Ryman League round-up from February 20, 2016

Premier Division Hampton and Richmond Borough 5 Needham Market 0

Needham Market lost 5-0 at Hampton and Richmond Borough on an afternoon to forget at the Beveree Stadium, writes Alex Moss.

Manager Mark Morsley had to leave on the full-time whistle to attend a charity evening, and he could not have made a quicker getaway as the Marketmen slumped to their first defeat in four games.

The Beavers had been knocked off top spot in the Ryman League Premier Division during the week, but made a flying start here as Nicke Kabamba put them in front with just two minutes on the clock.

Moussa Diarra doubled the home side’s lead in the ninth minute, before further goals from Kieran Murphy and Tom Beere left the Marketmen with a mountain to climb in the second-half.

An improved performance after the break saw Needham stem the flow of goals being conceded, with Jamal Lowe netting the only goal of the second-half to complete a 5-0 victory for the title challengers.

Farnborough 3 Leiston 0

Leiston endured further away day woes as they were beaten at struggling Farnborough.

Yet again the Suffolk side had a nightmare first-half, conceding three goals on their first-ever visit to the Rushmoor Community Stadium as Farnborough won their first game since Boxing Day.

All the goals came in an 11 minute spell, as the deadlock was broken on 27 minutes when Charlie Allen sneaked in at the far post to convert a left wing cross, before 10 minutes later the ex-Margate midfielder charged down an attempted Jones clearance and watched the ball roll into the net.

Seconds later John Oyenuga wrestled possession down the right and crossed for George Hallahan who executed a sweet volley for the third. And despite Leiston improving after the break with the returning Christy Finch twice thwarted, they could not find a way back into the game as their play-off hopes were hampered further in Hampshire.

Division One North Haringey Borough 1 AFC Sudbury 3

AFC Sudbury increased their lead at the top of Ryman North with a come-from-behind win on the road at Haringey Borough yesterday afternoon.

The hosts started quickly and took an early lead through Joshua Willer after 12 minutes.

But Sudbury grabbed a leveller on the stroke of half-time, Liam Wales netting after 45 minutes.

And Sudbury went on to wrap the game up in the second half, as Joe Maybanks grabbed a quick-fire brace.

He made it 2-1 after 71 minutes, before sealing the victory just eight minutes later.

Barkingside 3 Witham Town 2

Witham Town’s fight for survival was made even harder as they lost 3-2 to bottom side Barkingside on Saturday.

The tall Luke With scored first for the home side when he out jumped the Witham defence to head home, before the visitors drew level on the stroke of half time when Nathan Korentene converted a penalty.

Stuart Zanone put Witham ahead in the 53rd minute when he headed in close to the post, but two late goals from Michael Spencer won the game for Barkingside.

Heybridge Swifts 2 Tilbury 1

Relegation-threatened Heybridge Swifts rallied from a goal down to beat play-off chasing Tilbury for a vital three points.

The Swifts began the day in the bottom three, but they ended it one point outside the relegation zone, following their win and Wroxham’s 3-0 defeat at AFC Hornchurch.

Oliver Hanlon had given Tilbury a sixth minute lead, against a Swift side who were again missing several key players through injury and unavailability. But Jody Brown’s men bounced back, with Lewis Godbold equalising in the 23rd minute, and then Jack Barham netting what proved to be the winner just 11 minutes into the second-half.

Brightlingsea Regent 0 Phoenix Sports 3

Brightlingsea Regent suffered a big setback,in their quest to make the Ryman North play-offs, with a below-par home performance against mid-table Phoenix Sports.

Adrian Stone put Phoenix ahead in the 34th minute, and two quick fire goals early in the second period from Alistair Gordon and Jason Goodchild, both on the 50-minute mark, killed off the R’s.

Meanwhile, Maldon and Tiptree’s scheduled match at Waltham Abbey was postponed.