AMBERS HELD BY BLUES AND PARK BATTLE BACK
TEN-MAN Cheshunt suffered a slight setback in their play-off push but battled back to claim a creditable 2-2 draw with Hertford Town.
The Ambers made the perfect start when Joe Re forced a corner and Dave Kendall rose highest to head home.
In truth, they could have closed the game out in the first half but Mark Hughes hit the bar and Olu Akinsanya blazed over from close range.
The visitors approached the match with the sole intention of stifling their opponents, but did equalise from a needless freekick, Jay Lovell stooping at the near post to head home.
Cheshunt had opportunities to score throughout the first half but squandered and paid the penalty when Ben WardCochrane latched on to a short pass back to slot home.
The Ambers continued to create the better chances and skipper Mark Hughes scrambled in an overhead kick to level the score.
Olu Akinsanya missed a penalty and Jordan Westcott fired over late on for the Ambers as Hertford held on for a derby day draw.
But the hosts finished the stronger, despite captain Hughes seeing red, reacting petulantly but somewhat understandably given the constant foul play aimed in his direction.
South Park staged their very own late surge, claiming a hardearned 1-1 draw against Tooting & Mitcham having chased the game.
Tooting opened the scoring in the 20th minute when a defensive mistake allowed Danny Bassett to put Stefan Ilic through and he scored with a low drive. Two minutes later, Eddie Dines nearly made it 2-0 but the visitors’ keeper Michael Eacott saved well.
After the break, Isaiah Jones was clean through for Tooting but Eacott again made a good stop.
South Park then went close in the 59th minute when Great Evans had a goalbound effort blocked by Antonio Simeone.
But a minute later, the visitors were level when Liam Harwood struck home.
In the 82nd minute, Peter Wedgeworth nearly won it for Tooting when his effort was cleared off the line and the scores remained level.
Bedfont Sports continued their fine run of form by beating top six hopefuls Ashford
Town 4-0. Sports’ first shot on target and the first effort on goal of the game yielded the opening goal on 12 minutes, Scott Harris firing a low shot across a crowded box into the corner.
Town didn’t panic and indeed, perhaps more urgency was required when substitute Michael Adeyemi headed home to double the lead in the 28th minute.
Perry Luckins’ red card made Ashford’s uphill struggle even tougher and Harris piled on the misery with another cool farpost finish midway through the second half.
Jack Mills put the icing on the cake in second-half injury time with a close-range finish.
Meanwhile, Marlow kept up the pressure on Hayes & Yeading at the top with a routine 3-0 win over Northwood.
Goals from Junaid Bell, Adam Richards and Marcus Mealing ensured the Blues stay two points off the top.
Tom Tolfrey’s strike on the hour mark made it another miserable afternoon for Molesey, earning Chipstead a narrow 1-0 victory in south-west London. Albert Adu’s brace helped Ware beat Waltham Abbey 2-1, while Uxbridge’s clash with Chalfont St Peter ended goalless.