Report by Peter Dudley / Photo by Philip Lindhurst

Clapton 3 West Essex 1

The Tons are up to 11^th after they saw off West Essex at The Old Spotted Dog, Brian Kyungu put the hosts ahead in the 17^th minute, only to see Michael Mignot bring West level, but Valentine Iheanyiogu then restored the home sides lead five minutes before the break before Giovanni Palmer netted with fifteen minutes remaining to seal the points for Clapton.  Defeat for West Essex leaves them down in 14^th.

Ilford 2 Barkingside 1

The Foxes came from behind to defeat Barkingside at Cricklefield in the derby, a result that seriously harms the visitor’s chances of survival.  Side did start brilliantly and took the lead after a minute when Craig Jeakins slotted home after keeper Rosetti had made a hash of a goal-kick, but the home side levelled in the 66^th minute when Billy Golledge fired into the top corner.  And with six minutes remaining a Douglas free-kick came off defender Matthews and into the net to win the game for Ilford, meaning they break into the top ten, whilst for Barkingside they remain bottom and now eleven points behind third bottom Manor with eight games to go.

Redbridge 4 Sawbridgeworth Town 1

Taylor Tonmbides netted a brace as Redbridge thrashed Sawbridgeworth Town at Oakside, netting four at home for the second successive game in the process.  Tombides gave the hosts a 23^rd minute lead before Connor Okus doubled that lead on the half hour mark, and then two minutes before the break Billy Willis made it three for the home side.  Tombides then netted his second and The Motormen’s fourth four minutes into the second period, and although Louis Kenny pulled one back for the Robins in stoppage time, defeat for them sees them down in 15^th.

Southend Manor 2 Leyton Athletic 0

Manor helped their chances of survival by pulling an eleven-point gap to second bottom Leyton and bottom side Barkingside with victory over Athletic at Southchurch Park.  Both goals came inside ten minutes, Kye Jude putting the hosts ahead after just four minutes before Grant Francis doubled that lead two minutes later.  For Leyton, who only had 12 players for this big contest, are now looking in trouble although they do have two games in hand although even if they win those things still look tough.

Sporting Bengal United 0 Hullbridge Sports 1

Perry Dunn’s 91^st minute goal saw visitors Hullbridge Sports pick up a huge three points at Mile End against ten-men Sporting Bengal United.  The game was goalless midway through the second half when the hosts were reduced to ten men after a challenge on Matt Rose, and tempers seemed to flair for a bit afterwards and saw one of the visiting management dismissed, but it was the visitors who managed to nick it at the end when Dunn flicked a long-throw over the keeper for what could be a huge goal in the title race.  Sports are now just a point behind leaders Stansted with a game in hand, whilst Sporting remain eighth.

Stanway Rovers 0 St Margaretsbury 5

The Bury Boys continued their remarkable form with another thumping win at The Hawthorns against Stanway Rovers.  The sides had met at the same ground only two weeks ago and saw the visitors cruise to a 4-0 triumph, and they lead on the quarter hour mark when Lanre Balogun was played in and he rounded keeper Peter Haxell before slotting home.  Charncey Dash then curled home a beauty of a free-kick to double the visitors lead, before it was three when Daniel Ferrigno headed home as St Margs went into the break three-goals to the good.  Prince Madu then netted himself to make it four before the scoring was completed when Dash pounced on a rebound for his second and the visitors fifth. It means Stanway are in 13^th whilst St Margaretsbury are now in the top six.

Takeley 4 Saffron Walden Town 0

Hosts Takeley leap-frogged Walden into third spot after they demolished them at Station Road, Michael Castle gave the home side a fifth minutes lead before Coby Miles doubled that advantage ten minutes later.  And when Josh Sykes made it three after just twenty-five minutes, the game was as good as done.  Freddie Burrell did add a fourth just before the hour mark, but the hosts certainly laid down a marker here as Walden’s promotion charge took a beating here.

Walthamstow 1 Tower Hamlets 0

Dwade James netted an 88^th minute penalty as Walthamstow ground out a 1-0 win against a battling Tower Hamlets side.  It’s now five clean sheets in a row for Stow and this win sees them remain fifth and slowly putting themselves into a position to maybe pounce for promotion if others do slip up, whilst for Hamlets, who were reduced to ten men after dissent was shown following the award of the penalty, remain fourth bottom but 13 points clear of the bottom two.

Woodford Town 3 Enfield 3

Jimmy Cox netted a hat-trick as Enfield came from 2-0 down and 3-2 down to claim a point against Woodford Town in an exciting Harlow Arena Derby.  The hosts took the lead in the 14^th minute through Josh Steele, and they doubled that lead four minutes before the break thanks to Jordan Sanderson, but Cox then pulled one back three minutes before the break before levelling the contest up with thirteen minutes remaining.  Woodford then restored their lead in the 82^nd minute through Asher Modeste, but Enfield saw Cox complete his treble and claim a point for his side by levelling with five minutes remaining.  It all means Woodford remain seventh and Enfield 12^th.

Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy Quarter-Final

Tiptree Jobserve 0 Hoddesdon Town 5

Hoddesdon Town are into the semi-finals of the Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy after they comfortably saw off Reserves Division side Tiptree Jobserve.  Cyrus Babaie put the visitors ahead just before the half-hour mark before Chris Webb doubled that advantage seven minutes later.  Mulik Rickman made it three two minutes into the second period before Connor Bolton then made it four two minutes after.  And the scoring was completed with twenty minutes left as Aiden Critchley netted and send the Premier Division visitors into the Last Four.