There were some extraordinary results in the Blue Square South on Saturday – not the least of which being Thurrock`s amazing 8-2 win at the Sparshatts Stadium against fellow play-off contenders Eastleigh!
Outcomes such as this usually include dismissals etc., but not in this case. It was simply a case of the Spitfires being awful on the day and the Essex visitors being in form, well organised and able to take the majority of their chances.
The game was more than all over by half time as Thurrock led 6-0 with a Brett Poate own goal setting the tone for the day as far as Eastleigh fans were concerned.
David Bryant struck a brace and Leon McKenzie a first half hat trick to the amazement of the majority in the 435 crowd.
The home side at least `shared` the second period, with Richard Gillespie and Peter Adeniyi`s penalty against a Matt Bodkin double for Thurrock, but this defeat will take some time to recover from, but certainly boosts the play-off chances for Hakan Heyrettin`s side.
Another eye-catching result came at Kingfield where two more play-off contenders, Woking and Welling United, met with the visitors running out easy 5-0 winners.
The Wings led only through a 38th minute Andy Pugh goal but rattled in four more in the second period, with Pugh going on to complete his hat trick and Tom Whitnell and Anthony Finn rounding off the rout.
There were seven goals at Wheatsheaf Park, but it was a much more narrow outcome, with Staines Town moving into third place after edging out St Albans City by the odd goal.
Scott Taylor put the Swans in front after 21 minutes only for recent signing Ian Dunn to score again for the Saints 7 minutes later.
Mark Peters then gave the visitors the lead 4 minutes on, only for Taylor to score his second to restore parity just 3 minutes later.
Mazin Ahmad made it 3-2 to the home side with a couple of minutes of the first half remaining and then Leroy Griffiths added a fourth on 66 minutes. But Gary Cohen`s goal in the 81st minute gave the home fans a nervy finale.
Leaders Newport County continued on their merry way, beating struggling Hampton & Richmond Borough 4-0 at the Beveree.
Craig Reid gave the Exiles a 7th minute lead that Wayne Turk added to on 35 minutes.
Reid scored his second and County`s third 2 minutes later, with Jamie Collins adding the icing on the cake with a fourth second from the end of the game.
Chelmsford City are a distant second after winning 2-0 at the Dripping Pan against Lewes.
Rob Edmans broke the deadlock by giving City the lead right on the stroke of half time and Dave Rainford made sure with a second on 66 minutes.
Two other play-off contenders, Braintree Town and Dover Athletic, were held to home draws.
At Cressing Road, Braintree scored both goals in their draw with Bromley – Mark Jones` own goal giving the visitors a 21st minute lead that Matt Game cancelled out 13 minutes later.
At Crabble, Adam Birchall gave Dover a great start with a goal inside the opening 2 minutes.
However, Maidenhead United recovered to earn a point when Sam Collins equalised 6 minutes into the second half.
Dorchester Town leap-frogged Bishop`s Stortford in the table, courtesy of a 2-0 Jewson Avenue Stadium win against them on Saturday.
Ryan Moss put the Magpies in front after 39 minutes and Matty Groves` penalty second immediately after the restart eventually proved enough.
It was a similar scoreline at Twerton Park where Bath City triumphed over Dorchester`s struggling neighbours Weymouth with goals from Adam Connolly and Darren Edwards within a minute of each other midway through the second half.
It also finished 2-0 at St George`s Lane between Worcester City and Havant & Waterlooville. However, it was in the Hawks` favour to push City closer to the drop zone.
Gary MacDonald after 33 minutes and Paul Hinshelwood on 68 minutes were the visitors` on target.
Second-bottom Weston-super-Mare are really in need of wins now, but at least they didn`t lose at Woodspring Park against Basingstoke Town.
But a 1-1 draw is hardly much use in the Seagulls` situation at the bottom.
Darren Mullings gave them an 8th minute lead that Jahson Downes cancelled out with 10 minutes to go for `Stoke.
