SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS

LEIGHTON Town are the new league leaders after an emphatic 3-0 win at home to Hoddesdon Town.

Kyle Connolly broke the deadlock in the 19th minute before two second half Leon Lobjoit goals, one from the penalty spot, sealed an important win.

Leighton claimed top spot as a result of Stotfold’s surprise 0-0 draw away to bottom side London Colney.

For the hosts, it was just a sixth point of the season and one that frustrates Stotfold’s title ambitions.

Along with the draw for Colney and defeat for Hoddesdon, it was a difficult weekend for the other sides in the bottom four with defeats for Colney Heath and

Arlesey Town too.

Heath sit second from bottom after going down 2-0 at home to Biggleswade United. Top scorer Tyler Rhiney opened the scoring for United in the 14th minute before Mason Watkins-Clark sealed the points when he scored from Cameron Hyde’s corner

Arlesey Town’s defeat came 1-0 at home to Dunstable Town. Kelvin Osei-Addo was the match winner when he swept home following excellent work from Danny Webb.

Elsewhere, Risborough Rangers drew 0-0 at home to Baldock Town, Aylesbury Vale Dynamos won 1-0 at

Shefford Town & Campton thanks to Dan Lambeth’s goal, Cockfosters drew 1-1 at home to Harpenden Town and Leverstock Green drew 2-2 with Potton United, Alvin Kyeremeh and Ryan Curruthers their men on target.

EASTERN COUNTIES LEAGUE

TEON LEGGETT struck twice for

Ipswich Wanderers as the second placed side secured a 2-1 home win against Sheringham on Saturday.

The result lifts Ipswich to within ten points of leaders Thetford Town, who weren’t involved in league action at the weekend, and still boast a game in hand at the top of the table.

Third placed Harleston Town lost further ground as they drew 1-1 away to fourth placed Hadleigh United.

Josh Durham had put the visitors ahead but an own goal salvaged a point for Hadleigh.

Elsewhere, bottom side Haverhill Rovers drew 1-1 away to Mulbarton Wanderers as Samson Bello’s second half equaliser cancelled out Peter Lambert’s first half penalty for the hosts.

Miguel Lopez, George Barber and Kaiden Goldspink were all on target for

Kirkley & Pakefield as they ran out 3-1 winners at home to Long Melford and seventh placed Mildenhall Town drew 1-1 away to Ely City.

Fifth placed Woodbridge Town were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Walsham-le-Willows as an own goal for the away side levelled matters after Mark Ray had earlier opened the scoring.

Soham Town Rangers drew 1-1 at home to Norwich United and Lakenheath climbed up to sixth in the table after a 4-2 home victory against relegation threatened Whitton United.

In the day’s other game, Newmarket Town and struggling Brantham Athletic battled to a 1-1 draw.

RORY HAYWARD ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE

ENFIELD continue to set the pace and scored twice in the opening 10 minutes to beat Stansted 2–0, with Aaron Greene and Solomon Ofori on target.

Redbridge stay second as they also won 2–0 away from home, at Saffron Walden Town, with Anthony Martin and Ibrahim Kehinde getting first-half goals.

Mekhi McKenzie was the day’s top scorer, bagging a hat-trick for thirdplaced FC Clacton in their victory at relegation-threatened Clapton. Khyreece Smith-Reid had made it 2–1 at half-time, while Charlie Thompson made it 4–1.

Romford and Ilford both enjoyed 1–0 away wins, at Little Oakley and bottom club Southend Manor, respectively.

Camilo Restrepo scored for Romford and Caleb Kofi Adomako-Mensah for the Foxes.

Takeley scored three first half goals, from Jayden Gipson, Kieran Southgate and Jordan Westcott, as they downed

Buckhurst Hill. Barking were twice pulled back by West Essex, but ran out 4–2 winners. Sam Shaban bagged a double and George Okoye and Kennedy Dariri got the others, while Saliu LoSeye and Ezequiel Franchi netted for West.

Joe Debell scored twice for Stanway Rovers as they won 5–1 at home to Sawbridgeworth Town, with Max Sherlock, Sean Bartlett and Sonny Dutton also getting on the scoresheet. Ben Sergeant scored Sawbo’s consolation.

Mechack-kisoka Asuka opened the scoring for White Ensign, but Matt Travell earned Halstead Town a 1–1 draw.

DAVID BALLHEIMER

SOUTHERN COMBINATION CRAWLEY DOWN GATWICK

saw their lead at the top of the table cut to just three points after losing 1-0 away to Eastbourne Town. Leon Greig scored the only goal of the game for the sixth placed side.

Second-placed Newhaven closed the gap to Crawley in fine style with a crushing 6-1 home win against AFC Uckfield Town. Lee Robinson and Lukas Franzen-Jones both netted twice for the home side.

Steyning Town are up to third after running out comfortable 4-1 winners away to Loxwood and Broadbridge Heath dropped to fourth after being held to a surprising 2-2 draw at home by bottom side Roffey.

Elsewhere, Tom Pearson grabbed a brace for Crowborough Athletic as they comfortably beat Peacehaven & Telscombe 4-1 at home and Josh Bradley was on the score sheet for Hassocks in a 2-0 home success over struggling Alfold.

Sam Cruttwell struck twice for Little Common in a thumping 6-1 home victory against AFC Varndeanians and James Stone and Evan Archibald were Bexhill United’s goal scorers as they beat Saltdean United 2-0 at home.

In the day’s other two games, Horsham YMCA drew 1-1 at home to Midhurst & Easebourne and ten man Eastbourne United secured an impressive 2-0 away win over Lingfield with Charlie Yeates and Alfie Headland both on target for the fifth placed side.

RORY HAYWARD

WESSEX LEAGUE

BAFFINS Milton Rovers beat an improving Alresford Town side, 4-1, in Portsmouth. Miles Everett opened the scoring for Rovers and that was added to by goals from Dillon North and Kelvin Robinson from the penalty spot. Alresford reduced the deficit through Ash Elward but the three-goal cushion was restored thanks to Liam Brewer late in the game.

Pagham failed to capitalise on Alresford losing at the foot of the table as they were beaten 3-0 at home by Laverstock and Ford. Jordon Matthews, Cameron Roach and Russell Jones all scored a goal apiece for the Bulldogs in Sussex.

Stuart Green was again amongst the goals as fourth-placed Bemerton Heath Harlequins won 4-0 away at Christchurch.

Danny Young put Harlequins ahead at Hurn Bridge before Green got in on the act. George Higgins and former Winchester City forward, Greg Peel, also scored for the visitors.

Brin Doyle bagged a brace for Portland United as Kyle Critchell’s side won 2-1 at home to Hamble Club. Jack Barnes scored the solitary goal for the Monks at The Grove.

A crowd of 251 watched as Brett Pitman maintained his prolific form for

AFC Portchester. The former Portsmouth and Bournemouth striker bagged a brace for the Royals in a 3-0 home win against Shaftesbury – taking his tally to 38 for the season. Marley Ridge netted the other goal of the game as Portchester maintained their 10-point lead at the top of the table.

MATT RICHBELL