Maidstone make their fans happy

The majority of them left happy after the Ryman South leaders beat high-flying Premier side Whitehawk 3-2 in the third qualifying round.

Tim Olorunda put Stones ahead moments before half-time but Hawks hit back with two goals in as many minutes from Charlie Walker just after the hour. Tom Mills marked his 100th appearance for Maidstone with a stunning 30-yard equaliser in the 76th minute and Ian Draycott won it with six minutes left. He may have been lucky: even Maidstone boss Jay Saunders admitted that he expected the goal to be disallowed for an off-the-ball shove.

Maidstone were, in fact, the only Ryman League club to book a place in the first round proper but more will join them. There are two all-Ryman replays and three other clubs have a second chance, while Cray entertain Welling this afternoon
(Sunday).

Leatherhead fought out a thrilling 4-4 home draw with Conference South side Bath. Jerry Nnamani’s second-minute goal gave Tanners a great start and, although Chris Allen quickly replied, Tom Bradbrook restored the home lead in the 14th minute.

Nnamani gifted Sean Canham a goal on 29 minutes and Aaron Brown fired home from long range to put Bath ahead immediately afterwards. Tanners hit back with a Tommy Hutchings free-kick on 56 minutes only to fall behind again when Canham claimed his second 20 minutes from time. Tanners dug deep and were rewarded with a late leveller from Hutchings.

Ryman North side Brentwood have a chance to add a second Premier scalp to that of Lewes, whom they beat at the second attempt in the previous round, after a last-minute equaliser gave them a 2-2 draw at Kingstonian.

Craig Mullen opened the scoring for K’s on 52 minutes and two more goals came in the next nine minutes. Alex Read’s lob levelled matters and Tom Hutchinson headed K’s back into the lead. That looked likely to be the winner, but Darren Blewitt rescued Blues when he headed home a corner.

Hampton and Leiston must try again to settle their all-Premier tie after an exciting 1-1 draw in Suffolk. Charlie Moone gave Hampton the lead with a 16th-minute header, and later hit a post. Leiston levelled through top scorer Gareth Heath two minutes after half-time and they hit the bar twice.

Wealdstone, semi-finalists last season, will be disappointed that they have to travel to Corby, of Conference North, for a replay after a 1-1 draw. Corby had Josh Moreman dismissed with the game only 20 minutes old, but should have gone ahead before half-time. Sam Ives missed a penalty, but made amends with a goal six minutes after the break. Alex Dyer equalised with 17 minutes to go and a post denied Richard Jolly a winner.

Canvey were inches away from beating Southern Leaguers Chesham at the first attempt. Louis Dennis, who had given them an early lead, had a header deflected against the bar in the third minute of added time. Chesham had drawn level in the first half through Dave Fotheringham.

Enfield Town gave reigning Ryman champions Billericay a real fright before going down 3-2 at New Lodge. A header by Rob Swaine and a shot by Glenn Poole put the hosts two up in only four minutes, and it looked all over when Jay May made it 3-0 on the hour. But two goals in a minute, from Tyler Campbell and Adam Wallace, condemned Billericay to a nervous final 20 minutes.

Red cards damaged the chances of two other Ryman sides facing Conference opposition. Ramsgate had James Sherman sent off 24 minutes into their game at Sutton, who by then were a goal up through Harry Ottaway and had also missed a penalty. Even so, it was the 82nd minute before Kyle Vassell clinched Sutton’s 2-0 win.

Thurrock (pictured on the attack by Mikey Cartwright) put up a brave battle before going down by the same score at home to Conference North leaders Brackley, who went in front three minutes before half-time with a Marvin Robinson header. It was the 84th minute before Gary Mulligan added the second, and by then Thurrock were down to ten after Matt Turpin’s dismissal.

Two late goals ended Bognor’s hopes of holding Conference South side Havant at Nyewood Lane. Steve Ramsey’s penalty gave Havant a third-minute lead which was wiped out by James Crane in the 19th minute. Tony Taggart quickly restored Havant’s lead but Bognor stayed in the game until he notched his second with nine minutes left. Scott Jones wrapped up a 4-1 Havant victory in the last minute.