'push pineapple shake the tree,' One for the Horsham fans there...
Anyway, a review then of the full midweek programme of Premier Division action, with the exception of Hendon’s match with Bury Town that I went through yesterday. There was some strange results around and some very impressive performances, not least from Horsham who did so well at Kingsmeadow and Wingate, who are the surprise early pacesetters at the top of the table.
Monday Night – Fright Night for K’s
Kingstonian 3-4 Horsham (Prediction 2-0)
On Monday evening I tweeted something along the lines of ‘well, didn’t see that one coming.’ Nor I would wager had many other people. An astonishing evening’s entertainment at Kingsmeadow saw the away side bounce back in fine style from their defeat against Bury Town at the weekend with a late winner enough to take the points back to Sussex and get Horsham’s season up and running. Jerome Maledon caused the Hornets defence a few problems early on before Tony Nwachukwu opened the scoring with a superb long range effort just before the half hour mark, sparking a flurry of goals. Nwachukwu grabbed his second of the evening shortly after running onto Callum Dunne’s header and rolling the ball past Rob Tolfrey before Tom Hutchinson turned in a long throw that had been flicked on by Gary MacDonald moments later to reduce the arrears. Daniel Morris grabbed his 2nd goal of the season on the stroke of half time to restore Horsham’s two goal advantage before the break finishing Dane Luchford’s pass with aplomb.
The 2nd period was as breathless as the first with Hutchinson forcing an excellent save from Matt Armstrong-Ford whilst at the other end Nwachukwu hit the crossbar and Morris was unable to tuck away the rebound. It wasn’t until 13 minutes from time that the K’s grabbed a lifeline as Hutchinson again rose highest to head home his 2nd goal of the evening, this time from an Ian Selley corner. 3 minutes later, it was Simon Huckle’s turn to score a peach, curling the ball home brilliantly from the best part of 25 yards to draw the two sides level. At this stage, if either side was going to go on and win the game, the smart money would have been on the K’s. Nwachukwu had other ideas though and a late break saw him outpace the home defence and coolly complete his hat trick sliding the ball past Tolfrey once again to give the away side an unlikely lead. There was still time for Paul Olima to head over an open goal from almost point-blank range and Bobby Traynor to narrowly miss the target with another effort. In the end, Horsham held on for a superb 3 points that will have made the rest of the division sit up and take notice. Reflections from a Kingstonian fan are well worth a read on the Kingstonian Scouser blog. Take a look.
Next Matches:
Kingstonian – H v Canvey Island (11th)
Horsham – A v AFC Hornchurch (6th)
Tuesday Night:
Gulls nab The Points
AFC Hornchurch 1-2 Canvey Island (Prediction 2-0)
The Urchins and the Islanders made a mockery of my pre match prediction and indeed, their weekend results in this entertaining Tuesday evening clash at Bridge Avenue as the away side got their season kick started with an impressive looking away win against the weekend’s big winners. Hornchurch threatened to start off where they left off on Sunday taking the lead in the 18th minute when skipper Elliot Styles headed home Michael Spencer’s corner. Martin Tuohy then twice went close to extending the lead and adding to his two weekend goals before the Islanders drew level. A free kick was swung in from the Canvey left and looked a comfortable claim for Darren Behcet. The Uchins’ custodian fluffed his lines though and left Danny Heale with the simplest of tasks to open his account for the season and draw the two sides level. After the break, both goalkeepers made good saves before Rob King was allowed time and space to run onto a long clearance from James Russell in the 63rd minute before beating Behcet for what turned out to be the winner. Russell had to be at his best to preserve Canvey’s advantage late on as the Urchins pressed for an equaliser whilst Styles had a 2nd header ruled out for an infringement by Frankie Curley. The Islanders held on to record their first win of the season, whilst AFC Hornchurch were left to rue a number of missed opportunities in a game they feel they shouldn’t have lost.
Next Matches:
AFC Hornchurch – H v Horsham (13th)
Canvey Island – A v Kingstonian (17th)
Stalemate and Spittle for Stones
Carshalton Athletic 0-0 Wealdstone (Prediction 1-1)
Another entertaining fixture, but one that ended goalless as Wealdstone picked up a useful looking point away at Carshalton in front of just 155 fans. The Stones made the early running with Alan Massey forcing Nick Hamann into a 2nd minute save before Richard Jolly went close to opening his account for the season, heading Lee Chappell’s cross narrowly wide. Dean Lodge was the hosts’ most dangerous player and it was he who created the best opportunities of the half for Carshalton that neither Dean McDonald or Billy Crook were able to take advantage of. Late on Hamann was called on to save well again from Jolly and Kurtney Brooks hammered a 25 yard effort against the Robins’ crossbar.
At the break there was an unsavoury incident that saw a Carshalton player who was not named in the Matchday Squad and whose name may or may not include the words ‘Laurent’ and ‘Hamici’ is reported to have spat at a Wealdstone fan. There has been accounts on both clubs’ messageboards that for a change after such an incident back eachother up. Everyone is well aware that the Stones support come with plenty of what you might describe as banter, but there is never any excuse at all for anyone, particularly a player to react in such a disgusting manner. The head steward at Colston Avenue has been praised for the way in which he dealt with the incident and Hamici didn’t reappear on the bench for the 2nd period. With Paul Dipre, the owner/manager at the Robins so keen for the club to be ‘family friendly’, I look forward to Hamici’s immediate banning order with no right of appeal.
Back to events on the pitch in the 2nd half and both sides had chances to nick it. Jake Parsons diverted David Hicks’ floated cross past a wrong-footed Hamann but unfortunately for him, against the upright, before Dean Lodge managed to beat Jonathan North at the other end. With the Carshalton fans ready to celebrate, James Hammond got back to make a superb clearance off the line and maintain North’s blank sheet. Lodge was then inches away from turning in a Billy Crook cross whilst in the dying minutes Jolly shot against the post again and Lee Chappell fired inches over the top in a pulsating final 10 minutes. In the end, a point apiece but perhaps a little disappointment amongst the away side that they weren’t crossing back to Middlesex with 3 points in the bag.
Next Matches:
Carshalton – H v Hendon (2nd)
Wealdstone – A v East Thurrock (15th)
Charles is Concord’s Prince
Concord Rangers 1-1 Cray Wanderers (Prediction 2-0)
Trying to find a write-up of this game has been more difficult than trying finding a write-up of the British constitution. Tommy Whitnell gave Cray the lead 8 minutes before the break before Elliott Charles netted his first goal for Concord after the interval to salvage a point for the home side. I could make up a report about the rest of the game, about how Princess Michael of Kent was refereeing the game and that Yazz performed ‘The Only Way Is Up’ live and exclusively in one of the goalmouths at half time, but that would be a waste of my time and yours.
Next Matches:
Concord – H v Tooting (8th)
Cray – A v Leatherhead (22nd)
Hastings Battle Back
East Thurrock United 0-2 Hastings United (Prediction 2-0)
I got the scoreline right, just back to front. Hastings bounced back from their disappointing opening day reverse against the Rocks’ fellow new boys Wingate in fine style by beating Division 1 North champs East Thurrock at Rookery Hill quite comfortably. Matt Hall opened the scoring from the penalty spot midway through the first half after Marc Gorbell was adjudged to have brought Kenny Pogue down just inside the penalty area. To compound Gorbell’s abject misery, his reaction to the decision brought him a yellow card. As the Rocks pushed forward late on in pursuit of an equaliser, they were caught on the break in stoppage time and Dan Bolwell’s low cross was turned in at the far post by Pogue to complete a good night for Jason Hopkinson’s men. East Thurrock had their chances with Kye Ruel, Reiss Gilbey and Greg Cohen all going close, unfortunately for them, Lloyd Anderson in the United goal was in good form and kept the home side at bay with a series of very good saves. Relief then for the South Coast club that they’ve got their season started, whilst East Thurrock will be disappointed that they were unable to follow up their impressive weekend win at Tooting with another good result.
Next Matches:
East Thurrock – H v Wealdstone (16th)
Hastings – A v Bury Town (9th)
A Good Point Come May?
Harrow Borough 1-1 Billericay Town (Prediction 1-1)
Zing, bang, boom. Spot on scoreline. Take a bow. Dave Anderson got his first point as Harrow manager on Tuesday night with a 1-1 draw against Billericay Town. They opened the scoring on the stroke of half time with one of the Boro’ old boys Dean Fenton firing past Nick Morgan to give the home side a half-time advantage. Dave Lawrence had earlier missed a great chance for Harrow and further opportunities went begging for them to extend their lead after the break as well. They were made to pay when Jay May netted his first goal for the Blues (for whom Sam Berry debuted from the bench) from Junior Luke’s pass and from then on, David Knight and Rob Swaine missed the target as Billericay pushed for a winner. In the end, a point apiece was about right. Anderson will be pleased to get off the mark and Billericay won’t be too disappointed preserving their unbeaten run at a traditional graveyard for them.
Next Matches:
Billericay Town – A v Lewes (14th)
Harrow Borough – H v Aveley (21st)
Toots Give Tanners Tanning
Leatherhead 2-4 Tooting & Mitcham United (Prediction 1-2)
Leatherhead began strongly in their pursuit of a first Premier Division win for 28 years taking the game to Tooting, who themselves were looking to bounce back from an opening day reverse. Gary Drewett, Danny Gainsford and Sol Patterson-Bohner all went close for the Tanners early on before Osa Obamwonyi inadvertently diverted Greg Andrews’ driven free kick past his own goalkeeper to give the home side a half time lead.
The game turned on 2 controversial decisions within moments of each-other 10 minutes after the restart. Strong Leatherhead appeals for a penalty were turned down as the referee adjudged contact with a Tooting defender’s arm as accidental and as the ball was quickly moved to the other end, Mark Simmons fouled Reece Hall inside the Leatherhead area. This time, the referee pointed to the spot and dismissed the Leatherhead skipper for good measure. Jamie Byatt ignored the fuss and slammed the ball past Chico Ramos. Sub Fola Onijube then gave the visitors the lead turning the ball past Ramos before Byatt added a third with a powerful drive from the edge of the area. The Tanners fought back strongly and ensured a nervy finish to proceedings as Andrews opened his account for the season from the spot after a foul by the luckless Obamwonyi before Simon Lehkyj preserved Tooting’s advantage with a save from Gainsford and Andrews shot narrowly wide. Salt was rubbed into the open home side’s wounds late on as Jordan Wilson was released and ran fully 40 yards before rounding Ramos and slotting the ball home to complete an impressive win for Mark Beard’s charges.
Next Matches:
Leatherhead – H v Cray (20th)
Tooting – A v Concord (18th)
Millers Ground Down By Gate
Margate 3-0 Aveley (Prediction 3-1)
I often think an opening day point can be turned into a good start by winning the next match. 4 points out of 6 is a decent start by anyone’s reckoning and an average of 2 points per game will result in a home semi final in the Play offs. Margate made sure the point they gained at Wealdstone as they eventually broke down the stubborn resistance of an Aveley side that had set out their stall to make things as difficult as possible for the home side. Although Margate had chances early on through Kwesi Appiah and Liam Coleman but had to wait until the 37th minute for the breakthrough. A corner was headed on by Craig Cloke and met by Dean Pooley to the relief of the ‘Gate fans. The goal woke the Millers up and Sean Bonnet-Johnson rapped a shot against Jack Smelt’s crossbar. The revival was short lived however as on the stroke of half time, with an Appiah effort already ruled out, the lead was extended through Cloke after good build up involving Dan Stubbs and Tom Bradbrook.
Although Aveley showed more attacking intent after the break, it was still the home side that created the best of the chances, Matt Bodkin and Wayne Wilson in particularly impressive form. Despite this, they had to wait until 4 minutes from time to wrap things up when Appiah fed the ball into Bradbrook on the edge of the 6 yard box and the number 9, who had been named as the Blue’s Man of the Match, was able to turn and fire past Dave McCartney to complete a good night’s work for Chris Kinnear’s outfit.
Next Matches:
Margate – H v Lowestoft (7th)
Aveley – A v Harrow Borough (19th)
On A Wing and a Prayer
Wingate & Finchley 2-1 Lowestoft Town (Prediction 0-2)
Another result that I really didn’t see coming and one that took Wingate into an early top spot in the table on goals scored. Early signs are that they have taken the form that saw them end the season on such an impressive run are showing no signs of ending. I suspected they might come undone against my title tips from Suffolk, but not for the first time I was proved thoroughly wrong as Wingate stormed into a 2-0 lead through Lewis Smith’s 2nd goal in 2 matches and the powerful Murat Karagul. Although Michael Frew pulled a goal back 15 minutes from time for Lowestoft, there was to be no fairytale ending and they traveled back to East Anglia deservedly beaten. They will be hoping to bounce back on Saturday where they face a very tricky looking trip to Margate, in what will be another stern early test of their title credentials. Wingate meanwhile, have a Saturday off following the postponement of their game against Met Police, due to policing requirements over the bank holiday weekend in Notting Hill. Their next test comes on Bank Holiday Monday against Wealdstone.
Next Matches:
Wingate – A v Wealdstone (16th)
Lowestoft – A v Margate (3rd)
Wednesday Night:
Rooks Cop It
Lewes 1-0 Met. Police (Prediction 3-0)
The Rooks got their season up and running in unconvincing fashion against a strong and uncompromising Met Police side last night thanks to a goal from seasoned (a bit too much coriander for my tastes) goal getter Paul Booth in the first half. The goal was a beauty, an acrobatic volley from the edge of the box as Booth opened his account in his second spell at the Dripping Pan. Stafforde Palmer, Tony Finn and Ty Smith provided the odd threat for the Old Bill and Steve Williams was perhaps a little fortunate to escape being dismissed after upending Palmer outside his penalty area. The referee opted to show the goalkeeper yellow though and also denied both sides strong shouts for a penalty. Lewes held on for the three points and will be hoping to kick on from here. For the Met, far from being outplayed they will take great heart from their performance into their unintended early season break due to the Notting Hill Carnival.
Next Matches:
Lewes – H v Billericay Town (5th)
Met. Police – H v Leatherhead (22nd) – 31st August
Tomorrow I’ll be giving my reasons for not attending Hendon’s match this weekend at Carshalton, and will also do my weekend predictions.
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