Bridges stun Premier leaders

By Peter Butcher

THERE were goals galore in The League Cup last night (Tuesday), nine of them at Three Bridges where the Ryman South newcomers produced the shock of the round by beating Premier leaders Hampton 5-4 – a result all the more remarkable for the fact that Hampt

In an action-packed first half-hour, Abu Touray gave Bridges a sixth-minute lead, the visitors responded through Jon-Jo Bates and Mo Bettamere, and Bridges drew level again with a Tim Rivers penalty. Marcus Elliott then put Bridges 3-2 up only for Bettamere to level it before the interval.

Rivers claimed his second on 54 minutes and Bridges stayed in front until the 78th minute, when Bettamere completed a hat-trick in his first start for Hampton to make it 4-4. Penalties looked certain until Danny Willmott stunned the Premier side with a 90th-minute winner.

For drama, though, Faversham was the place to be. Dave Botterill put them ahead after three minutes against Cray but the Premier club replied through Louis Sprosen midway through the half and went ahead through Williams Peauroux just before the break.

When Peauroux got his second in the 76th minute it appeared to have ended any hope of a giant-killing. Wayne Wilson’s 87th-minute goal gave Faversham some consolation – and it turned out to be much more as 17-year-old Kieran Oliver netted twice in the next two minutes to give the South side an astonishing 4-3 victory.

It was 4-3 at Thamesmead, too, where Enoch Adjei’s goal in the first minute of added time saw off visiting Waltham Abbey. Rob Carter had opened the scoring for the hosts on 32 minutes only for the Abbotts to move ahead by half-time through Tom Laxton and Billy Jones. Louis Bristow put them 3-1 up on the hour but quick goals by Lea Dawson and Adjei squared it again and set the stage for the late decider.

Whitstable were the night’s third 4-3 home winners, seeing off a Hythe team reduced to ten men for the whole second half. Jake MacKenzie put the hosts ahead, George Savage replied and then, on the stroke of half-time, Hythe’s Craig Cloke was sent off for handling on the line and James Morrish converted the penalty. Hythe were not finished and Pat Kingwell made it 2-2 ten minutes after the break. Then Morris fired home from 30 yards, John Guest’s header made it 4-2 and Craig Thompson’s late reply was not enough.

Two sides were 5-0 up at half-time. Canvey, indeed, were 2-0 up in three minutes against Ilford and eventually won 6-0 with two goals apiece for Jay Curran, Eddie Hart and Rob King.

Nathan Clarke and Sam Newson each scored twice and Kieron Leabon was also on target as Needham wrapped up victory over Ware by the 42nd minute. Robert Green opened Ware’s account in the 73rd minute but they were denied the minor consolation of winning the second half when Aaron Condon’s last-minute goal completed a 6-1 home win.

Experienced defender Roscoe Hipperson scored twice in the last ten minutes to give Wroxham a 4-2 home win over Heybridge. The host took the lead early in each half through Adam Eastaugh and Matt Blake, but Swifts responded quickly on each occasion, Luke Callander and Ben Newson their marksmen.

Worthing came from 2-0 down to beat visiting Crawley Down. Jamie Cade and Fraser Logan gave the Ryman South leaders a two-goal lead by the 17th minute but Chris O’Flaherty halved the deficit shortly before half-time. Luke Gedling equalised in the 69th minute and Scott Tipper nabbed the winner five minutes later.

It was a late start at Whitehawk, where floodlight problems delayed their match against Merstham until 8.30. Hawks made up for lost time by powering in five unanswered goals, including a Jed Wallace hat-trick. Charlie Walker and Sami El-Abd also found the net.

The night’s other major upset came at Soham, where a 25th-minute own goal by Neil Andrews looked as if it would be enough for Lowestoft. But Soham kept battling and were rewarded with a last-gasp equaliser from Matt Robinson. That took the tie to a penalty shoot-out and Soham won 4-2.

Maidstone’s 4-0 home win over Sittingbourne was less comfortable than it looks. It was the 72nd minute before Ian Draycott broke the deadlock. The visitors had Jason Dolby dismissed shortly afterwards and were punished by late goals from Alex Waugh (2) and Jay Saunders.

Met Police were the biggest away winners. Staforde Palmer gave them a half-time lead at Margate and three late goals made it 4-0.

Waltham Forest almost matched them with a surprise 3-0 success at Grays. Arian Retkoceri gave Forest a half-time lead which was stretched in the last ten minutes by Corey Whitely and Matt Waldon, his second goal in 118 games for the club.

Leiston achieved the same scoreline at Sudbury with first-half goals from Danny Thrower and Emmanuel Osei, and a late penalty by Gareth Heath.

It was 3-0, as well, for Bury at Maldon. Jordan Patrick put them ahead right on half-time, Michael Toner’s own goal doubled their lead and new signing Craig Parker made quite sure.

Sam Taylor, in the first half, and Rob Whitnell, eight minutes from time, inflicted yet another home defeat on Harlow as Witham won 2-0.

Billy Medlock gave Horsham a first-minute lead at home to Walton & Hersham, and he was on target again in the 38th minute. Greg Ngeno pulled one back three minutes before the interval and that was the end of the scoring.

Second-half goals from new signings Daryl McNamara and Callum Ibe earned Thurrock a 2-0 home win over Wingate while a single goal was enough for Hastings to see off visiting Lewes. It also came from a newcomer, Scott McDonald, in the 12th minute.

Redbridge, reduced to ten men by the dismissal of Paul Shave soon after the interval, battled on to beat Potters Bar with a lone 63rd-minute strike by Jacob Cleaver.

The clash of the Casuals went the way of the Walton variety, but only after a penalty shoot-out. Jordan Cheadle put hosts Corinthian-Casuals ahead just before the interval, Liam Holden replied on 63 minutes and the Walton side went on to win 4-3 from the spot. Their celebrations are pictured by Stuart Tree.

Two games went to penalties after scoreless draws. Carshalton won 4-1 at Leatherhead and Bognor came out on top 4-3 at Burgess Hill.

Where next?

Penalty pain for Hendon THREE of the five League Cup ties yesterday (Wednesday) were decided in penalties after 2-2 draws, and in all three of them the supposed underdogs came back from 2-0 down.
Millers thrash weak neighbours RYMAN North club Aveley produced the first upset in the second round of the League Cup tonight (Monday), thrashing Premier neighbours East Thurrock 5-0 at the Mill Field.

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