CONLON IS LEWES’ SAVIOUR
RONNIE CONLON’S dramatic late winner ensured league leaders
Lewes left Chipstead with all three points.
It was the hosts who seemed dominant in the first half despite the layout of the league table, not backwards in coming forward, though they were unable to get the vital goal.
By the second half Lewes showed why they are high-flying in the division, seeing more of the ball without really putting too much pressure on the home defence.
But that all looked to change with just ten minutes remaining, as Saidou Khan saw red for a second yellow card, just ten minutes after his first.
And so it proved as Conlon popped up at the right moment to fire home a late winner from inside the area to keep his side top. Corinthian Casuals were unable to break the deadlock against a well-drilled Hythe Town defence, despite their opponents having just ten men.
Casuals had the first chance when Callum McCallister hit a volley over the bar, while Keiron Campbell’s superb 20-yarder went even closer when hitting the bar and bouncing on the line.
The last minute of the half saw the visitors down to ten when Jordan Johnson-Palmer was sent off, but the second half was a poor affair as the Casuals couldn’t get going, left stuck with a 0-0 stalemate – with these teams the only two in the top 11 not to pick up a win.
Finding the back of the net was not a problem for Walton Casuals, cruising to victory with three quickfire goals after the restart against Ashford Town. After Youssef Bamba saw his penalty saved, Josh Kelly volleyed home the rebound, doubling his tally four minutes later after coolly rounding the goalkeeper.
Fellow Maidenhead United loanee Sean McCormack then drilled in from 12 yards, beating Michael McEntegart.
Tyrell RichardsonBrown wrapped it up, linking up with fellow substitute Jack Battie to roll into the bottom corner for the 4-0 win.
Cray Wanderers kept the pressure on leaders Lewes with a battling 1-0 victory over Guernsey, though Michael Power’s header proved contentious.
With the free-scoring title-chasers facing a leaky Guernsey rearguard, many expected a hammering, but the hosts set out to defend deep and frustrate their visitors.
But they couldn’t stop Power – seemingly a yard offside – as he flicked Ben Mundele’s cross in.
Carshalton’s afternoon was far more comfortable however, easing to a 4-1 win over VCD Athletic. That included a double for Ola Sogbanmu, the first coming from a short corner routine before heading home five minutes from the break. Greenwich Borough, the other team to occupy the play-off places, also picked up three points with Jack Barham firing home from 12 yards, despite being swarmed by
Herne Bay defenders. At the other end of the table, the gloom continues to set in for Shoreham, still with just five points to their name after a 2-0 loss to Phoenix Sports.
Jack Barry’s superb towering header opened the scoring in the first half, while Jeff DuahKessie kept his cool to fire low inside the area. Molesey lost 2-1 to
Faversham Town while East Grinstead picked up a vital three points as Will Hoare fired home for the only goal against Ramsgate.