Rayleigh Town 2 Dunmow Town 0 - Goals from Pat Mills & Owen Barratt enough for hosts to earn all three points and maintain one point lead at summit of Thurlow Nunn South

Thurlow Nunn First Division South, Saturday September 7th

It was about time I gave the Thurlow Nunn South some love on a Saturday so me and my good mate Scott W decided to go and cover one of their games this weekend, and it was over at Thames Road, Concord Rangers, as league leaders Rayleigh Town welcomed Dunmow Town to the Island.

This game was part of eight matches today in the division, more on the other seven contests later, but for now the focus was on this game and hosts Rayleigh Town were having a very decent start to their first ever season as a Senior club, six wins out of seven league games meant they occupied top spot in the division by a point, the only points they have dropped so far this campaign was a 1-1 draw at home to Coggeshall Town.

In fact the only other match they did not win in ninety minutes this season so far was at Burnham Ramblers in the League Challenge Cup, although they ended up winning that one on a shoot out, so they are still unbeaten this campaign all comps, so apart from that and the one league game they have drawn, they have tasted victory in every other game this season, and on three occasions netting four goals in their wins, so they were no doubt looking to build on that superb start with another positive result at home to a Dunmow Town side who to say were inconsistent was an understatement.

Sadly for the visitors they have lost double the amount of games they have won, three wins and six defeats so far as they languish down in 13th spot, they have won big when they have won, netting five, four and three goals in their three wins, but they have had some heavy losses too, 6-0 at Hackney Wick being one of those reverses, this after a 4-1 win at home to FC Baresi.

That result was part of a three game run where they lost all three, but they do come into this contest off the back of a superb 3-0 win at AS London, a team they were smashed 4-0 at home by only a few weeks ago, so it was sometimes hard to know what Dunmow side were going to show up, they were hoping that the good one would show up today, they had to otherwise it would be a long afternoon for the visitors if they were not to against a very good Rayleigh outfit. 

The visitors were mainly on the back foot in the first period as the hosts created plenty of openings, Rayleigh came out of the blocks quickly and it was no surprise when they did get themselves ahead after just ten minutes when skipper Charlie Seaden sent in a lovely corner and found centre half Pat Mills who looped a lovely header over visiting keeper Marlan Hassan and into the net.

And it was only a combination of Hassan and poor finishing that prevented the hosts from having a bigger lead at the break, Dunmow did have fleeting moments going forward, with their number nine Darnell Fuller being the biggest threat, and with the scoreline remaining 1-0 Rayleigh knew it would only take one moment for the visitors to be level in this one.

The hosts needed a second goal but with a second period that became scrappy at times, Dunmow were beginning to believe that they might be able to grab something from this game as it looked as if Rayleigh were becoming tired, but not a bit of it, as after several changes to freshen things up, two of those substitutes combined to double the hosts lead in the 75th minute, Matt Tapley's corner into the six yard box saw Owen Barratt power home a header and give Rayleigh some breathing space.

Another one of the substitutes, Leo Clark, certainly made a big impact as well, and the hosts finished the game as they had started it, on the front foot and looking to increase their lead, but they were unable to add to the two goals they did manage and still ran out comfortable winners in the end, grabbing the three points and staying top of the pile which is the most important thing.

Full time Rayleigh Town 2 Dunmow Town 0

So, a good win for Rayleigh to continue their brilliant start to the campaign, let's look at what else went on in the division today, there were seven other games that took place:-

Coggeshall Town 2 Cannons Wood 1

Jack Charnock put in a MOTM performance for hosts Coggeshall Town who took all three points at home to Cannons Wood who were playing their first match under new boss Elliot Thompson, although the result was almost immaterial for the visitors after skipper Reece White suffered a very serious injury and was laid up on a stretcher for some time waiting for an ambulance so my best wishes to him.

  

Enfield Borough 1 AS London 3

AS London mounted a comeback in the final twenty minutes to come from behind and take all three points at Enfield Borough, the hosts led at the break thanks to a powerful strike from Rory Harding, but with 72 minutes on the clock the visitors levelled when Lamin Bangura converted a rebound. And the visitors then took the lead after Nicolas Sanchez found Kofi Billy who applied the finishing touch before sealing the points with two minutes to go after Alie Bangura netted a spot kick.

Hackney Wick 3 Brimsdown 2

Wickers are still smarting a 100% record in the division after making it seven wins from seven with victory over Brimsdown at Spa Road in Witham. The hosts saw a MOTM performance from Romaine B Wallace as the home side remained a point behind leaders Rayleigh Town with a game in hand. Jordan McNally & Alex Coster netted for the visitors but they have now lost six of their first eight in the division.

Harlow Town 4 Barkingside 0

Ishaq Ameen netted a brace as Harlow kept up the pressure on the top two with a thumping win over Barkingside at The Harlow Arena.  Cav Clarke gave them an early lead but they were unable to double their money until just before the hour mark when Fabion Simms netted, before Ameen netted a third with twenty minutes to go. And Ameen was on target again with ten minutes remaining to complete a good day at the office for the hosts.

Hutton 1 Burnham Ramblers 1

Ramblers netted a 97th minute leveller to snatch a point against Hutton at New Lodge, which was even more impressive after they saw Taylor Nicholson sent off for a second yellow just past the hour mark, and when the hosts edged ahead in the 83rd minute it looked as if the hosts would go onto take all three points.  But deep deep into added on time a great ball whipped into the box found Will Hayes at the far post to convert and grab a very well earned point for the visitors.

NW London 2 May & Baker 2

The match between NW London and May & Baker ended all square at Coles Park, meaning NW London are now two points above the drop zone and visitors Bakers remain just inside the top five on goal difference.

Southend Manor 0 FC Baresi 2

FC Baresi netted their very first win as a Senior Club after they saw off Southend Manor at Southchurch Park. A goal in each half proved to be enough, Isioma Richard netting after just four minutes to give the visitors the lead, and then with three minutes remaining they sealed their first three points of the campaign when Edson Lami found the net. 

Let's have a look at the table before ending this blog:-

The top three all won so it remained as before, with Rayleigh holding a one point lead over Hackney Wick with Harlow Town a further two points behind them, Hutton & May & Baker dropped points today against struggling sides meaning they lost ground to the top three. 

Down at the bottom FC Baresi jumped up two spots and off the bottom after they netted their first ever win at this level, Brimsdown slip to second bottom after their battling loss at Hackney Wick, it's all very tight though after a few weeks of the season.

That's all for now, thanks for reading!!!