National League South roundup: Worthing climb to the summit as promotion race heats up

By Etienne Jones

A bank holiday top-of-the-table clash saw Worthing climb back to the top of the pile, as they defeated Dorking Wanderers 2-1 on the road.

Torquay United seized their chance to close the gap between second and third to four points with a 4-1 domination of relegation-threatened Bath City.

Maidstone United and Chesham United also won big in their attempts to disrupt the play-off picture, which now has a gap of six points between third and 11th place.

Here is our round-up of Monday’s National League South action.

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Dorking Wanderers 1-2 Worthing

Worthing find themselves ahead on goal difference at the top of the table, as they came back on the road to beat Dorking 2-1.

Sam Beard blasted over for the away side from just six yards in the early stages, before Worthing‘s keeper Taylor Seymour made an acrobatic save to deny Dorking’s Sam Pearson.

The home side took the lead as Charlie Carter lashed Jason Prior’s backheel off the post and in from the edge of the area, sending Meadowbank into raptures.

Razzaq Coleman De-Graft would reply within six minutes for the away side, staying composed to finish past Harrison Foulkes from 12 yards.

 The Rebels’ winner would come in emphatic style, as Remiero Moulton controlled a throw-in well and blasted an effort into the top right corner from the edge of the box.

One win in five for Dorking sees them slip down to second, with Worthing remaining unbeaten in seven to climb to the top of the pile.

Torquay United 4-1 Bath City

Torquay have given themselves a chance to keep the pressure on at the top, as Dylan Morgan’s hat-trick sank Bath City.

Reece Evans gave the Gulls an early lead, with a deflected effort ballooning into the top right corner, before the Romans equalised as Jordan Alves pounced on a poor back-pass and drilled in past James Hamon.

Morgan would get his first 35 minutes in, with his teasing cross sailing past everyone and finding the bottom left corner.

The tricky winger found himself in acres in the second half, stepping inside and out before neatly placing his second goal past City‘s keeper.

Morgan would seal his hat-trick as a teasing cross was passed along the Torquay front-line, before he bent his effort into the top right corner to seal the victory.

The gap between the Gulls and the top is closed to four points, whilst Bath City have four games to find ten points in their bid for survival.

Maidstone United 5-4 Hornchurch

One of the weekend’s craziest games saw Maidstone climb within two points of the play-off zone, defeating fellow challengers Hornchurch 5-4, with eight of the nine goals arriving before half-time.

Stones opened the scoring with John Gilbert prodding home a rebound from Arthur Nasta’s spillage.

Riley Court steamed through the middle for two before Hamzad Kargbo powered a header home for three.

Josh Rees sliced an effort past Lenny Holden to give the Urchins a route back into the match, with Angelo Balanta squeezing in a second for Hornchurch.

Maidstone then restored their two-goal cushion as TJ Bramble’s rob-and-pass gave Foran an empty net to aim at.

Rees would get another back for Hornchurch as he pounced on a loose ball from a corner, and Balanta would equalise in first-half stoppage time, lashing home a dropped ball on the edge of the six-yard box.

Sam Corne would be the hero for Maidstone, however, as his low finish from the edge of the area evaded capture by Nasta, putting the Stones ahead for the last time.

George Elokobi’s men close the gap to seventh to two points, whilst Hornchurch are looking nervously over their shoulder as they slide to fifth.

Chesham United 4-1 Slough Town

Chesham extended a run of four wins in a row to keep their play-off dreams firing, as they completed a four-goal rout over Slough Town.

Alexander Lafleur drilled the home side in front nine minutes in, despite Slough’s best attempts to clear off the line.

Chesham’s remaining goals would come in a seven-minute spell at the turn of the half.

Jayden Bennetts neat footwork allowed him space to piledrive his effort past Michael Edegbe from the edge of the area.

A Mitchell Weiss double, with the first effort lobbing over Edegbe before the second fired in from the edge of the area, putting the Generals in complete control.

Only Tyrique Clarke’s well-placed consolation for Slough in the 79th minute could dent the home side’s performance.

The result has Chesham just one point outside the play-off zone, whilst Slough sit 16th, ten points from any potential relegation danger.

Elsewhere…

Enfield Town had their relegation confirmed in a goalless draw to Hemel Hempstead Town, who dropped points in their play-off race.

Farnborough’s 2-0 win over Horsham means they retain a six-point gap to 21st-place Chippenham Town, who defeated AFC Totton 2-0.

Ebbsfleet United moved themselves into fourth with a 4-0 demolition of Dover Athletic, whilst Maidenhead United survived 83 minutes with 10 men to defeat Hampton & Richmond 2-1.

Eastbourne Borough drew 1-1 with Tonbridge Angels, and Salisbury suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to Weston-super-Mare.

Full results (Easter Monday – National League South)

Chesham United 4-1 Slough Town
Chippenham Town 2-0 AFC Totton
Dagenham & Redbridge 3-3 Chelmsford City
Dorking Wanderers 1-2 Worthing
Eastbourne Borough 1-1 Tonbridge Angels
Ebbsfleet United 4-0 Dover Athletic
Enfield Town 0-0 Hemel Hempstead Town
Farnborough 2-0 Horsham
Maidenhead United 2-1 Hampton & Richmond
Maidstone United 5-4 Hornchurch
Salisbury 1-2 Weston-super-Mare
Torquay United 4-1 Bath City

PICTURE: Jay Wrighte

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