A mixed North night in the Trophy

Ashford United welcomed Pitching Isthmian North leaders AFC Sudbury to Homelands, and eventually took the Yellows unbeaten record- but what a match we had! It took two minutes for Stephen Okoh to give the Nuts and Bolts the lead, only for Nnamdi Nwachuku’s nineth goal of the season to draw the visitors level by the break. In the second half the hosts took control, Charlie Dickens and George Nikaj giving them a two goal cushion, but then, three minutes into added time, the Yellows hit back- Josh Stokes with the goal. Two minutes later, and with the last kick of the game, Sakaroya Hassan sent the match to penalties, to the joy of Long, Turner, Crosbie, Davies Jnr, Davies Snr and Screech- the visiting fans who had made the long journey! A penalty shootout was the result, and nine of the ten penalties went in- but Jacob Russell in the home goal saved one and sent his side through.

We’d an all North Division tie as Basildon United welcomed Lowestoft Town, and a goal in each half gave the Trawler Boys victory. Adam Hipperson opened the scoring five minutes before the break, Jake Reed made it two on the hour, and that was that. Our headline image is from Shirley Whitlow.

Beckenham Town played host to Heybridge Swifts, and we knew that an unbeaten record would have to end. It turned out to be the hosts who saw that run dissolve after a penalty shootout. Harrison Sodje gave Swifts the lead seven minutes before the break, Louis Theophanous got his ninth of the campaign to equalise, midway through the second half, but the Essex side were far more clinical from the spot, winning the shootout four-one.

Bedfont Sports haven’t had the start to the campaign they might have expected, but they eventually came good last night and sparked joy amongst the home faithful. Hashtag United were the visitors, and they went ahead on eighteen minutes, Joni Vukaj with the opener- a lead they held until fourteen minutes from time, when Sam Evans drew the hosts level. Evans then scored again to leave the Tags only five minutes to find an equaliser, but it duly arrived through Alex Teniola, and off we went to penalties. Sports won the shootout, five-four.

Bury Town welcomed Pitching In Isthmian North rivals Stowmarket Town to Ram Meadow, and a late penalty from the visitors earned them victory just when it seemed we’d be off to a shootout. After forty four minutes with no goals we had two in the forty fifth, Charley Barker for the hosts and Jack Ainsley for the visitors, and then that penalty, which arrived two minutes from time, was converted by Ed Upson.

Pitching In Isthmian North hosted Pitching In Isthmian South Central as Sutton Common Rovers arrived at East Thurrock United. All the goals came after the break, Brian Moses giving the hosts the lead, an own goal making it two, and a late flurry seeing the visitors get one back through Kevin Diomande only to concede almost immediately. Ollie Spooner making it three-one.

Felixstowe & Walton United offered travelling Burgess Hill Town fans a complimentary meal voucher upon arrival, as recognition of their mammoth midweek trek. The journey home would have been long but cheerful for the full-stomached Hillians faithful, as their side twice came from behind and then won the shootout.

Joe Whight was the opening scorer for the Seasiders on fifteen minutes, with Lewis Finney equalising from the spot just before the break. Callum Harrison looked to have won it for the hosts with fourteen minutes left, but again the visitors hit back, Charlie Kelly scoring three minutes later to equalise. Burgess Hill triumphed three-two from the spot.

Gorleston v Coggeshall Town will need to be played again, after being called off due to a serious injury to a home player. We wish him a speedy recovery.

Great Wakering Rovers picked up their first win of the season last time out, but couldn’t build on that as Harlow Town arrived at Burroughs Park. The Pitching In Southern Division One Central Hawks got a late winner, three minutes from time, to win the match two-one. Alex Hernandez had earlier equalised for Rovers.

Maldon & Tiptree will have hoped that they’d put their season firmly back on track by knocking Premier side Haringey Borough out of the cup earlier this month, but Ware gave them another miserable night in Essex, winning three-nil. Lance Akins saw red for the Jammers six minutes after the break, but they were already two down by then.

Three Bridges had won four of their last five matches in all competitions, whilst visitors Hullbridge Sports had lost each one of their five matches so far, so perhaps it wasn’t too much of a surprise when the hosts rattled in three first half goals, Curtis Gayler, Billy Irving and Kieron Pamment with the goals. The visitors made the closing stages interesting, Anisius Lewis and Alex Moss pulling two goals back, but the hosts held out for victory.

Tilbury played host to Whitehawk, and the Dockers took the lead on the half hour, Adam Topley with the goal. After the break the Hawks hit back, Charlie Lambert and Joe Shelley turning the match on its head.

Grays Athletic arrived at VCD Athletic and put them to the sword in the first half. Anointed Chukwu, Sam Bantick and Ronnie Winn put the visitors three up at half time, and there was no way back for Vickers.

Welwyn Garden City played host to New Salamis, and the visitors continued their fine start to the season with victory. They fell behind on forty minutes, but were quickly level through Pap Jawara and got what proved to be the winner on sixty four minutes, Derek Asamoah with the all-important goal.

Witham Town and Brentwood Town faced off in an all Pitching In Isthmian North tie, and the hosts fine start to the campaign continued. Ramiah Mills got the only goal of the game just before the hour mark.

Wroxham hosted East Grinstead Town. The Yachtsmen were still searching for their first win of the season, but they got in- and in style. Matt Hayden gave them the perfect start from the spot after six minutes, and Ryan Miles doubled their tally twelve minutes later. Matt Daniel’s eighth of the season got the Wasps back into the match- that’s the sixth consecutive match he’s scored in- but almost immediately Miles restored the hosts two goal cushion, and seven minutes from time Conley Poynter made it four.

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