Crowhurst can crow - but Northiam in hot pursuit

It was another busy weekend of ESFL action

Crowhurst have opened up a four-point lead at the top of the East Sussex Football League Premier Division.

The Crows have picked up 13 points from their last five league matches, the latest of which was a 4-1 victory away to Hawkhurst United on Saturday.

Ashley Kidman's hat-trick and one from Jordan Slater secured three more points for Crowhurst, who are enjoying a marked upturn in fortunes having been bottom of the table when last season was abandoned due to the coronavirus pandemic. Ben Anderson netted for a Hawkhurst side which has dropped to eighth.

Northiam 75 are now Crowhurst's nearest pursuers following their 4-2 win away to Robertsbridge United in a game featuring three late goals.

Hayden Reed, Oscar Garcia-Cruz, Joe Millar and Charlie Stevens scored for Northiam, who have played two games fewer than the leaders. Curtis Coombes and Chris Phillips replied for a Robertsbridge team which has fallen into the bottom two.

Wadhurst United are up to third - a point behind Northiam - after inflicting a first league defeat of the season on Battle Town, winning 3-1 at Battle Rec. Battle are now down in sixth - seven points behind the leaders but with four games in hand.

St Leonards Social climbed to fourth courtesy of a 2-1 success at home to Bexhill Town. Musa Camara and Ben Phipps were the Social scorers, while Charlie Hemsley's goal wasn't quite enough to earn Town their first point.

Punnetts Town rose two places to seventh on the back of a splendid 4-0 triumph at home to a Rock-a-Nore side which is down to fifth after three consecutive league losses. Patrick Johnson, Harry Chatfield, Simon Betteridge and Stevie Worsell got the goals.

With previous Division One pacesetters Bexhill AAC in cup action, South Coast Athletico and The JC Tackleway jumped above them by convincingly winning their respective league matches.

Athletico are the new leaders - by two points - following an 8-1 win away to Victoria Baptists. Tyler Smith blasted a hat-trick, Connor Easton and Nick Gamble scored two apiece, and Dayle McGurk got the other in Athletico's fifth consecutive league victory.