By JOHN CHUBB
@JohnCphoenixfm
Hornchurch kept pace with the early season frontrunners in the Isthmian Premier League on Saturday, as they won 2-0 at home to Wingate & Finchley.
Chris Dickson – with his sixth goal already this season – and Joe Christou were on target to ensure that Urchins remained in third place.
East Thurrock United fell to a 2-0 defeat at second placed Haringey Borough, but are still sixth just outside of the play-off spots. Goals from Anthos Solomou and George Aresti gave the North Londoners all three points.
There was also a defeat for Bowers & Pitsea who are now in 12th place after being defeated 1-0 at home to Enfield Town.
The match was a tightly contested affair, and it was only a 24th minute penalty scored by ex-Billericay Town and Chelmsford City striker Billy Bricknell that separated the two sides.
In the Isthmian North Maldon & Tiptree remain top of the table and are now the only side in the league to still have a 100% record.
Their fourth win in as many games came at the expense of hosts Aveley, Joe Wicks and Danny Parish scoring first half goals in a 2-0 win for Wayne Brown’s team.
In another all-Essex affair Heybridge Swifts slipped to their first defeat of the season as Grays Athletic beat them 2-1 at Scraley Road.
Mitchell Hahn and Joao Carlos were on target for the Blues before Harrison Chatting scored a consolation for Swifts, who are now two places below Grays in sixth position.
Tilbury triumphed 2-0 away to Witham Town, courtesy of goals from Olawujon Ogunwamide and Brian Moses in the final minutes just as it looked like the game would end as a goalless draw.
There was disappointment for Canvey Island who lost a league match for the first time in 2019/20, as they slipped to a 2-0 defeat at home to Bury Town.
Will Gardner and Cruise Nyadzayo were the marksmen for the visitors but Canvey are still in fifth place.
Another top five side Coggeshall Town sealed a 1-0 victory away to struggling Brentwood Town, who have now lost all four of their opening league fixtures.
Nnamdi Nwachuku scored the only goal of the game ten minutes after the kick-off to give the Seedgrowers all three points.
Bottom club Romford, who are the only other side in the league without a point and below Brentwood on goal difference fell to a 4-3 defeat away at AFC Sudbury despite being in the lead with 17 minutes of the game left.
Ben Hunter put the Suffolk side in front after 8 minutes before Jonathan Nzengo and Jimmy Cox scored in quick succession to put Boro in the lead.
Nzengo added his second on 53 minutes to put Romford 3-1 ahead, but Billy Holland scored in the 73rd minute and Tom Maycock a minute from time to give Sudbury all three points.
Isthmian newcomers Hullbridge Sports grabbed their first step 4 win away to Cambridge City, thanks to Joseph Wright’s second half goal.
But there were home reversals for Basildon United who lost 1-0 to Histon at Gardiners Close, and Great Wakering Rovers slipped up against Dereham Town who beat them 2-1.
In the South Central Division Harlow Town stayed in the play-off spots, as goals from Christian Gyamfi and Terrell Egbri (with a penalty) ensured a 2-1 victory at Staines Town, and Barking picked up their first league point of the campaign with a goalless draw at Bedfont Sports.
