Ryman Isthmian Football League
Long-haul joy for Hawks and Marketmen
12:02 09 Oct 11
WHITEHAWK must feel they have spent most of the week on a coach. Their 100-mile journey from Brighton to Maldon on Tuesday ended in an FA Cup replay defeat but their 135-mile trip home from Soham yesterday (Saturday) was made in a rather happier mood after the Division One South side powered to a 7-1 victory over their hosts from the North section.
Josh Jones put Hawks ahead after three minutes (the celebration is pictured above by Andy Nunn), James Fraser made it 2-0 at half-time and further strikes from Sam Gargan and Ben Godfrey put them out of reach before Richard Gammon netted for the home side on 66 minutes. Hawks completed the rout with three goals in the last eight minutes from Callum Saunders, Pat Harding and Fraser.
Needham Market restored the balance for the North division as they travelled south, also around 135 miles, to thump Ramsgate 7-2 in Kent. Rams actually scored first through Joseph Afusi in the 15th minute but Jose Espinosa fired an instant equaliser and it was all Needham after that. Sam Newson scored twice in five minutes, taking his tally to 11 for the season, Bradley Barber made it 4-1 at the interval and it was six by the 51st minute as Gavin Johnson and Angelo Harrop piled on the pain.
Duane Wright completed Needham’s third seven-goal haul of the season in the 75th minute before Gareth Cornhill scored Ramsgate’s second with a penalty in added time.
Altogether there were six Division One North v South clashes and honours were even, with each division winning three times.
Thamesmead were indebted to their substitutes for their 3-2 home victory over Whitstable. Trailing at half-time to a Peter Hawkins goal, Thamesmead levelled five minutes into the second half though Theo Fairweather-Johnson. Bradley Killick stepped off the bench to score with his first touch in the 64th minute, then set up the chance for fellow-sub David Noel to make it 3-1. James Simmons reduced the arrears with seven minutes left.
Enfield Town came from a goal down to go through 2-1 at Walton & Hersham. Kenny Ojukwu netted a seventh-minute opener for the Swans but Leon Osei replied with a free-kick on the half-hour and Rudi Hall converted a second-half penalty to decide it.
Eastbourne Town beat visitors Chatham 4-3 with two late goals. Chatham were two up in 13 minutes through Jon Pilbeam and Garry Tilley and, although Matt Geard pulled one back before half-time, Tilley struck again in the 55th minute. Sam Crabb closed the gap on 66 minutes and also netted the equaliser with eight minutes left, setting the stage for Luke Denton to head the winner.
Chipstead were the other winners from the South. Marcus Elliott’s sixth-minute strike was all they needed for victory at Ware.
Three games pitted sides from Division One South against each other and the stars of this show were Crawley Down. The bottom club could perhaps have been excused for giving up hope in their tie at high-flying Worthing when Jamie Brotherton put the hosts ahead with just 11 seconds on the clock, especially as the Anvils had kicked off.
It was not to be so easy for Rebels. Luke Blewden equalised in the 12th minute and, after Ryan McBride restored Worthing’s lead with a header, the Anvils made it 2-2 at the interval through Gabriel Odunaike. Hassan Nyang then fired the visitors in front soon after half-time but Tom Manton replied shortly afterwards. It was the Anvils who could have won it, but Fraser Logan’s penalty was saved and it finished 3-3.
Walton Casuals and Faversham must also try again after Danny Buckle’s penalty in the third minute of added time earned Casuals a 2-2 home draw. Tom Hickman put the visitors ahead after 21 minutes but Mark Nicholls soon levelled matters. Damian Abel’s 74th-minute strike almost won it for the Kent side.
Burgess Hill saw off Corinthian-Casuals at Leylands Park with three unanswered second-half goals. Jones Awuah headed the opener after 50 minutes, with Tyrone Berry and George Hayward adding late goals as the visitors threw men forward.
On to Division One North, where there were five intra-divisional battles with a sixth to follow today when Waltham Forest entertain Tilbury.
Redbridge chalked up their seventh successive away victory, 3-2 at local rivals Ilford. Ben Bradbury headed the Motormen into an early lead but the bottom club hit back with a double strike, a Stephen Opoka penalty ten minutes after half-time and a close-range shot by Sam Adejokun three minutes later. Redbridge responded with a Glen Golby header on the hour and Dan Trenkel nabbed the winner nine minutes later.
Leaders Grays fell behind to a fifth-minute Tim Shaw goal at Waltham Abbey but earned a replay with a header by Junior Baker soon after the interval.
Nine men of Potters Bar pulled off a 1-0 home victory over Heybridge. James Gershfield and Josh Urquhart were sent off in the first half but a penalty by Tom Pett ten minutes after the break gave Bar a shock lead. Heybridge then lost half their numerical advantage when Danny Barber was dismissed in the 63rd minute and they were unable to reply.
There were plenty of chances at both ends at Brentwood but the hosts got the only goal. Emmanuel Osei scored three minutes after half-time to account for Leiston.
Great Wakering, twice on the wrong end of seven-goal hidings this season, suffered a 6-1 pasting at Sudbury, who are below them in the table. James Baker’s ninth-minute goal for the hosts was answered by Jamie Salmon nine minutes later. Then Sudbury took charge, with Nathan Clarke scoring twice before the interval, either side of a Ryan Henshaw strike. Robbie Martin added the fifth and Dave Wareham wrapped it up from the spot.
That leaves six ties in which Southern League clubs provided the opposition and only two Ryman League teams survived, both aided by late goals.
Scott Simpson was the hat-trick hero as Whyteleafe produced a rousing finish to see off North Greenford 4-3, having trailed 3-1 with only 12 minutes left. There was no scoring at all until the 56th minute, when the visitors went ahead. Simpson quickly equalised, but a Zac Joseph double put Greenford on top. Leafe hit back with two goals in a minute from Stephane Gnamore and Simpson before Simpson kept his cool to convert an 88th-minute penalty.
An own goal by Jerry Nnanami looked to have accounted for Sittingbourne, but they will travel to Northwood for a replay thanks to a 93rd-minute equaliser from Hicham Akhazzan.
Shaun Welford’s 14th goal of the season gave Maidstone an early lead at Ashford (Middx) but two goals soon after half-time set Ashford on their way to a 3-1 win.
A goal in each half by Matt Hayes gave AFC Hayes a 2-1 home win over Cheshunt, who drew level through Kevin Ashwood in the 55th minute but conceded the winner eight minutes from time.
Romford were beaten 4-1 at Bedfont, having briefly drawn level in the first half through Kurt Smith, and Bognor suffered their second defeat of the week when they went down 1-0 at home to Mangotsfield.
Josh Jones put Hawks ahead after three minutes (the celebration is pictured above by Andy Nunn), James Fraser made it 2-0 at half-time and further strikes from Sam Gargan and Ben Godfrey put them out of reach before Richard Gammon netted for the home side on 66 minutes. Hawks completed the rout with three goals in the last eight minutes from Callum Saunders, Pat Harding and Fraser.
Needham Market restored the balance for the North division as they travelled south, also around 135 miles, to thump Ramsgate 7-2 in Kent. Rams actually scored first through Joseph Afusi in the 15th minute but Jose Espinosa fired an instant equaliser and it was all Needham after that. Sam Newson scored twice in five minutes, taking his tally to 11 for the season, Bradley Barber made it 4-1 at the interval and it was six by the 51st minute as Gavin Johnson and Angelo Harrop piled on the pain.
Duane Wright completed Needham’s third seven-goal haul of the season in the 75th minute before Gareth Cornhill scored Ramsgate’s second with a penalty in added time.
Altogether there were six Division One North v South clashes and honours were even, with each division winning three times.
Thamesmead were indebted to their substitutes for their 3-2 home victory over Whitstable. Trailing at half-time to a Peter Hawkins goal, Thamesmead levelled five minutes into the second half though Theo Fairweather-Johnson. Bradley Killick stepped off the bench to score with his first touch in the 64th minute, then set up the chance for fellow-sub David Noel to make it 3-1. James Simmons reduced the arrears with seven minutes left.
Enfield Town came from a goal down to go through 2-1 at Walton & Hersham. Kenny Ojukwu netted a seventh-minute opener for the Swans but Leon Osei replied with a free-kick on the half-hour and Rudi Hall converted a second-half penalty to decide it.
Eastbourne Town beat visitors Chatham 4-3 with two late goals. Chatham were two up in 13 minutes through Jon Pilbeam and Garry Tilley and, although Matt Geard pulled one back before half-time, Tilley struck again in the 55th minute. Sam Crabb closed the gap on 66 minutes and also netted the equaliser with eight minutes left, setting the stage for Luke Denton to head the winner.
Chipstead were the other winners from the South. Marcus Elliott’s sixth-minute strike was all they needed for victory at Ware.
Three games pitted sides from Division One South against each other and the stars of this show were Crawley Down. The bottom club could perhaps have been excused for giving up hope in their tie at high-flying Worthing when Jamie Brotherton put the hosts ahead with just 11 seconds on the clock, especially as the Anvils had kicked off.
It was not to be so easy for Rebels. Luke Blewden equalised in the 12th minute and, after Ryan McBride restored Worthing’s lead with a header, the Anvils made it 2-2 at the interval through Gabriel Odunaike. Hassan Nyang then fired the visitors in front soon after half-time but Tom Manton replied shortly afterwards. It was the Anvils who could have won it, but Fraser Logan’s penalty was saved and it finished 3-3.
Walton Casuals and Faversham must also try again after Danny Buckle’s penalty in the third minute of added time earned Casuals a 2-2 home draw. Tom Hickman put the visitors ahead after 21 minutes but Mark Nicholls soon levelled matters. Damian Abel’s 74th-minute strike almost won it for the Kent side.
Burgess Hill saw off Corinthian-Casuals at Leylands Park with three unanswered second-half goals. Jones Awuah headed the opener after 50 minutes, with Tyrone Berry and George Hayward adding late goals as the visitors threw men forward.
On to Division One North, where there were five intra-divisional battles with a sixth to follow today when Waltham Forest entertain Tilbury.
Redbridge chalked up their seventh successive away victory, 3-2 at local rivals Ilford. Ben Bradbury headed the Motormen into an early lead but the bottom club hit back with a double strike, a Stephen Opoka penalty ten minutes after half-time and a close-range shot by Sam Adejokun three minutes later. Redbridge responded with a Glen Golby header on the hour and Dan Trenkel nabbed the winner nine minutes later.
Leaders Grays fell behind to a fifth-minute Tim Shaw goal at Waltham Abbey but earned a replay with a header by Junior Baker soon after the interval.
Nine men of Potters Bar pulled off a 1-0 home victory over Heybridge. James Gershfield and Josh Urquhart were sent off in the first half but a penalty by Tom Pett ten minutes after the break gave Bar a shock lead. Heybridge then lost half their numerical advantage when Danny Barber was dismissed in the 63rd minute and they were unable to reply.
There were plenty of chances at both ends at Brentwood but the hosts got the only goal. Emmanuel Osei scored three minutes after half-time to account for Leiston.
Great Wakering, twice on the wrong end of seven-goal hidings this season, suffered a 6-1 pasting at Sudbury, who are below them in the table. James Baker’s ninth-minute goal for the hosts was answered by Jamie Salmon nine minutes later. Then Sudbury took charge, with Nathan Clarke scoring twice before the interval, either side of a Ryan Henshaw strike. Robbie Martin added the fifth and Dave Wareham wrapped it up from the spot.
That leaves six ties in which Southern League clubs provided the opposition and only two Ryman League teams survived, both aided by late goals.
Scott Simpson was the hat-trick hero as Whyteleafe produced a rousing finish to see off North Greenford 4-3, having trailed 3-1 with only 12 minutes left. There was no scoring at all until the 56th minute, when the visitors went ahead. Simpson quickly equalised, but a Zac Joseph double put Greenford on top. Leafe hit back with two goals in a minute from Stephane Gnamore and Simpson before Simpson kept his cool to convert an 88th-minute penalty.
An own goal by Jerry Nnanami looked to have accounted for Sittingbourne, but they will travel to Northwood for a replay thanks to a 93rd-minute equaliser from Hicham Akhazzan.
Shaun Welford’s 14th goal of the season gave Maidstone an early lead at Ashford (Middx) but two goals soon after half-time set Ashford on their way to a 3-1 win.
A goal in each half by Matt Hayes gave AFC Hayes a 2-1 home win over Cheshunt, who drew level through Kevin Ashwood in the 55th minute but conceded the winner eight minutes from time.
Romford were beaten 4-1 at Bedfont, having briefly drawn level in the first half through Kurt Smith, and Bognor suffered their second defeat of the week when they went down 1-0 at home to Mangotsfield.
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