Giants slain and goals galore!

FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round

Worthing have had a marvellous start to their Bostik League season, and went into yesterday’s match at Chelmsford City sitting comfortably in second place in the Premier Division. That said, Chelmsford City, in eighth place in National League South, looked to be a tough nut to crack. James Crane thought otherwise, however, and cracked that particular nut not once but twice, restoring the lead for the Mackerel Men after former AFC Wimbledon and Gillingham midfielder Chris Whelpdale grabbed a second half equaliser.

Elsewhere in Essex, Worthing’s South Coast neighbours Whitehawk headed to another Conference South side, Romford’s landlords East Thurrock United. The home side hadn’t had the best of starts this season, and the Hawks took advantage, a Jason Williams double with a Henry Muggeridge goal in between sealing a 3-2 win.

Another Sussex side, Hastings United, travelled to a Leiston side flying in Evo-Stik Southern Premier Central, Glen Driver’s Leiston- but the U’s are flying too, and yesterday they had too much altitude to be caught by the Blues. Daniel Ajakaiye gave the U’s an early lead only for Joe Jefford to cancel it out, and when Matt Blake put Leiston ahead shortly afterwards the home side must have been fairly confident of victory. They’d have been wrong, however. Sam Adams equalised fifteen minutes before the break, and then Kelvin Ogboe and an Adams penalty gave Hastings a two goal cushion, and although Blake reduced it to one the U’s held out for a famous victory.

Gosport Borough, ninth in Evo-Stik Southern Premier South, were the next to be put to the sword. Borough manager Craig McAllister has fantastic cup pedigree, being an integral part of a then non-league Crawley Town side which played Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Fifth Round earlier this decade, but his experience did him no good against Ramsgate yesterday. Although he found the net, the Rams found it more often, two from Kyron Lightfoot and one from Rory Smith giving them a 3-2 victory.

Our former Premier Division club Lowestoft Town have had a reasonable start to life in Evo-Stik Southern Premier Central, but they won’t have enjoyed a Bostik revisit yesterday as a goal from Harvey Killeen saw Hanwell Town march on to the next round at their expense.

Coggeshall Town also defeated a ‘giant,’ although this giant, Walton Casuals, hadn’t been a giant for all that long! Sitting fourteenth in Evo-Stik Premier South, Casuals were on a good run with three straight victories, but a goal in each half from Ross Wall and Michael Gyasi gave the Seedgrowers victory.

Leatherhead were the big scorers of the day in the Cup, thrashing six past Haverhill Rovers with Elliot Benyon and Travis Gregory getting two each, whilst Shaun Okojie and Robert Cullen grabbed the others. Mole Valley rivals Dorking Wanderers also won big at Leverstock Green, Jason prior, Niall Mcmanus, Tom Tolfrey and Kieran Lavery finding the net in a 4-2 victory.

In the first of our all-Bostik clashes at Runneymede, South Central Egham Town came from 2-0 and 3-1 behind to earn a draw against Premier Brightlingsea Regent. A Kezie Ibe brace and a last minute equaliser for the Sarnies through Enock Soganile earned them a replay, after a Matthew Baxter opener and a brace from Josh Gould had put Regent in the driving seat.

Two more Bostik sides who need to replay are Bognor Regis Town and AFC Sudbury, who shared two goals at Nyewood Lane, both coming in the opening eleven minutes through Harvey Whyte for the home side and Callum Harrison for Sudbury, whilst Lewes will also have to do it again after a 1-1 draw at Kings Langley, Jonte Smith with the Rooks goal.

AFC Hornchurch eased through with a 2-1 win at home to South East side East Grinstead Town, Sean Marks giving the Urchins victory after George Landais had cancelled out a George Purcell opener, whilst Haringey Borough despatched Erith Town 2-0, Joel Nouble and Chinedu McKenzie with the goals.

Horsham somehow won a seven goal thriller against last year’s cup heroes Heybridge Swifts, despite being 2-0 down after a quarter of an hour. George Craddock and Alejandro Seoane-Barber put Swifts in control, only for Steve Metcalf and Joe Shelley to equalise, but Nicholas Brown then gave the away side the lead once more half way through the second half. Late goals from Rob O’Toole and Chris Smith, however, made Howie a Happy Hornet!

Our other sides did less well. Tonbridge Angels were the subject of our #bostikmatchday feature, as they travelled to our former favourites Dulwich Hamlet, and you can read HERE how they fought bravely but succumbed 3-1 after playing the entire second half with only ten men to lose for the first time this season. Bowers and Pitsea have had a fabulous start to the league campaign but were taught a lesson by Hemel Hempstead Town of National League South yesterday, falling 6-1 despite a late David Knight penalty, whilst Margate went down 2-0 to Sammy Moore’s Concord Rangers.

FC Romania succumbed 2-0 at home to Beaconsfield Town, Burgess Hill Town went down 3-0 at Gary Mccann’s Hampton & Richmond Borough, Hayes & Yeading perhaps surprisingly lost 1-0 at home to Moneyfields, whilst went down 1-0 at Kempston Rovers.

Great Wakering Rovers and Tooting & Mitcham United went to National League South opposition, Wealdstone and Woking respectively, and lost 2-0/ 4-0.

Phoenix Sports and Whyteleafe must wait for FA decisions to see whether they get to play their ties at all.

Premier Division

We had but one match in the Premier Division yesterday, and it saw Bishop’s Stortford move up to 14th with a 3-1 win over Carshalton Athletic. All the action came in the second half, Alfie Mason giving the home side the lead seven minutes after the interval before Michael Dixon replied. But Ryan Charles then restored the lead, and a late effort from Jamie Cureton made things more comfortable for the Blues.

North Division

Before yesterday North Division leaders Basildon United had got to the summit on the basis of the sound defence, scoring only six goals in four matches. They now have eleven in five, after slamming five past Witham Town yesterday- although their defence suddenly became rather more porous as they also conceded three! It was only late in the match that United became dominant, after George Powell and Sam Ashford for Town and Reece Price-Placid and Eljay Worrell had sent the sides back to the dressing toom with two goals each at half time. Joseph Turpin then gave Basildon the lead, only for Ashford to equalise, but two late goals from Brian Moses kept United at the summit.

Aveley are second, an Andrew Freeman goal at Soham Town Rangers giving them all of the points, whilst Maldon & Tiptree are third, the Jammers continuing their good form with a 2-1 win at Barking- Shane Cojocarel and George Sykes with their goals, Jack McQueen with the consolation for Barking. Felixstowe and Walton United are fourth, courtesy of a hard fought 2-1 win at home to Romford- Miles Powell and Jack Ainsley with their goals whilst Taylor Tombides replied for the Boro.

Late drama on the Island saw Canvey earn a point with Brentwood Town in a 2-2 draw, a Jordan Cox double for the home side whilst Tony Stokes and Albert Levett scored for Town, whilst Grays Athletic (Michael Mignot) and Mildenhall Town (the newly signed Panayiotis Boxer) gave both sides a point at Parkside.

South Central

Six matches, six wins, nineteen goals scored and only two conceded- if those Heineken adverts featured football they’d star Bracknell Town! The Robins travelled to the Tangerines yesterday, and put Ashford Town to the sword, a Joe Grant hat trick being added to by Gavin James and Liam Ferdinand saw Town stay three points clear at the top. Second place Waltham Abbey have lost but once this season- you’ve already guessed who beat them- and yesterday continued their fine form with a 2-1 win at South Park, coming from behind after Jay Bradley had given Mick Sullivan’s side a 50th minute lead. Ronnie Winn and Charlie Stimson got the Abbotts goals.

Hertingfordbury Park not only has one of the longest names in the known football world but saw the most goals of any Bostik stadium yesterday- nine of them, as Hertford Town defeated Bedfont Sports 5-4. Dave Keenleyside got a brace for the home side, with Romaric Logan, Tyler Hatherly and Elliott Bailey with the others, whilst Abdeen Temitrope Abdul (2), Jack Mills and Charlie Postance replied for Sports.

Northwood Park only saw a slightly disappointing seven goals (!), James Ewington getting three of them in a 6-1 victory for the home side. Matthew Cooper, Jerome Slew and Carl Pearce got the rest of Northwood’s goals, whilst Dylan Cascoe got a consolation for poor Molesey.

Finally, Cheshunt are third, and a surely lacklustre performance saw them score only four at Westfield! An Oluwole Akinsanya hat trick did most of the damage whilst Jason Hallett helped, and Arron Watson got Westfield’s consolation.

South East

Two of the form sides met at Hayes Lane, with leaders Cray Wanderers entertaining Hythe Town, and the expected excitement was delivered in bucketloads as they shared seven goals between them, Wands maintaining their 100% record with a 4-3 victory which sees them go six points clear. In a topsy-turvy game Jay Leader and Freddie Parker gave the home side what should have been a decisive lead, only for Kieron Campbell and Chris Kinnear to level things before half time. Sean Roberts then made it 3-2 to Cray, but Zak Ansah scored his customary goal to level things once more with ten minutes to go. But it wasn’t over, and Jay Leader struck once more to give Wands all three points with three minutes to go.

Sevenoaks Town picked up their first ever Bostik League win- and moved up four places- with a 3-1 victory at VCD Athletic. All the goals were scored in the first half, the Oaks three in seven minutes before the break, Osman Proni, Alec Fiddes and Frankie Sawyer with them after Charlie MacDonald had given Vickers the lead.

Haywards Heath Town (Callum Saunders) and Ashford United (Jordan Johnson) and Whitstable Town (Tom Walmsley) and Three Bridges (Joe Tennent) saw their matches end 1-1.

Velocity Trophy

There were wins for two of our Premier League sides in the Velocity Trophy.

Merstham travelled to Thamesmead Town and took a three goal half time lead through Kenny Beaney (2) and Kershaney Samuels, but Mead then got two back- Nassim Dukali and Trey Williams- before Walter Figueira made it safe for the Moatsiders in the very last minute.

Enfield Town hosted Ware, and goals from Billy Bricknell and Billal Sayoud gave them a 2-1 win. Jack Daveney replied for the away side.