Hillians silence the Raider!

Seven of our clubs are already through to the final qualifying round of the FA Cup, and two face replays. Here’s a round up of all the goings on in the Cup- and in the Bostik League yesterday.

Burgess Hill Town brought Wealdstone and their raider to the Green Elephants Stadium yesterday, and Ian Chapman’s boys held the National League South side for ninety minutes before delivering a sucker punch just as the fourth official was checking his watch. Ninety minutes were up and the fourth official was waving the added time board in the air when the ball was sent across the Wealdstone box and there was Cheick Toure, meeting it on the volley to hammer home.

The last time the Hillians got to the Fourth Qualifying Round they were drawn against Dartford, and that is again a possibility after the Darts left Needham Market reeling, winning 6-1 in front of 379 supporters at Bloomfields. Sam Nunn got the consolation for the home side, but it can’t have been much of a consolation. Market’s Suffolk neighbours Leiston were nine minutes away from pulling off a shock victory at National League South Oxford City, but their hopes and their unbeaten record went as the home side knocked in three late goals, including two in added time, to give the result a far more flattering look than was perhaps deserved.

Heybridge Swifts, for whom manager Jody Brown was being presented with Manager of the Month and Performance of the Month Awards, entertained Evo-Stik South Premier Division side Frome Town, and marched on with a magnificent two-one victory, goals from Juan Luque and Sam Bantick. North Division rivals Haringey Borough also took a step closer to the promised land, a Ralston Gabriel hat trick at Coles Park plus a goal from Anthony McDonald easing them to a 4-1 victory over Bideford.

Margate won a Kent coast derby, defeating Herne Bay 2-0, Leatherhead came from a goal down to defeat Ashford Town in Middlesex, whilst Enfield Town inflicted a comprehensive defeat on South Division Phoenix Sports, hammering home three goals without reply. Folkestone Invicta, who beat Aylesbury United during their last run to the First Round Proper, did it again at the Fullicks Stadium. Two-one was the final score, with Joseph Taylor and Adam Yussuf firing home for the home side in front of 473.

Two of our clubs face replays, and both earned them away from home against higher division opposition. Harlow Town had been in dreadful form recently, but they went to high-flying East Thurrock United and were ahead at half time, before a Sam Higgins goal earned United a second chance. Billericay Town travelled to Hungerford, and Ricky Modeste equalised in the 67th minute to bring the tie back to the AGP Arena.

AFC Hornchurch, Dorking Wanderers and AFC Sudbury sadly departed the competition, the Urchins not winning for the first time this season as they went down to two second half goals in front of nearly two and a half thousand at Edgar Street. Wanderers were three-nil losers at Concord Rangers, whilst AFC Sudbury went down 4-1 at National League South leaders Truro City, the scoreline perhaps a little harsh given that the white tigers added two goals in the last six minutes.

Back in the league, Hendon took advantage of Billericay’s absence to join them at the top of the Premier Division table, the two sides separated only by goal difference. The Greens struck terror into the Terrors, walloping Tooting and Mitcham United 4-0. Perhaps the biggest surprise was that Niko Muir wasn’t on the scoresheet! Dulwich Hamlet moved up to third with a 2-0 victory against Worthing in Bognor, and Kingstonian continued their impressive run with a 2-1 win against Tonbridge Angels at Fetcham Grove, moving up to fourth. Lowestoft Town shared points with Harrow Borough, whilst Merstham and Metropolitan Police did the same.

In the North Division Canvey Island took advantage of AFC Hornchurch’s enforced absence to go level on points with the Urchins at the top of the table, with victory over Bury Town- but Hornchurch have three games in hand. Dereham Town are third, courtesy of a hard fought 4-3 victory at Waltham Abbey, whilst fourth place Bowers and Pitsea slumped to a 3-1 home defeat to Norwich United- United’s first win of the season.

The South Division saw Lewes go two points clear at the top with a 3-0 victory over Molesey at the Dripping Pan, whilst Carshalton Athletic scored four goals for the second time in a week, but on this occasion conceded four as well, being held to a draw in an eight goal thriller against Ramsgate, for whom Rory Smith got a hat trick. The Robins are second, Ramsgate nineteenth.

Greenwich Borough got back to winning ways with a 4-2 victory at Thamesmead Town, whilst Horsham’s home woes continue, this time Cray Wanderers the side to come to Culver Road and leave with three points- and three goals. Sittingbourne are third, winning 1-0 at home against Hythe Town, whilst South Park slipped out of the play-off placed, losing an entertaining match against Chipstead 3-1 in our Bostik Matchday feature- details here.

Corinthian Casuals kept up the pressure at the top of the table, defeating bottom club Shoreham 2-0.