Hoddesdon Town stay perfect as FA Vase claims a host of casualties

Six league games without defeat, sixteen points from a possible eighteen, and a goal difference nudging towards double figures: Hoddesdon Town arrived at Lowfield for the visit of Enfield Borough with the look of a side that has found its rhythm early. They left it 4-1 winners, with Connor Bolton scoring a hat-trick either side of half time and Freddie Wilkinson adding a fourth, Hoddesdon responding within two minutes of Enfield's penalty to restore their two-goal cushion. Manager Simon Riddle had spoken beforehand of not wanting his players to be "distracted by the early table", but a fifth win in six games, and a first competitive fixture back at Lowfield after the club's summer groundshare with the cricket club, gave the leaders every reason to feel their season is building nicely. Hoddesdon's win at Burnham Ramblers the previous Saturday, sealed through a Harrison Cage breakthrough and a stoppage-time Maurice Abana finish, had already stretched their unbeaten league run before Enfield visited Hertfordshire.

The FA Vase brought significant results across the region. Hertford Heath described their 3-0 win over Sporting Bengal, through goals from Zack Abdelhamid, Kachi Njoku and Sam Robinson, as the biggest occasion in the club's history. Burnham Ramblers came up short at home to a Romford side with recent Wembley pedigree, twice pulling level through Teddy and Stu after falling two goals behind before an late free-kick settled the tie. Basildon Town exited at the hands of Colney Heath, beaten 3-0, while Southend Manor's run ended in agonising fashion, a 1-1 draw with Holland going to a second round of penalties before the visitors prevailed 12-11.

In the Thurlow Nunn South, AS London made it three consecutive league wins with a 3-2 victory over Southend Manor, Josh completing a hat-trick to move to seven goals in six games despite a nervy stoppage-time reply from the visitors. Cannons Wood were held 2-2 by London Fennecs after the visitors, reduced to ten men, rallied through a makeshift goalkeeper.

Among the smaller stories, Rayleigh Town needed penalties to see off AFC Pegasus in the FA Vase after a 2-2 draw, while Hadleigh United's Rocco Leeks continued a rich vein of form with a hat-trick in a 6-1 win over FC Parson Drove. Netherton United's ladies side progressed in the Women's FA Cup on penalties against Sherwood, on a busy weekend of knock-out football.