Even the most optimistic Lewes fan must have been surprised- and overjoyed- by the Rooks start to the season. After wholesale squad changes- and the arrival of a new manager- over the summer, the Dripping Pan faithful had witnessed a perfect start, with three wins out of three, and headed to take on Cray Wanderers at Flamingo Park full of confidence and looking for a fourth- and that latest victory was as good as confirmed within twenty three minutes.
Eddie Allsopp has started the season in fine form, and scored his third in three matches when opening the scoring on thirteen minutes. Six minutes later, Danny Bassett- formerly of Wanderers- made it two, and on twenty three minutes Marcus Sablier- another former Wand- added a third. Wands finally got going after the break, and Anthony Cook gave them hope, and that hope was raised further when Sablier was sent off for the Rooks with sixteen minutes left, but there were no more goals, and Lewes remain at the summit, hold onto their one hundred percent record, and their three point lead.
Carshalton Athletic were at home against Dartford, hoping for a win and a Lewes slip up. The visitors opened the scoring on eighteen minutes, Eddie Dsane’s first goal in their colours, and that turned out to be the only goal of the game. The Darts have started the season with wins against Cray Valley, Canvey Island and Carshalton Athletic- and will be delighted that they have Chatham Town up next! Dartford are up to fourth, the Robins down to seventh.
Hastings United were on the road to Kings Langley, where they took on ‘hosts’ Potters Bar Town. United hoped to continue their fine start to the season, but it was the Scholars who broke the deadlock, Steve Cawley doing Steve Cawley things three minutes before the break, his fourth goal of the season. The Scholars doubled their lead fourteen minutes from time, new signing Nana Kyei making it two-nil, and that was that, lifting the hosts to twelfth. United slip to ninth.
Cray Valley PM had what looked like a tricky trip as they travel to take on unbeaten Folkestone Invicta, but Invicta made it easier for their visitors when they had new signing Amadou Kassarate sent off on his debut thirty five minutes in. Invicta then went down to nine men as Dean Rance saw red five minutes into the second half, which left them with rather a long time to keep the Millers out, and they couldn’t quite manage it, Adam Coombes putting the visitors ahead with sixteen minutes left. It was a lead they held, a third win in a row, and they are up to second.
Bognor Regis Town was the destination for fifth place Hendon, a green on green battle. Hendon looked to be formidable opposition for a Bognor side that hadn’t yet found its feet, and the visitors went ahead on seventeen minutes, Joe White with the opener. Three minutes into the second half Kai Omoko Brosnan doubled the Greens advantage, but Bognor came from two down to draw last weekend so didn’t give up, and Tommy-Lee Higgs quickly got a goal back, before Lucas Pattenden levelled with eighteen minutes left. That, finally, was that- Hendon slip to sixth. Image from Tommy McMillan.
Seventh place Horsham were on the road to Aveley, where they took on Hashtag United and were looking for a third win in a row. Both meetings between the sides last season ended in an away win, and it quickly looked like that particular history was going to repeat itself, a quick fire Daniel Ajakaiye double midway through the first half putting them two goals up. Danny Barker added a third for the Hornets ten minutes into the second half, and although Toby Aromolaran got a goal back for the Tags with twelve minutes remaining that was as good as it got for the home fans- indeed, it got worse, as James Hammond made it four-one deep into added time- this one from the spot. Horsham climb to third.
Unbeaten Billericay Town hoped to get back to winning ways as they travelled to Cheshunt to take on the Ambers- and former Blues boss Craig Edwards. The Blues won both meetings between the sides last season, but they fell behind early on in this one, Tommy Wood scoring for the Ambers after just five minutes. Aron Pollock ensured the visitors went in level at the break, a forty second minute goal, and there were no more goals in the second half- which means that the Blues have drawn three in a row.
Dover Athletic welcomed Chichester City to the seaside, both sides having gone two games without a win. The sides traded goals in the first half, Ruben Soares-Junior scoring the first and third goals of the game for Athletic, Mo Jammeh and Isaac Bello delivering equalisers for City, but Athletic went ahead once more six minutes into the second half, George Nikaj making it six for the season- and only four minutes later he had a seventh, making it four-two. Soares-Junior completed his hat trick with fifteen minutes remaining, and the majority of the eight hundred and twenty five watching on will have been delighted with a five-two win. Athletic climb to fifth.
Dulwich Hamlet travelled to Chatham Town, twelfth v eleventh. Both sides have had a mixed start to the season despite being highly-fancied for success, and we expected this one to be close. Jamie Yila opened the scoring just after the half hour, but Luke Wanadio’s fifth goal in four matches saw Hamlet level three minutes after the restart. That Chats quickly restored their lead, Freddie Sears making it two-one, and four minutes from time substitute Sam Sene Richardson added a third and ensured three home points- in front of a crowd of one thousand, four hundred and fifty eight. The Chats are up to eighth- and have now defeated Hamlet three times in a row.
Canvey Island had lost each of their three matches prior to the arrival of Wingate and Finchley, but they took the lead after just four minutes, Jamie Salmon opening the scoring. They looked as if they’d hold that lead at half time, and then three minutes into added time Destiny Oladipo grabbed an equaliser. The Gulls were ahead once more just after the hour, Tom Stephen making it two-one, but that lead was quickly extinguished, Luke Deslandes with the equaliser, and four minutes into added time there was disaster for the hosts, Oladipo adding a third for the visitors and ensuring that the points headed back to North London.
Finally, Whitehawk and Bowers and Pitsea met at the Enclosed Ground, with both sides looking for a first win of the season. The Hawks played well to pick up a point at Dulwich Hamlet last time out, scoring their first three goals of the season, but they went behind in this one, Temi Babalola giving the Essex contingent something to shout about on fifteen minutes- and they could have been shouting even louder when Babalola had the chance to make it two from the spot, but his effort was saved by Josh Strizovic. The Hawks levelled eight minutes into the second half, Charlie Walker doing rather better from the spot, and five minutes from time they got the winner, Ronald Sithole earning them three points.
