Seventh Heaven- and Hell!

It’s FA Cup weekend, and after victories for Bowers & Pitsea and Tooting & Mitcham United on Friday night (Coggeshall Town and Witham Town played each other and now need to do it again- and again) most of our sides hit the Wembley way yesterday. As always, the competition brought its fair share of joy and heartbreak, so let’s start with the joy!

Herne Bay travelled to picturesque Arundel and played in the shadow of the medieval castle, and went home having enjoyed the experience immensely, having defeated their Southern Combination opponents 7-1. A hat trick from Jake Embery, two from Danny Leonard, and goals from Thomas Carlton and Bradley Schafer gave them victory.

Hayes & Yeading United were also on their travels, heading to Brimscombe & Thrupp of the Hellenic Premier Division. The home club are based just outside Stroud in Gloucestershire. The locals found themselves being treated to the Barney Show, as Lee Barney found the back of their net FIVE times, whilst Josh Chamberlain and Scott Donnelly made matters worse to make it 7-0.

Corinthian-Casuals hosted SEFL Croydon, and the trams were run over, doubles from Warren Mfula and Daniel Cunningham being added to late on by Jack Strange and Warren Morgan to make it 6-0.

In an all-Bostik tie Hertford Town managed five- but conceded three to Tilbury. The Dockers were level at 3-3 when their keeper Ashlee Jones received his marching orders, and the ten men were unable to hold out for the remaining twenty five minutes. Ben Ward-Cochrane (2), Dave Keenleyside, Tommy Wade and George Beattie got the home sides five, whilst Tom Anderson, Hussain Jaffa and Lewis Smith had got Tilbury on level terms.

South Central Division leaders Hanwell Town were amongst our next highest scorers. They travelled to North Leigh of Southern League Division One Central, and came away with a four-two victory, with goals from Calum Duffy, Oliver Duffy, Ibrahim Olutade and Imedd Kartita. They were joined on four by Ware, who shrugged off the news that manager John Dreyer had stepped down by defeating FC Clacton 4-2. Albert Adu, Alaa Oujdi, Dave Cowley and Lauric Diakiesse got their goals. Another side celebrating a quartet of strikes was Faversham Town, Dean Grant, Harry Goodger, Luke Griffiths and Ashley Miller finding the net in a 4-1 victory over Hackney Wick. Great Wakering Rovers, not to be outdone, got four of their own, a double from Stephen Butterworth followed by efforts from Simon Thomas and Jason Ring as they defeated Leyton.

We then had a clutch of clubs who scored three. Egham Town travelled to Cobham, and goals from Gregory Hayden, Jermaine Osei and Kezie Ibe saw them 3-1 winners, whilst in an all-Bostik South East clash Hastings United came from behind to beat VCD Athletic with a very late winner- Dominic Odusanya and Charlie MacDonald had twice put Vickers ahead, but Daniel Ajakaiye and Antonio Walker Barth scored equalisers before Sam Cruttwell popped up with an eighty-ninth minute winner. Heybridge Swifts got back on the FA Cup trail after last season’s heroics by comfortably defeating West Essex 3-0, the goals- Matthew Price (2) and Sam Bantick- all coming in the first half. Hythe Town were our next side to find the net three times, a double from Zak Ansah and one from Jack Sammountis finally breaking the Worthing United resistance in the last quarter of the match, whilst Northwood defeated Hellenic League Longlevens 3-1 with goals from James Ewington (2) and Ben Pattie. Phoenix Sports were out last side to score a trio, and they came from behind at Three Bridges to win 3-2. Ashley Probets gave Sports a first minute lead, but Connor French and Jensen Green had turned the tie around by half time. That, however, was before Jeff Duah-Kessie (who else) got involved, the striker getting two second half goals to send Sports through.

Elsewhere, Horsham travelled to Carshalton Athletic and left delighted- members of the Lardy Army smiling out at you from the top of this article, thanks to the Hornets for the pic- after a late Charlie Harris winner left the Robins with no time to respond. Darryl Coakley and Phil Kelly goals were too much for Mildenhall Town at AFC Sudbury, whilst Potters Bar Town eased to a 2-0 win at Aveley, Dernell Wynter and Bradley Sachs doing the damage. This was Parkside’s second game of the day, as it had earlier hosted FC Romania’s 2-0 win over Grays Athletic- a match in which, confusingly, Grays were the away side. Gabriel Ghinea and Bejenari Vadim got the goals.

Thamesmead Town went to Balham, and early goals from Harvey Brand and Richard Pacquette eased their nerves and sealed their victory, whilst Basildon United came from behind to triumph 2-1 at home to Whitton United, Thomas Barton and Remi Nelson scoring within two minutes of each other. Brentwood Town and Sporting Bengal will need to replay after a 1-1 draw at the Arena, Harry Doyle with the Blues goal, whilst Teddy Nelson and Tom Walmsley gave Whitstable Town a comfortable 2-0 win at Hounslow United.

Chalfont St Peter defeated London Lions 1-0 (Alex Nolan), whilst Cheshunt beat Canvey Island by the same score (Jason Hallett).

Cray Wanderers will need to replay with Rusthall, failing to win for the first time this campaign and needing an own goal to grab a 1-1 draw, whilst South Park are still looking for their first victory of the campaign whilst East Grinstead are off the mark, a goal from Ben Wilson giving them victory over the Sparks.

Chinedu McKenzie scored the only goal as Haringey Borough beat Stanway Rovers, whilst Calam Gallimore found the net as Marlow recorded the same score at Kidlington. Ramsgate beat Chatham Town 2-1 with goals from Tom Chapman and Luke Wheatley, whilst a Luke Coleman goal earned Sevenoaks Town victory over Bedfont Sports. Sittingbourne got two, as the Brickies continued a fine start to the season by defeating Bearsted with an Ira Jackson double. Bury Town also won 2-0, two from Ollie Hughes just before the break giving them victory at Waltham Abbey.

Whyteleafe will have to replay at Saltdean United after conceding a late equaliser at Church Road, after Marvin Armstrong had given them a first half lead, but if it’s any consolation the views at Saltdean are beautiful. No, we are aware it’s no consolation. Molesey and Lewes will also need a replay, back to the Dripping Pan after their match ended goalless.

And now to the bad news. And some of it was remarkably bad, particularly for Greenwich Borough. They were hosting Lancing, SCFL conquerors of Haywards Heath Town in the last round, and despite scoring three goals (Laurent Mendy, Timileyin Tolowanile and Teshuane Tyreece Walters) they conceded SEVEN as Lancing became their yellow peril! It was less embarrassing for Ashford United, but they still crashed out at home to Lancing’s Sussex rivals Horsham YMCA, losing two-nil at Homelands.

Uxbridge went down 2-0 at Beaconsfield Town, Westfield suffered a similar scoreline at AFC Stoneham, whilst Dereham Town were walloped 4-1 at Bedford Town, Daniel Beaumont scoring their goal from the spot. Chipstead fell 1-0 to Corinthian, whilst Felixstowe and Walton United lost by the same score at home to Walthamstow.

Finally, Maldon & Tiptree went down 2-1 at Haverhill Rovers, De-Carey Sheriff with the Jammers consolation.

The match between Biggleswade and Soham Town Rangers was abandoned with the score at 3-2 to Biggleswade, after head injuries to two Rangers players meant that urgent medical assistance had to be summoned. We send our best wishes to Phil Turner and Callum Russell for a speedy recovery.

We have two sides involved in FA Cup ties today. Ashford Town travel to Cray Valley PM, currently fifth in the Southern Counties East Premier and who have scored twelve goals in their last three matches, whilst Romford, in second place in the North Division, host Baldock Town of the Spartan South Midlands Premier Division. Baldock currently sit fifteenth after one victory and two defeats in their first three league matches.

Premier Division

The big story of the day came at the Green Elephants Stadium, where Burgess Hill Town were facing Enfield Town. Hill gave a debut to new signing Andre McCollin, albeit from the bench, but he could do little as the green rearguard was breached six times. Matthew Johnson and Sam Youngs got two each, whilst Liam Hope and Ryan Blackman were the Towners other scorers, in a victory which takes them to the top of the table whilst leaving their hosts rock bottom. Pat Harding got the Hillians consolation.

Tonbridge Angels are second, courtesy of an impressive 2-0 win at Margate, Thomas Beere and Alex Reid the scorers, whilst just along the coast Folkestone Invicta were moving into third with a 3-2 win over Harlow Town. Adam Yusuff gave the home side the lead only for Jason Raad to equalise before the break, but Kieron McCann and Jerald Aboagye made the points seemingly safe, although a last minute Emile Acauah goal gave Invicta some jitters.

Wingate and Finchley got their first victory of the season at Whitehawk, making their Marc three times, as Weatherstone (2) and Charles-Smith found the net. Jason Williams and Luke Emberson provided some key moments for the Hawks faithful.

Merstham moved up to sixteenth with their first win of the season, leapfrogging Brightlingsea Regent by defeating them 1-0 (Michael Abnett), whilst our other two matches were 1-1 draws, AFC Hornchurch (Sean Marks) and Bognor Regis Town (Dan Smith) cancelling each other out whilst Bishop’s Stortford grabbed a point with a late Jake Cass equaliser at home to Leatherhead, who had taken the lead through Shaun Okojie.