Hashtag United 3 Dulwich Hamlet 3 - Late goals from Sakariya Hassan & Misha Djemaili see Hashtag United come back from 3-1 down to earn thrilling point against Dulwich Hamlet in their Isthmian Premier contest

Isthmian League Premier, Saturday March 8th

I was over at Parkside in Aveley near Lakeside for an Isthmian League Premier clash between Hashtag United & Dulwich Hamlet for my latest weekend fare in the football world, one of my best mates young son was one of the mascots for the home side and walked out with Tags defender Matthew Wooldridge prior to kick off, which was nice to see, and he enjoyed his day very much too, so was nice to share this with him and his father, and the rest of the inclusion squad, another brilliant thing this club are doing for children who may otherwise feel excluded from such things.

The Tags were having a good season and sat just three points outside the play off places prior to kick off, so knew a win here could take them level with the top five places, Hamlet themselves were at the opposite end of the table and began the day five points above the drop zone so knew if they could shock their opponents today could put more daylight between themselves and the bottom four places with another game ticked off.

The visitors drew first blood in this one when they saw Amaru Kaunda curl home a lovely finish beyond hosts keeper Jack Giddens after just five minutes, disappointing all the inclusion squad sitting around me who were certainly trying to support The Tags, but his was an early set back for the hosts, they really should have found the net on more than one occasion after that during the first period but could not find the net, with visiting keeper Dylan Berry in fine form.

And then with twelve minutes of the first half remaining Hamlet hit the hosts with a sucker punch by taking another chance that came their way, and it was handed to them on a plate really, keeper and defender getting in a right muddle and allowing David Bremang in to round Giddens and fire home, Tags had had all the chances really in this contest but found themselves two goals down at the break, Hamlet had defended well and been clinical when needed up front.

The next goal was crucial, and eleven minutes after the break Hashtag got themselves right back in the contest when Wooldridge, fresh from leading out my best mates son earlier on, squared for Luke May-Parrott who managed to convert from close range, and you felt momentum was now all with the hosts, but what do I know!!!

That is because just seven minutes later Hamlet went down the other end and saw Michael Chambers curl home a wonderful effort from range, starting it outside the post and bending it inside the far one, giving keeper Giddens no chance at all of saving it, it was a blow to The Tags who had only just reduced the arrears but Hamlet now had a two goal cushion once again and a two goal lead to defend, giving the hosts a mountain to climb once again.

Tags though never threw in the towel, and with 82 minutes on the clock pulled one back to set up a grandstand finish, the ball being squared across to Sakariya Hassan who sent a rocket of an effort back across goal into the top corner, and with all the momentum back with the hosts, they levelled the match just four minutes later when Misha Djemaili fired home from inside the box.

Both sides now were going for a winner, it was certainly a superb finish to this game, neither side could force a winner though and grab all three points, meaning it ended 3-3 and a point a piece, a decent game with a breathless ending, not a bad one to watch this one, and enjoyed no doubt by the inclusion squad who certainly enjoyed the entertainment handed out today.

Full time Hashtag United 3 Dulwich Hamlet 3

 

There was a full round of fixtures in the division today, let's see those results and how it affects the table:-

Leaders Billericay lost at home to play off chasing Chichester City, however neither Dartford or Horsham could capitalise as they both lost as well, Dartford were beaten at Lewes whilst Horsham also lost at home to Wingate & Finchley, another mid table side. This allowed Cray Valley & Dover to close the gap to the top three after they both won, Cray winning at Potters Bar whilst Dover saw off bottom side Bowers at The Crabble Ground.

Hashtag's comeback point kept them in sixth but they lost ground to the top five places as a result, everyone else below them from seventh to thirteenth won, meaning quite a few sides are now queuing up behind The Tags in pursuit of a play off spot, Hashtag, Carshalton & Chichester are all on fifty five points and five points off the top five now.

Down at the bottom only Hastings United won, beating fellow relegation threatened Hendon at Pilot Field, which was a big three points to reduce the gap to their opponents and also safety as well, which is now seven points, still a tough assignment but it gives them some hope at least, Bowers are all but down and it doesn't look great for Bognor either if truth be told.

Hendon remain four points from safety but would have been boosted by the fact sides above them didn't win either, Canvey lost at Cray Wanderers and Hamlet of course saw their lead at Hashtag slip away to only pick up a point, but they did increase their gap to the bottom four anyway, six points now, so a nice buffer but still plenty of games left.

That concludes today's blog, thanks for reading as always!!! 

Essex Senior League Round Up (Tuesday March 4th) - Barking, West Essex & White Ensign all pick up wins, Great Wakering Rovers & Little Oakley progress into final of Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy

(Action from Benfleet Vs Barking courtesy of Terry Gilbert (@TerryGi37271613) & Barking FC (@barkingfc), many thanks for the photo)

Essex Senior League, Tuesday March 4th

There were some midweek games in the Essex Senior League on Tuesday night that affected both ends of the table, the bottom two (FC Clacton & Stansted) were both at home and in action and needed points to try and get themselves closer to safety, defeats for either would be another hammer blow to their chances of survival, whereas Barking travelled to Benfleet looking to close the gap to Stanway Rovers at the top, and further cement their play off spot too.

Let's see how those three games on Tuesday went, with Benfleet, West Essex & White Ensign also looking for more points too:-

Benfleet 0 Barking 5

This was Benfleet's first home game since December 28th after multiple postponements due to a problem area on their Woodside pitch, and since that game were they defeated promotion chasing Great Wakering Rovers they have played just the four games, winning at Frenford and Sawbridgeworth, drawing at Bcukhurst Hill & losing just the once, at Ilford last time out, leaving them down in 16th but fourteen points clear of the drop zone.

Visitors Barking were sat in fourth spot before kick off and six points ahead of sixth placed Saffron Walden Town so knew a win here would increase that gap to the side just outside the play off zone, it would also take them just five points behind leaders Stanway as well and up to third, and in the same period that Benfleet had only played four games, The Blues had racked up twelve games in all comps, three times as many, ten of those were in the league, six of them resulting in wins.

It didn't take long for the first goal to arrive either as Sam Shaban put the visitors ahead after just three minutes, and after twenty five minutes it was two for the visitors after Juwon Akintunde found the net for the Blues before the game looked as good as over just before the half hour mark when Shaban added his second of the game as the Blues were now in complete control with a three goal lead.

Then came a sobering moment though ten minutes before half time when Benfleet's Cameron Harris was sent off for a poor challenge on visitors player Jerold Cobblah which resulted in the latter receiving a very bad injury and the game being held up for half an hour, Cobblah was clearly in distress and after he had been moved to the warmer climbs of the dressing room to await an ambulance the game resumed & Farhad Nyanja had time to make it four for the visitors before the eventual half time whistle came.

A short half time followed, and eight minutes after the break Shaban was on hand to compete his hat trick and make it five for a rampant Blues side who cruised to victory and the points but no doubt with all their minds on their stricken teammate who will be on the sidelines for sometime, hoping and praying he makes a full and as swift a recovery as possible. 

FC Clacton 0 West Essex 3

Games are now running out for hosts FC Clacton if they are to pull off a miracle escape, they began the evening bottom of the league and seven points from safety, and with a much inferior goal difference too, it was pretty much eight points, a win could take them off the bottom if Stansted lost to White Ensign, they had picked up two wins in 2025 and really needed to pick up another one against a West Essex side who started the night in 14th spot.

They were miles above the bottom two as well, seventeen points, and were actually closer to the top ten although that was eight points away, they had played seven games as well in 2025, winning three of those contests with one recently at home to Athletic Newham, and if they could pick up a fourth win in eight games this year they could climb up a couple of places depending on how many goals they could win by, but winning was all they needed to do in their eyes and try and get as close to the top ten as they possibly could.

The opening goal didn't arrive till seven minutes before half time, and it went to the visitors as Jaedon Phillps converted from the spot, and ten minutes after the break Zak Oliver doubled the visitors lead to leave the struggling hosts with a mountain to climb, and it was a mountain they could not climb and West managed to add a third goal in stoppage through Nathan Braithwaite to seal a good three points on the North Essex coast and heap more woe on the home side.

Stansted 0 White Ensign 1

The Airportmen are in serious danger of falling out of the ESL and down to Step Six, and just like FC Clacton desperately need points as games are running out, they started a point above the bottom side but six from safety, and having only picked up two point in twelve games since their last win in October, it seems unlikely they would get anything here against an Ensign side who are again punching above their weight.

Both those points did come in their last three outings, but Ensign would prove a much tougher task then the games in which they did pick up those points, the Wakering based side are sitting in eighth spot, to far from the play offs really now to mount a challenge, but they wanted to keep going and see where they could get, and in ten league games since Boxing Day they had only lost once, and won six of those too, so they were in pretty good form.

Ensign had smashed seven past their opponents in the corresponding game at Burroughs Park but found it harder to break the deadlock in this one, but with just over fifteen minutes to go Taylor Jacobi found the net finally for the visitors, sweeping home from close range, and earn the visitors a hard earned three points on the road, and adding to Stansted's woes in the process. 

Let's see what the midweek games have done to the table:-

Barking move up to third spot now after their comfortable win at Benfleet, Ensign are up to seventh after their win at Stansted, a result that leaves the latter second bottom still and six points from safety with only twelve games to go, FC Clacton remain rooted to the foot of the table and seven from safety after their loss at home to West Essex. It does appear the bottom two will have their work cut out not to be relegated at the end of the season.

There were also two Peter Butcher Memorial Cup Semi Finals taking place on Tuesday night as well, one at Burroughs Park and the other at Catons Lane, let's see who made it through to the final of this competition:-

Great Wakering Rovers 1 Woodford Town 0

This was fifth against second in the ESL as two sides vying for promotion to step four put league worries aside for the chance to win a trophy this season, yes Woodford were eight points above the hosts in the table but this would be a very decent battle you would have thought as both wanted to reach a final for sure.

Only one goal was needed to settle this contest, and it came early on in the 13th minute when Harry Talbot gave Rovers the lead, and it proved enough to send Rovers into the final at Billericay Town. 

Saffron Walden Town 1 Little Oakley 2

This was sixth against ninth in the ESL, the hosts still had a realistic chance of promotion with a play off spot and were only five points away, but that was not on the agenda tonight as they looked to give themselves a chance of a trophy with victory over Oakley who were twelve points below the hosts in the league, but could Oakley net a win and give themselves of a trophy instead, promotion was definitely out of the question you felt. 

Walden grabbed an early lead in this one, the home side doing well to keep the ball alive in the box and Solomon Ofori ended up striking home, however early in the second half Oakley levelled thanks to a lovely finish from Jordi Papple and then Dan Rowe converted a spot kick for Oakley to turn this one around early on in the second half and give Walden something to think about.

Things were made harder though for Walden when Ricky Modeste was given his marching orders, and they could not find a leveller which meant Oakley go through to the final at Billericay Town.

That means Little Oakley Vs Great Wakering Rovers at Billericay Town FC on Wednesday 26th March for a chance of one of these sides to pick up the first trophy of the season in the ESL, it should be a decent game on the 3G at New Lodge.

 

AFC Whyteleafe 1 Bourne Town 0 - Gaspar Mico's eighth minute strike proves enough for AFC Whyteleafe to see off Bourne Town & join Whitstable Town, Hartpury University & Andover New Street in Semi Finals of the FA Vase

Isuzu FA Vase Quarter Finals, Saturday March 1st

It was FA Vase weekend once again, and I decided to take in one of these huge ties and make the trip to Surrey and Church Road, Whyteleafe, for the very first time to take in AFC Whyteleafe's home tie against Bourne Town.

Now the hosts only formed four years ago after the demise of Whyteleafe FC in 2021, AFC were formed and are already on the cusp of promotion to Step Four of the non league pyramid, they are top of the Combined Counties Premier South on goal difference and right in the mix for promotion, and have netted eighty seven goals in the league so far this season.

Bourne Town in contrast are celebrating 142 years as a club, formed back in 1883, so in terms of age these two clubs could not be more different, but that would mean nothing on the pitch today, the visitors are from Lincolnshire and ply their trade in the United Counties Premier North and they are also in the promotion shake up for Step Four, although they are seven points off the leaders so need to step on the gas there if they want automatic promotion.

That was on the bank burner today though as the chance of reaching Wembley and Non League Finals Day could get one step closer and be in touching distance for either of these sides, the Semi Final awaited for the winner, and both knew they had what it took to reach this stage and set up a two legged affair for a chance to play on the hallowed turf under the arch on May 11th.

A bumper crowd of 1,540 turned out for this one although there was still plenty of space inside the ground so it definitely was not overawed too much, and there was four coach loads of visiting fans there to cheer on their side too, so a great effort from all involved, it was the hosts though who certainly settled the quicker and they were the ones who grabbed an early lead.

They attacked down the left and the ball ended up at the feet of Gaspar Mico who duly cut inside onto his right foot, got himself into a decent position to shoot, and fired an effort from the edge of the box into the net past visiting keeper Dan Swan, it was a great strike but it seemed a bit to easy for Mico to get the space and strike off, and in only the eighth minute it seemed the hosts would go on and win this easily.

And if only for a combination of Swan and wasteful finishing, the home side would have increased their lead and potentially ended this tie in the opening forty five minutes, but they didn't and Bourne managed to stay in the game, and once they finally settled, which took quite a while, they did create a decent chance but saw a speculative effort go over the bar, but at half time the hosts were much the better side but had only one goal to show for it, so it was still all to play for in the second period.

Could AFC Whyteleafe go on and take control of this tie then, a second goal you felt would end any chances of Bourne getting back into the game, or would the visitors battle and fight and find a way like they had done in previous rounds to make this stage of the competition, well the hosts tempo and levels seem to drop in the second half and they were no were near as dominant in the second period, and at 1-0 it would only take a moment from the visitors and suddenly it would be anyone's.

To be fair though for the majority of the second period the hosts held onto the ball and it was quite a flat and subdued atmosphere and game considering what was at stake, and it only really got going again towards the end of the game, and Bourne so nearly found that leveller after a period of pressure when a glancing header went inches wide of the post, that was the chance we felt and thereafter the hosts managed to see out the game and take their place in the Final Four.

So, in summary the better team won the contest, but they made hard work of it as they never killed off their opponents who could have easily forced penalties towards the end, and a different result may have been forthcoming, but well done to AFC Whyteleafe in reaching the Semi Finals, and commiserations to Bourne Town but well done for reaching the Last Eight, they need to go on and try and achieve promotion now, so good luck with that. 

Full time AFC Whyteleafe 1 Bourne Town 0

So, well done to AFC Whyteleafe on reaching the Semi Finals, shall we see what happened in the other three Quarter Finals and see who joined them in the Final Four:-

Whitstable Town 3 Whitchurch Alport 2

SCEFL Premier Whitstable Town came from 2-0 down after seventeen minutes to net a late late winner to take their place in the semi finals, it looked as though the Shropshire visitors were almost certain to be the ones going through when they made a superb start to this game, Callum Knowles finishing well at the back post after eight minutes before it was two after seventeen minutes when Adam Hailes squared for Harry Bower who found the net.

Whitstable though had other ideas and pulled one back a few minutes later when Ronald Sithole capped a fine run with a good finish, and they found a leveller after the break when Nathan Jerche rounded visiting keeper Jack Sheward before slotting home, and in the first minute of stoppage time the hosts won a penalty which Harvey Smith converted eventually on a rebound after his initial spot kick was saved, to send the majority of the record 2,656 crowd inside The Belmont wild, and the hosts had completed a remarkable turnaround!!!

Hartpury University 2 Erith & Belvedere 1

Hellenic Premier side Hartpury came from behind to reach the Semi Finals of the competition, Erith, one of two SCEFL Premier sides left in the competition, grabbed the lead after eleven minutes when Tommy Whitnell scored, but seven minutes before half time Louis Manning fired into the roof of the net to see the sides go in level at the break.

And just beyond the hour mark Hartpury netted what proved to be the winner when Osborn, who had literally just come on as a substitute, found himself through on goal and he duly rounded the keeper and passed the ball into the empty net and see his side into the Last Four of the competition.

Andover New Street 1 Heanor Town 0

Just one goal was needed to settle this Quarter Final tie, and it came from hosts player Starman Williams just before half time to send the Wessex Premier side into the final four, Heanor, who saw Nice sent off just before the hour mark, did not show up according to their X feed, they were backed by 300 fans though in a crowd of over 1,000 which was a very good effort, but it was the hosts who took their place in the last four.

So, the semi final line up is as follows:-

AFC Whyteleafe (Combined Counties Premier South)

Andover New Street (Wessex Premier)

Hartpury University (Hellenic Premier)

Whitstable Town (SCEFL Premier)

The draw for the semi finals will be made tomorrow (Monday 3rd March) and the two legged semi finals will be played on Saturday March 29th & Saturday April 5th, with the winners playing in the Final at Wembley on Non League Finals Day on Sunday May 11th, good luck to the four sides who have made it this far, well done to all!!!