A marathon night in the FA Cup

After a draw on Saturday, Stowmarket Town welcomed Pitching In Isthmian North rivals AFC Sudbury for an FA Cup replay. There must have been a slight feeling of déjà vu from both sides, given they met in the same competition last season and that too went to a replay- and history did repeat itself, as once again AFC Sudbury emerged triumphed- although it took them one hundred and twenty minutes.

The breakthrough came early, and it came to the hosts, Ed Upson converting a fabulous free kick after just eight minutes. Eleven minutes before the break the Yellows were level, Nnamdi Nwachuku doing what he does best whilst getting his forst competitive Sudbury goal, and midway through the second half Joe Grimwood gave the visitors the lead. It lasted but two minutes, Reginald Thompson-Lambe, who scored in the original encounter, making it two in two- and off to extra time we went. The first period came and went, and thoughts began to turn to penalties, but Oliver Caley-Brown had other ideas and scored the winner on one hundred and eight minutes. A trip to local rivals Bury Town awaits in the First Qualifying Round.

Image: Steve Screech.

Northwood welcomed South Central rivals Ashford Town hoping to retain their unbeaten record this season- but they were out of luck. The Tangerines opened the scoring in the thirty third minute through Lewis Flatman, and doubled their lead eight minutes after the restart through Wayne Ridgley. Twenty minutes from time Flatman made sure by adding a third, and Sydney Ibie’s consolation for the hosts was just a token. Westfield are up next.

Brentwood Town travelled to the Harlow Arena to face the Hawks, following the one-all draw on Saturday. Three of the last four meetings between the sides had ended in a draw, and after one hundred and twenty minutes of this one we were all-square once more. Sam Park had given the travelling fans something to sing about on sixty five minutes, only for Josh Steel to equalise six minutes from time. Extra time added no further goals, so off we went to a shootout. The Blues have recent painful shootout experience- last season’s Play Off Final- and it was a similar outcome this time, as Harlow Town triumphed four-two.

Fisher, who defeated Sutton Common Rovers in the last round, welcomed Sittingbourne on Saturday and gave the Brickes a scare, only two very, very late goals earning a replay. The Brickies also conceded first at Woodstock Park, only this time there was no comeback, Darnell Bromfield sending the visitors through to the next round.

Raynes Park Vale of the Combined Counties League travelled to Hythe Town, after becoming the first side to score against the Cannons this season- they did it twice in a two-all draw which saw three red cards and eight yellow ones. Vale did even better on the goals front last night, scoring four- but they conceded five as Hythe emerged triumphant after extra time! Jordan Gallagher put the visitors ahead from the spot early on, but the Cannons bounced back, Johan Caney-Bryan and Lex Allan seeing them lead by the break. Gallagher looked to have sent the match to extra time with an equaliser on seventy seven minutes, but then, five minutes from time, his team mate Callum Hope seemingly extinguished hope for Town, making the score two-three. With a minute left Jason Fregene popped up to make it three-all, and we did have extra time after all. It took two minutes for Frannie Collin to give the hosts the lead, and nine minutes later Caney-Bryan popped up with another to make it five-three- but again the Cannons had to hold on, after Nathan Lewis brought it back to five-four.

Hythe host Hayes & Yeading United in the next ground.

Sheppey United scored six goals in their first Cup replay of the season, and hoped for more of the same as they travelled to Newhaven- but it was most closer this time around. Alfie Rogers got the opener for the hosts on sixty four minutes- but that sparked the visitors into action, and Jefferson Aibangbee equalised just five minutes later. The winner came thirteen minutes from time, and it came from Danny Leonard, earning a home tie with Lewes for the Ites.

Follow the Pitching In Isthmian League on Instagram. Head here or search for theisthmianleague on your app. We're also on Facebook and Twitter.