MOSES IS THE BEES PERFECT SAVIOUR

BRIAN Moses was the hero as a stunning eightgoal thriller between Witham Town and

Basildon United ended 5-3 to the visitors.

No goals in the opening 20 minutes was a false dawn as George Powell’s opener was quickly cancelled out by Reece Price-Placid.

Witham re-took the lead in the 31st minute when Sam Ashford scored from the penalty spot after a handball from Darren Phillips.

However, the home side then conceded a penalty of their own as Eljay Worrell levelled to make it 2-2 at half time, with the game showing no sign of letting up.

Basildon went in front for the first time eight minutes into the second period as Joseph Turpin was first to react to Phillips’ shot hitting the woodwork.

Unbelievably, a third penalty was awarded just after the hour which Ashford duly tucked away for the second time to level the scores once more at 3-3 with a grandstand finale in store.

The turning point came when Witham’s Danny Norton was shown a second yellow for a high foot, and after coming off the bench, Moses scored twice to send Basildon top of the league – they have now won all five of their league games this season, the only side to have done so in the division. Soham Town Rangers will feel slightly unfortunate to come away with nothing from their match against second-placed Aveley, as the visitors executed something of a classic smash-and-grab in the 1-0 victory.

Andy Freeman was the match-winner, having created his own space in the box before squeezing it past Josh Pope to give the visitors a 38th minute lead.

It took a collection of superb saves in the second half from Pope’s opposite number, David Hughes, to keep the hosts at bay and prevent them from collecting their first win of the season.

But it was Aveley who valiantly hung on in a game that was far from pretty, though their three points will certainly go down as effective. Meanwhile, Maldon &

Tiptree kept up their excellent start to the campaign as they triumphed 2-1 over

Barking at Mayesbrook Park.

Shane Cojocarel’s header from close range sent the visitors in front after just five minutes. George Sykes extended their lead in the 59th minute as he collected a knock-down and powered home.

But Barking found a way back into the context with 20 minutes remaining as Jack McQueen scored his first senior goal, nodding home from a corner seconds after coming on as a substitute.

But it proved to be too little, too late as the home side suffered their fourth defeat of the season.

Elsewhere, Felixstowe & Walton United triumphed 2-1 at home over Romford – Miles Powell and Jack Ainsley’s first-half strikes were enough.

That was despite Taylor Tombides’ 39thminute reply, which proved to be only a consolation as no further goals were scored in the second half.

Meanwhile, Mildenhall Town missed their chance to capture a first league win of the season as Panayiotis Boxer’s late goal was not enough to beat Grays Athletic at the home ground of Aveley.

Boxer’s goal eight minutes from time came on debut for his club but it wasn’t enough, Michael Mignot the man who netted for Grays in the first half, as both teams were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw, the home side’s fourth this term.