Bath time for Lewes!

Lewes seem to like FA Cup replays at the Dripping Pan on a Wednesday night. For the third round in a row they hosted such an event, this time Kings Langley the visitors, and for the third time they triumphed, goals from Jonte Smith and James Hammond enough to secure a 2-1 victory and a trip to National League South Bath City in the next round. City currently sit in fifth place in the second tier, but the Rooks should head to the city with the spa full of confidence after their eleventh match without defeat.

Back to league matters now, and in the North Division Romford are so far proving themselves as this season’s surprise package. Last night they hosted highly-fancied Aveley at the FutureFuel Stadium, and they ended the evening behind their visitors only on goal difference after a 2-0 victory, Max Bolton and Nick Reynolds with the goals, scored ten minutes before the break and ten minutes after it. That takes Romford to thirteen points- a total they took until mid-December to reach last year. Just behind the Millers and the Boro in fifth place sit Bowers and Pitsea, and they had to be content with a point last night as Grays Athletic came from behind to snatch a late draw. Correy Davidson gave Bowers a first half lead at Parkside, only for Joao Carlos to equalise twelve minutes from time.

In the South East Division there was a clash of the titans between the 100%ers of Cray Wanderers and fifth place Whyteleafe. Cray found themselves behind after only five minutes, Bradley Wilson scoring for Leafe, but the lead lasted only two minutes before Jerome Frederico responded for Wands. Both sides ended with ten men after two late dismissals, Mitchell Nelson for Cray and Bentley Graham for Whyteleafe each picking up two yellow cards.

At Princes Park VCD Athletic climbed to third place with a late victory against Thamesmead Town. Lalor Dell gave Vickers a first half lead, but when Tariq Ossai equalised with nine minutes to go it seemed that a draw was the likely outcome. Ali Fuseini had other ideas, however, taking just two minutes to put VCD ahead once more, and that’s how it ended.

Cheshunt won the only game in the South Central Division last night. Having made the long trek to take on the role of visitors at their own ground, the Ambers scored a goal in each half to defeat FC Romania, Taylor McKenzie and Ricky Sappleton finding the net. Gelu Lupu was dismissed late on for the home side, but the damage was already done by then.

The next match we have to look forward to is on Friday night. Witham Town face Coggeshall Town in the FA Trophy, and must be sick of the sight of their visitors given this will be their fourth meeting in little more than a month.