WEEKLY NEWS AND MATCH BULLETIN Season 2011/12 No 22 -:- 9th January 2012 A CLASSIC footballing scene captured by Folkestone club photographer Andy Bowden on Saturday: the ball bulging the net behind a helpless goalkeeper (in this case Burgess Hill’s Joel Harding, beaten by a shot from Darren Marsden during Saturday’s 2-2 draw). One for Burgess Hill to answer: could the man about to walk behind the linesman be Trevor Dove, the Worthing and Horsham midfielder of the ‘80s who won Isthmian League representative honours? INSIDE THIS WEEK Terrors live up to their name..........................................page 3 Strange Saturday for top six..........................................page 5 Latest Respect tables.............................................page 20 & 21 1 ALL THE HOLIDAY ACTION By Peter Butcher – Ryman League Communications Administrator went close as they upped their game in the Premier closing stages, and Richard Jolly hit a post for Stones in added time. TIMES have been tough for Tooting in recent Met Police, who started the day in fifth spot, weeks as they have slid into the Ryman slipped out of the play-off places after going Premier relegation places. But they lived up to down 1-0 at home to Hendon. The goal came their nickname of Terrors once again on early here, too, from the experienced Darren Saturday with a shock 4-2 home victory over Currie who netted his first Hendon goal in the leaders Billericay. 11th minute. Reece Hall fired them ahead after 19 minutes Those two results, and wins for five of the next but Billericay soon restored order. Jerrome six teams in the table, have thrown the play-off Sobers equalised two minutes later and Neil race wide open. Cray have made the most Cousins put the table-toppers ahead on 32 immediate progress, taking over fifth spot with minutes. a 2-1 victory at Canvey. Rob Whitnell’s penalty The second half, however, belonged to the gave Cray the lead midway through the first Terrors. Hall squared matters again on 53 half, Alex Rhodes levelled with a free-kick four minutes and Bertie Brayley put the hosts in minutes later and Jack Clark headed the front nine minutes later. Jay May was unlucky winner just before the break. not to make it 3-3 when his long-range shot hit Cray are three points clear of the Met, Bury the bar but Tooting made sure of the points and Hendon. Bury maintained their challenge through Ronnie Fletcher with eight minutes with a goal midway through each half to beat left. visiting Carshalton 2-0. Lee Reed and Danny It was not enough to lift Tooting out of the Cunningham were the marksmen. bottom four but it was a severe blow to Two points behind, with games in hand on Billericay, who dropped to third after their main most of the sides above them, are Margate, rivals enjoyed 2-1 away wins. who chalked up another of the day’s four 1-0 Lowestoft are back on top after their success wins. They were at home to much-improved at bottom club Horsham, a much closer result Concord and it was no surprise that the only goal, in the 74th minute, came from Kwesi than might have been expected. Hornets, who rd st have only one point to show for 12 home Appiah, his 33 of the season and 21 in the games, restricted the Trawlerboys to a pair of league. penalties, converted by Joe Francis in the At the other end of the table, Aveley’s troubles th eighth and 78 minutes. deepened as they were beaten 2-1 at th Ray Freeman’s 90th-minute reply led to a Hastings, who started the day 18 but moved hectic spell of added time but all Horsham had up a couple of places in their effort to stay to show for their late effort was a pair of red clear of the danger zone. Lee Carey’s free-kick cards shown to Williams Peauroux and Seny gave Hastings the lead after 28 minutes but Diedhiou. Aveley replied five minutes later when a goalkeeping error allowed Paul Shave’s cross Hornchurch were also boosted by a penalty at to find the net. Wingate, Martin Tuohy netting from the spot after only five minutes. Wingate, in poor form The winner came from Kenny Pogue three of late, hit back with a Marc Weatherstone minutes after the interval and a fiery game header six minutes before half-time but Lewis ended with both sides reduced to ten men Smith’s goal soon after the break proved to be after Jordan Woodley and Aveley’s Abs the winner for Hornchurch, who need only a Thompson were dismissed in added time. draw at home to Harrow on Tuesday to take Aveley are seven points adrift of safety in 21st over at the top. place and Leatherhead dropped back to 20th Lewes remain fourth despite going down 1-0 at after their recent good run ended with a 3-0 Wealdstone, where Scott Fitzgerald’s goal defeat at East Thurrock, who are putting their after seven minutes ended the scoring. Lewes own relegation fears well behind them. 2 After a scoreless first half, Sam Higgins put Harrop’s penalty had levelled matters in the Rocks ahead in the 55th minute and headed 24th minute. his second two minutes later. Another header, Harrop was sent off soon after the interval but from Kris Newby, completed a rush of three the Motormen could not profit from their one- goals in 15 minutes. man advantage before it disappeared in the Harrow are just one point above Tooting after 70th minute, when Matt Turpin received a an unlucky defeat at Kingstonian. The game straight red card. looked certain to finish goalless, especially Needham were on the verge of a welcome when a late header from Bashiru Alimi hit the victory when Michael Toner made it 2-2 in the Harrow bar, but Gary MacDonald volleyed the 86th minute and Gardner headed the winner winner deep into added time. two minutes later. North One piece of good news for Needham is that star striker Sam Newson has started running EMIGRATING Enfield Town midfielder Jon again after his knee injury and they hope to Moore will leave for Australia with happy have him back in action by the end of the memories after his last game in England month. brought a crushing 5-0 victory at Romford on It was a bad day for Sudbury, who started it in Saturday and returned Town to the top of fifth place and finished it in eighth after a 5-1 Ryman North. thrashing at inconsistent Potters Bar. Two He played a major role himself, scoring the James Gershfield penalties in the first 25 opening goal on 27 minutes. Neil Johnston minutes put the skids under Sudbury and Elvis added another before the interval and Dave Balic made it 3-0 on the half-hour. Ottley’s own goal six minutes after the break James Baker gave the visitors a little hope with effectively settled the outcome. Rudi Hall a goal midway through the second half but it th made it four with a 79 -minute penalty and was all over when Gershfield completed his Walid Matata nabbed the fifth. hat-trick in the 83rd minute. Matt Clifford Town are back on top because previous completed the rout in the sixth minute of added leaders Leiston were held to a 1-1 home draw time. by Ware, who dropped to the foot of the table Three Essex clubs moved above Sudbury in a week earlier but are now four points clear of what has now become a desperate struggle for Ilford and only two behind Great Wakering as the important places. Tilbury reclaimed fifth their survival prospects rapidly improve. spot as Harry Cook’s 12-minute hat-trick sent They had some luck at Leiston; having put the Ilford crashing to a 4-1 defeat. Bradley Barnes hosts ahead on 21 minutes, Gareth Heath had put Dockers ahead after 15 minutes but Ilford a penalty saved by Rhys Madden before the were still in with a chance of their second away interval. That gave Ware some point of the season until Cook began his spree in the 65th minute. If it was any consolation to encouragement for the second half and their th spirited efforts were rewarded when Ryan Ilford, Lee Hazlewood’s 79 -minute goal was Mattos equalised with two minutes left. the best of the game. It was a similar story for Grays at Cheshunt, Brentwood breezed to a 3-0 home win over where Leon McKenzie gave them an early Chatham and took over sixth spot. Steve lead and Danny Bunce wasted a chance to Butterworth did the damage in the last six make it 2-0 from the spot. Like Ware, that minutes of the first half, scoring one goal and helped Cheshunt raise their game after the making another for Dean Green. Ryan Doyle interval but, unlike Ware, they could not break wrapped it up with a deflected goal in added through and Grays held on to their 1-0 lead. time. They are up to third, ahead of Needham Right on Brentwood’s heels are Harlow after Market whose struggles continued as two late their 3-1 success at Soham. Michael Deane goals condemned them to a 3-2 defeat at scored after 13 and 67 minutes for Harlow, Redbridge. who were much the better side. Joe Gardner scored for the Motormen after Mark Taylor’s free-kick made it 3-0 before only two minutes but Needham rallied to take Michael Simpson managed the lone reply.