Loan Watch: Boateng Ends Year-Long Goal Drought

As we get beyond the halfway point in the 2025/26 campaign, a whole of host of U’s in both the first team and academy continued to gain crucial minutes out on loan.

Continue reading for the full run-down.

First up, Sutton’s most recent departure Will Tizzard made his debut for Torquay United against Chelmsford City, playing 45 minutes off the bench as the Gulls fell to a disappointing 5-0 defeat against Chelmsford City.

This brought an end to Paul Wotton’s time in charge at Plaimoor after losing four of their last five games, and the Devon-based side will now be taken over by former Sheffield United, Queens Park Rangers, Leeds United, Crystal Palace, Rotherham United, Cardiff City, Middlesbrough and Huddersfield Town boss, Neil Warnock, who rejoined the club as a football advisor in May 2024, having previously managed them back in 1993. The Gulls kick-start life under Warnock with the visit of Farnborough tomorrow.

Liam Vincent began life on loan at Dorking Wanderers in successful fashion, with the wing-back replacing Dennon Lewis with 12 minutes remaining as the Surrey-side extended their lead at the top of the National League South to eight points with a 2-1 win over Eastbourne Borough, a side which contained former Sutton captain Craig Eastmond.

He subsequently made his first start as Wanderers closed out the month at home to Chesham United, playing 73 minutes as his side were held to a 1-1 draw against the Generals.

Dillon De Silva joined Maidenhead United for his third loan of the campaign, and made his first appearance for the Magpies on the same day, debuting off the bench with 17 minutes remaining as Ryan Peters’ side sealed a 1-0 win over Tonbridge Angels, courtesy of a late Matt Robinson strike.

He followed this up with a nine-minute cameo against former club Torquay United, going ever so close to a late winner before ultimately being held to a 1-1 draw in Devon, before an increased opportunity came the following week when he was introduced with over 20 minutes to go. The Sri Lanka international made use of his chance, notching an assist when he fired a ball across the face of goal for Liam Dulson to latch onto and smash home, giving Maidenhead a 2-0 advantage against another of his former clubs Dagenham & Redbridge late on after Josh Umerah had secured an early lead.

He was subsequently rewarded with his first start for the Magpies, and saw him notch a second assist in as many games against Salisbury when he swung in a dangerous corner that was met by towering header at the near from Manny Onarise, cementing De Silva’s impact on the stroke of half time before being replaced by Josh Popoola just before the hour-mark, ahead of what ended up a 2-1 win for Maidenhead.

De Silva went on to close out the month with successive starts, going close to an early goal contribution against Chippenham Town when his free kick caused danger in the box, and was unable to prevent the Magpies from going behind before being substituted on the hour-mark, though his teammates were unsuccessful in their attempt to draw level without him.

Up north, Jaiden White headed to Bedford Town for his first involvement with Chester, having signed on the eve of the Seals’ National League North clash at The New Eyrie. Being handed the number 29 shirt, White was named on the bench before debuting with a little under 20 minutes to go, being a part of the team that completed the most dramatic of turnarounds, with goals from Phil Croker and Fin Shrimpton in the final moments stealing the three points away from the Eagles’ grasp, having led since the half-hour mark through Josh Castiglione’s strike.

He then followed it up with another substitute appearance, this time replacing Connor Woods with nine minutes remaining as the Seals drew 2-2 with Alfreton Town, before being uninvolved in their 2-0 win over Leamington, courtesy of goals from Patrick Jones and Tom Davies, and 5-2 defeat against former club Hereford, which took place at Champ Rugby side Worcester Warriors’ Sixways Stadium.

White soon returned to action though with a 23-minute substitute appearance against Spennymoor Town, with the Seals going on to secure a 2-1 win in Calum McIntyre’s final game in charge, with their long-serving boss departing after almost four years in the Chester hotseat.

Back in London, Eduino Vaz and Nana Boateng got off to a delayed start to February when their clash with Enfield Town was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, but returned to action with the visit of highflying Hornchurch later in the week.

The former started against the Urchins and put in a couple of promising deliveries during the early stages as the Beavers looked to carve open their opponents’ defence, though it was Daryl McMahon’s side who drew first blood, with former U Henry Sandat opening the scoring when debutant Aaron Maguire palmed a shot into his path; Sandat making no mistake from the rebound.

Vaz continued to display plenty of attacking threat though, notably producing a wonderful solo run that took him past three defenders before stinging the gloves of Arthur Nasta with an effort that was destined for the back of the net, but it wasn’t enough to keep Hampton in it as Angelo Balanta doubled Hornchurch’s lead before half time. The Guinea Bissaun remained dangerous going forward throughout the second half, going close to scoring with a free kick and a volley, before being joined by Boateng with 13 minutes to go, and was followed by a dramatic finale – in the Beavers’ favour.

An own goal from Harry Gibbs in the first minute of stoppage time was followed by a 95th minute strike from captain Alan Massey, who rescued a point at the death at the Beveree Stadium, and Vaz’s display earned him a place in the division’s Team of the Week.

He subsequently continued his good form, alongside Boateng who made his first league start in almost a year, as the Beavers took on Hemel Hempstead Town and made it five unbeaten.

The duo contributed to a crucial 3-0 win over the Tudors, both completing 90 minutes, and while their previous encounter saw Vaz produce perhaps his best performance of the season, this time it was Boateng’s night, with the forward getting on the scoresheet for the first time since February 2025.

Marking his first start for the club – against the side he had spent time on loan at earlier this season – Boateng produced a lovely finish on his left foot, curling the ball into the bottom corner through a crowd of bodies to double the Beavers’ lead, and was followed by Brendan Kiernan adding his second of the evening to seal a comfortable win at the Beveree Stadium, with Boateng also playing a full match for the first time since last season’s 4-1 defeat against Ebbsfleet United as he continued his resurgence within National League football.

The forward was subsequently rewarded with his first start – alongside Vaz – with the duo playing 90 minutes as the Beavers’ unbeaten streak came to an end at the hands of Chelmsford City, before being dropped as Hampton drew 1-1 with AFC Totton, a clash where Vaz once again started and finished.

The former Millwall forward subsequently returned to the side as Alan Dowson’s side hit Bath City for four, with Vaz involved in the opener. The Guinea-Bissaun kicked off a counter-attack that led to Ronan Silva firing a shot that deflected into the path of Max Kretzschmar, who made no mistake with the rebound, with the Beavers eventually running out 4-0 winners after late goals from Craig Fasanmade and Reece Grego-Cox, while Vaz was subsequently named in the division’s Team of the Week for the second time.

Boateng later dropped to the bench as Hampton prepared to take on Tonbridge Angels, with the forward replacing Paul Field with 22 minutes to go as the duo both failed to prevent the Beavers from falling to a 2-0 defeat at the Longmead Stadium, before losing once again at the hands of an Eastbourne Borough side who were captained by former U Harry Phipps.

While Boateng was uninvolved, Vaz started and produced the Beavers’ best chance of the second half, with Dowson’s side soon falling to defeat despite Max Kretzschmar drawing level with a little over 20 minutes to go.

Moving down the divisions, Folkestone Invicta continued their superb streak in the Isthmian Premier Division, with Alex Woodyard completing his first 90 minutes since a 1-1 draw between Colchester United and Chesterfield in October 2024.

Goals from Joel Odeniran, Jake Hutchinson (2), Joe Pigott and Jonathan Lawson sealed a 5-0 win over Lewes, with the Stripes extending their lead at the top of the division to 14 points after recording their biggest away win since March 2023, and they followed it up with a fourth successive win, with second half strikes from Hutchinson and Ryan Kingsford sealing a 2-0 triumph; Woodyard completing the full match again, before doing the same again as they beat Hashtag United 1-0.

Woodyard subsequently continued his run of starts as Invicta fell to their first defeat seven games, with Elliot Long scoring what proved to be the winner for Billericay Town.

Over in Essex, Kane Crichlow’s Chelmsford City continued their poor luck in their clash with Farnborough, with the Clarets’ trip to the Saunders Transport Community Stadium being postponed for a second time due to a waterlogged pitch, before suffering two more successive postponement with their clashes with AFC Totton and Hornchurch being called off, with the referees deeming the playing surface at both the Dunmow Group Community Stadium and the Hornchurch Stadium unplayable.

The Clarets finally got the month underway with a visit to Hampton & Richmond Borough; Crichlow being an unused substitute as goals from Aaron Taylor and Jett Murphy (2) sealed a 3-1 win against Vaz’s and Boateng’s Beavers, before remaining on the sidelines again in a 1-1 draw with Maidstone United.

He later returned to action with a two-minute cameo in a 2-2 draw with Salisbury; Lyle Taylor scoring a stoppage time equaliser against the Whites after former U Mo Dabre was sent off 14 minutes from time.

This was then followed by a dramatic winner of his own, with Crichlow popping up in the fifth minute of added time to seal a late winner against Hemel Hempstead Town. Having entered the fray with just six minutes plus stoppage time remaining, alongside former Chesterfield forward Jesurun Uchegbulam, the latter flicked the ball round the corner into Crichlow, who kept his cool and slotted past Michael Johnson to extend their unbeaten run to four games.

Crichlow subsequently played 15 minutes as the Clarets beat Torquay United 5-0 on the final day of February, and return to action with the visit of Bath City on Saturday.

Down in the academy, Noah Nzuzi had to wait to kick off February after Carshalton Athletic’s clash with Welling United was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, but soon got the month underway when he played the first half of a 3-1 defeat at Hashtag United, being replaced at the interval by Tommy Bradford with the score level.

He later came off the bench in 2-1 defeats at home to Ramsgate and away at Potters Bar Town.

Tito Salaam’s Hastings United had little better luck, with the U’s clash with Three Bridges also being called off due to a waterlogged pitch at the Pilot Field, before playing two minutes off the bench in a goalless draw at home to Luke Ashburn’s Merstham as well as the bulk of the second half in a 3-0 defeat against Deal Town.

He later contributed to a 3-0 win over East Grinstead Town, coming on on the hour-mark to help see out the victory.

On a more positive note, George Vorster continued to be a crucial member of the team at Burgess Hill Town, starting as the Hillians prepared to host St. Albans City, though they would fall to defeat at the hands of a first half Kieran Petrie strike. Despite his best efforts for the remainder of the half, he was replaced at the interval, with his teammates unable to find a leveller after the break.

He retained his place in the starting XI though in the Hillians’ 3-1 defeat to Whitehawk, contributing to Kaan Bennett’s opening goal when he got in behind and delivered a ball to Ben Pope, who laid it off to Bennett to smash it past the goalkeeper. He was later replaced by Jay Beckford with a little under 20 minutes to go, moments after they had gone behind.

Vorster then maintained his fine form as Gary Mansell’s and Jay Lovett’s side overcame Wingate & Finchley, with the winger notching a late winner at Leylands Park. After early goals from Bobby Price, Bennett and Ryan Lowe saw Burgess Hill take a 2-1 lead into the break, Vorster restored their advantage when he beat his man and bore down on goal before seeing his shot deflected over the line, and proved to be the winner after Wingate reduced the deficit again in stoppage time.

The forward then went on to add his tenth goal of the season with a late winner against Canvey Island, making no mistake from the penalty spot in second half stoppage time.

Finally, Ned Hepburn’s Grays Athletic would also fall victim to the weather, with their clash against Wroxham being postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, before playing 87 minutes as the Blues fell to a 2-0 defeat against Heybridge Swifts.

He subsequently came off the bench at the start of the second half against Waltham Abbey, replacing Aron Gordon, but he was unable to prevent his side from losing again by the same scoreline as the previous week, before playing almost the full match as the Blues beat Bowers & Pitsea 2-0, with his display earning him the Man of the Match award.

In addition, Luke Ashburn’s loan at Merstham has come to an end, while Mehmet Halim and Liam Moore continue to recover from their respective injuries which has caused them to temporarily return from their spells at Leatherhead and Cray Valley (PM).