scoring on fourteen minutes, but the Urchins levelled ten minutes before the break, Ellis Brown with the equaliser. With thirteen minutes left the visitors were ahead once more, substitute Ryan Gondoh, only on the field for five minutes, making an almostimmediate impact. The lead wasn’t held for long, Sam Higgins levelling with his TWENTY-NINTH of the campaign, and that was that. Hornchurch remain third - but they do have two games in hand to make up the three point gap between themselves and the leaders.

Enfield Town, with only one win in five, travelled to face a Bognor Regis Town side who were trying to avoid a fifth defeat in a row. After thirty four goalless minutes we had two in the next three, and both of them went to the visitors, Marcus Wyllie opening the scoring before Jake Cass joined him on the scoresheet almost immediately. The scoring ended there, the Towners ended the day in fourth - seven points behind the leaders - whilst Bognor are fifteenth.

With the race for the top five extremely close, Canvey Island couldn’t afford to drop points as Potters Bar Town came to call - and goodness, they made sure there were no slip ups! The Gulls took the lead on nineteen minutes, Conor Hubble with his seventh of the season, and just before the break Bradley Sach took his total to eighteen and gave his side some breathing space. Rob Girdlestone made it three just before the hour, Elliott Ronto added a fourth with sixteen minutes left, and just before the end Evans Kouassi got a fifth. The Scholars have won only one of their last fourteen matches, and picked up a red card just before the end, Deivi Kreka departing only slightly early.

Hastings United, on the cusp of the play-off places, welcomed back Gillingham loanee Joe Gbode and he immediately delighted the Pilot Field faithful, opening the scoring against Wingate & Finchley eight minutes before the break. The Blues levelled in the closing stages, Camron Gbadebo’s goal three minutes from time earning them a point.

With only one win in six, Cray Wanderers have seen their promotion chase falter of late, and it faltered a little more as Brandon Vale-Aviero put Bowers & Pit sea ahead in the early stages at the Len Salmon. The equaliser soon arrived, Tom Derry with his eleventh of the season, and right at the end the home crowd were left shattered as Dan Bassett - or David Ijaha, depending on which report you believe - claimed an away win. Wands are ninth, Bowers are nine points from safety and fourth from bottom, their survival hopes brought firmly into question.

Horsham, with only one defeat from ten, were hosting both Haringey Borough and a beer festival, and it seemed as if the two didn’t mix all that well as, in the first half at least, both sides defences behaved as if they had imbibed a little too much of what was on offer! Jack Brivio put the Hornets ahead after just six minutes only for Bobson Bawling, who used to play down the road at Crawley Town, to quickly equalise - and just after the half hour Scott Durojaiye put the visitors ahead. Within two minutes the lead was increased, Erald Desa making it three, only for Lee Harding to immediately reply for the hosts. On forty minutes it was three-three, Tom Richards with the equaliser, and it turned out that the goals ended there. The Hornets are six points away from fifth place, Borough in fourteenth.

Billericay Town, with only one defeat from their last four, look to be heading back to their bestand they took the lead against relegationfighters Herne Bay four minutes before the break, Michael Chambers (although one report says it was Kareem Isiaka) delighting most of the 838 watching on. Brad Stevenson made them happier still when adding a second with twenty four minutes left, and that was that. Billericay are twelfth, Bay are twentieth - and eleven points from safety.

Margate welcomed Corinthian-Casuals, the visitors trying their best to create some hope at the bottom end of the table after taking only two points from the last thirty available to them. After a goalless first half the hosts broke the deadlock with twenty-two minutes left, Ruben Soares Junior with the opening goal, and Casuals hopes of a comeback fell away a minute from time, Simbarashe Kudyiwa seeing red. Sam Blackman made things worse for their visitors by adding a second goal, deep into added time.

We had a big game at the bottom, with Brightlingsea Regent, bottom of the table, desperate for points as fifth bottom Kingstonian came to call. The K’s have looked rejuvenated under the management of Simon Lane, and went ahead two minutes before the bre ak, Keane Anderson making the breakthrough. That turned out to be that, a result which gives the K’s a nine point cushion and leaves Regent thirteen points behind them.

Lee Protheroe Resigns

Potters Bar Town have announced the departure of manager Lee Protheroe.

Lee joined the club in the summer as First Team Coach, moving across from Pitching In Isthmian Premier rivals Wingate & Finchley. He took over the top job in November, replacing Sammy Moore when he made the surprise move to manage Faversham Town. He has had to contend with a collection of player departures, and results in the League have been poor, but the club have reached the Final of the Velocity Trophy, where they will take on either Aveley or Chatham Town.

Hercules For The Blues

Wingate & Finchley added a new name to their ranks at the weekend, with the arrival of forward Wraynel Hercules, recently of north London rivals Potters Bar Town and Enfield Town.

Wranyel made nine Scholars appearances from mid December to mid February. He moved to the Lantern Stadium having been with the Towners since September, making fourteen appearances in total, and score two goals.

Wraynel came through the youth setup at Barnet, prior to making a move to play for the B team of Premier League side Brentford. He played twice on loan for then South Central side Chalfont St Peter, scoring in a win over Staines Town just before the pandemic hit.

He spent a little time at St Albans City over the summer after departing Brentford. He has recently spent a very short time at Biggleswade Town.

From Rooks To Urchins

Hornchurch had a new name on the bench as they faced Lewes on Saturday, and he may have been confused about which bench to sit on, as he had just arrived from … Lewes.

Jamie Mascoll had been with the Rooks since early October. The full back has since gone on to make twenty five appearances- and contribute three goals- after arriving at the Dripping Pan from National League side Wealdstone.

Jamie has previous Isthmian experience at Dulwich Hamlet, Cray Wanderers, Phoenix Sports and Grays Athletic, but has also played much higher, at Bolton Wanderers and Wycombe Wanderers. He also played in Ireland for Waterford.

HUFC vs WINGATE & FINCHLEY - MAN OF THE MATCH - FREDDIE LEGG