Dons Still Top as Trawlerboys and Gulls Close Gap

The Weekend Review

Good morning my little ones, and thanks for taking the time to read my review of the weekend action in the Ryman League Premier Division, which brought smiles for some and tears for others. As ever, there was plenty to get ones gnashers into so let’s begin with Leatherhead’s first point of the season at Field Mill.

Simmons On The Spot For Tanners

Aveley 1-1 Leatherhead (Prediction 1-2)

Leatherhead finally opened their account for the season with a well deserved 1-1 draw at fellow winless side Aveley, the Millers picking up their 4^th draw in their opening 5 matches. After a strong start by the away side, much prompted by the returning Jack MacLeod, who signed in the week from Kingstonian, Aveley took the lead before the break through Micah Hyde’s first goal for the club, swerving a shot away from Chico Ramos into the corner of the net. Leatherhead changed things around at the break with Kev Terry replacing Greg Andrews and they went on to have the better of the 2^nd period. After being denied what they thought was a clear penalty for handball after a Terry shot was blocked on the line, with 20 minutes they got their reward for their endeavours. Mark Simmons’ header was blocked by a hand and this time, the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Simmons blasted home the penalty and drew the sides level. The Tanners continued to press before Michael Akande was dismissed for an alleged head-butt, with Danny Gainsford going close and Craig Davies forcing a good save from Dave McCartney but ended up having to settle for a point.

Ricay Destroy Hapless K’s

Billericay Town 6-0 Kingstonian (Prediction 2-3)

After looking like they’d turned the corner on Monday with a thumping win at Tooting, 3 goals in 12 first half minutes suggested that it wasn’t so much a bend as a whacking great hairpin bend that the Kingstonian juggernaut was negotiating. Without Bobby Traynor leading the attack, the K’s found themselves on the back foot early on with Jay May and Sam Berry both going close. The deadlock was broken after 18 minutes when Junior Luke shrugged off the attentions of Bash Alimi and his cross was finished with aplomb by Paul Semakula for his 2^nd goal of the campaign. Rob Swaine was then left unmarked twice to head home two crosses to ensure a pretty comfortable half time for the Blues, and quite the opposite for the K’s. Courtenay White came off the bench in the 2^nd half to engineer the transition from thrashing to rout, setting up May for his 3^rd goal of the season, nabbing one himself before fellow sub Harrison Chatting completed the scoring and a very good afternoon’s work for Craig Edwards’ side. For Alan Dowson, he was left promising changes after this debacle. He has Traynor, the arrival of Rocky Baptiste, Tom Bird and Chris Page to come back in, but there is a suggestion that maybe bigger surgery and ‘Dowson Day 2’ may well be required to turn around the Surrey side’s season.

Penalty King Rob Spot On Again

Canvey Island 1-0 Harrow Borough (Prediction 2-0)

I could just copy and paste the summary of Canvey’s previous game against East Thurrock for this. Home attack comes up against strong defence, strong defence gives away penalty, Rob King scores penalty, Canvey win game. 12 points out of 15, 4 wins on the spin. 3^rd place. Simple as.

Duane Ofori-Achaempong. Debuted for Harrow at Canvey. Literally head and shoulders above his team-mates

Gray Day for Rocks at Cray

Cray Wanderers 3-0 East Thurrock (Prediction 1-1)

Cray extended their unbeaten run to 4 matches with a comfortable 3-0 win over East Thurrock who have now not won since the opening day of the season. The visitors included new signings Rickie Hayles and Kris Newby in a bid to get themselves going again but to no avail. Hayles nodded just wide early on being adjudged to have fouled Leigh Bremner in the penalty area. Tommy Whitnell beat Richard Wray from the spot to give the Ambers the lead for his 3^rd goal of the season. Jack Clark extended the lead calmly picking up the rebound after Bremner had crashed his shot off the underside of the bar and picked his spot beyond Wray. After the break the Rocks showed more attacking intent and forced a couple of saves from Andy Walker in the Cray goal, it wasn’t until stoppage time that the 3 points were secured when Bremner beat the offside trap and although Wray did well to block the striker’s first effort, he was unfortunate to see the follow up loop up into the net off of his foot to claim his 6^th goal of the campaign already. After a disastrous start, Cray are looking very strong and like they could mount a challenge for the play offs. Tommy Whitnell and Leigh Bremner already have 9 league goals between them. There may be question marks over their ability to cope with an injury to either man, but for the moment, things look good for the men from Kent.

Old McDonald Makes Hay

Hastings United 0-2 Carshalton Athletic (Prediction 1-2)

Carshalton picked up their first points, goals and win since opening day with a comfortable win on the south coast against erratic Hastings United. Dean McDonald, returning to the starting line-up after being left out of the XI that lost at Cray was the Robins hero with both goals. Josh Jirbandey had already headed wide for the hosts before the opening goal after 16 minutes courtesy of a free kick from McDonald that took a heavy deflection on its way past Lloyd Anderson in the United net. Shortly before the half hour mark, Tom Davis was dismissed for his second booking as the referee deemed his fall in the penalty area as ‘simulation’. What a god awful description that is for diving or plain old cheating. Hastings failed to make the most of their man advantage and wasted a couple of good openings before McDonald sealed things for the visitors with a very smart turn and finish after good work from Billy Crook four minutes after the restart. The die was cast, the fate of the home side sealed. Nick Hamann was far from overworked and Hastings slipped into the bottom 4. Next up for them is a trip to Concord, who are still winless. A big match for both sides in the bid to try and propel themselves up the table as soon as they can. Carshalton meanwhile will be feeling a degree of relief after 3 straight defeats, and will now be looking to get themselves on a little run to climb the table. Off the field at Colston Avenue, news came of the resignation due to work commitments of chairman Alan Walker. It is understood that an announcement as to his replacement will be forthcoming soon.

Hendon 2-2 Lewes (Prediction 1-1)

Just a quick plug for a couple of alternative views on yesterday’s match. Firstly from Alan Ainsworth, whom some may know from various Non League forums – his match reports are always well worth a read, full of detail. Secondly, from the excellent blog The Ball Is Round by Stuart Fuller.  

This Ball Is Round Too. Not a very good read though.

  Bradbrook Downs Homesick Hornets

Horsham 1-2 Margate (Prediction 2-1)

Horsham’s wait for their first home points of the season continues as a Tom Bradbrook inspired Margate picked up their 1^st away win of the campaign to move up to 8^th in the table. The home side, who included new signings Russell Eldridge from Burgess Hill Town and centre half Calum McGeehah from Thamesmead Town were distinctly 2^nd best in the first period and perhaps fortunate not to be more than the single Bradbrook strike behind at the break. The goal came after Matt Armstrong-Ford fumbled a Matt Bodkin cross and Bradbrook knocked the loose ball home. After the break Horsham began to work Jack Smelt in the Gate goal and Eldridge forced him into a good stop from a free kick. Bradbrook then headed a superb cross from Curtis Robinson tamely at Armstrong-Ford and was made to pay as Tony Nwachukwu grabbed the equaliser, and his 5^th goal of the campaign racing clear onto a pass to slip the ball low past Smelt. Any feelings of relief or elation were short lived however as it took just a couple of minutes for the away side to claim the points. Bradbrook added his 2^nd goal of the afternoon with a brilliant free kick from the best part of 30 yards. A goal worthy of winning any match. Both sides had chances to add to the scoreline but in the end, Horsham were left to lick their wounds after their 3^rd consecutive defeat at Gorings Mead whilst Margate were able to celebrate a return to winning ways after a couple of disappointing results against Lowestoft and Hastings.

Trawlerboys Cut Frew Concord Like A Knife Through Gravy

Lowestoft Town 5-0 Concord Rangers (Prediction 3-0)

The Trawlerboys leapt to the top of the table for 24 hours with a 5 goal demolition of Concord Rangers whose disappointing winless start to the season is in danger of being filed under ‘torrid’. As so often already this term, Lubo Guentchev and Michael Frew were the main protagonists for Lowestoft finishing with 2 goals apiece to take their respective tallies for the campaign to 5 and 4, whilst Matt Nolan added the fifth to complete an ominous looking win for the Suffolk title favourite in front of an impressive crowd of 701. Lowestoft take their 15 goal attack to Leatherhead on Saturday, whilst Concord will be mightily eager to avoid 2^nd season syndrome developing to strongly as they host Hastings United. It might be a little early to be calling the match ‘must win’, but it isn’t far off if they want to stay in touch with the clubs just above them.

Urchins Tuohy Good for Fuzz

Met Police 0-2 AFC Hornchurch (Prediction 1-1)

AFC Hornchurch picked up a comfortable 2-0 win at Imber Court as they got their season back on track. Joe Wooley became the third man to take the number 1 shirt for the Urchins this season as he replaced Trinidadian Kelvin Jack between the posts and he enjoyed a fairly straightforward afternoon with one good save denying Stafforde Palmer. It wasn’t until the 2^nd half that the breakthrough was made and it was Martin Tuohy who glanced home after Aaron Gayle beat Jamie Butler to the ball to give the away side a well deserved lead. With 12 minutes remaining, the points were sealed when Tuohy linked well with substitute Jo Flack who was able to touch the ball confidently past Butler for his 2^nd goal of the season. Tambeson Eyong forced Butler into a quite brilliant save to stop the Urchins running away with things and having to settle with a 2 goal victory. Met Police travel to Wingate tonight and will be keen to pick up their first points on the road this term, Hornchurch will be hoping a corner has been turned and that lady luck is smiling on them a little more than she may have done so far this term. Tooting up next for the Urchins.

Marc Weathers Terrors Storm

Tooting & Mitcham United 1-1 Wingate & Finchley (Prediction 1-3)

Wingate became the penultimate side to lose their 100% record when they were held to a draw by Tooting at Imperial Fields on Saturday. The hosts included Joe O’Cearuill, Jay Lovett and new signings Malik Aboulai (St. Albans) and Wade Small (Lewes) for the first time this season whilst Wingate made just one change to the side that comprehensively beat Wealdstone on Bank Holiday Monday. The hosts began the stronger and got their reward when Jordan Wilson broke into space and fired home past Bobby Smith from outside the penalty area, leaving Wingate behind for the first time this season. The visitors then began to enjoy more possession without creating much whilst Tooting, and particularly Fola Onijube were very dangerous on the break. The equaliser came midway through the first period when Marc Weatherstone headed home Lewis Jones’ corner. David Laird went close with a free kick before a feisty, but tightly contested 2^nd half ended with the dismissal of Wingate sub Ahmet Rifat for a high challenge in stoppage time. A point apiece, and Wingate remain unbeaten.

Joe O'Cearuill: New face in Tooting Defence

Kieran Stones’ Knight In Shining Armour

Wealdstone 3-1 Bury Town (Prediction 3-2)

Wealdstone picked up their first win at the 5^th time of asking when coming from behind to beat a Bury Town side that was reduced to 10 men in the first half after Karl Leabon saw red for an elbow on Lee Chappell. Sam Reed gave the away side the lead 6 minutes before the break with one of their first efforts on target as he was given the freedom of the far post to head home. Marcus Garnham kept them ahead at half time making an excellent save from Wes Parker before Knight finally beat him with 25 minutes remaining of the 2^nd half firing home after the goalkeeper had done well to push out Chappell’s powerful drive. Moments later, Knight had his 2^nd goal of the afternoon smashing home after good work by sub Jake Parsons and Kurtney Brooks. Garnham then denied Jolly as Stones threatened to run riot before having to retire with a foot injury. Substitute goalkeeper Stephen Fenner came on and was powerless to prevent Alex Dyer from sealing the win for the home side as he side-footed home Jolly’s flick on. The Stones are now up and running and will be looking to add to Kingstonian’s woes at the weekend whilst Bury will be wanting to bounce back quickly against Met Police to winning ways.