A Premier Trophy Saturday

What a thriller we had at New Lodge, as Pitching In Isthmian Premier side Billericay Town welcomed Pitching In Isthmian North side Felixstowe & Walton United. The visiting Seasiders were behind after half an hour, Matt Dench for the Blues, but struck back immediately through Josh Mayhem and were quickly ahead, Sam Ford making it two-one. Seven minutes after the break a third goal for the visitors, Mayhew once more doing the damage, made their lead look substantial- but as it turned out it wasn’t quite substantial enough. Frankie Merrifield pulled a goal back for the hosts just after the hour, and sixteen minutes from time Brad Stevenson levelled from the spot. Right at the end, with penalties approaching, Moses Emmanuel grabbed a Billericay winner.

Bognor Regis Town were too good for Southern Premier side Hayes and Yeading United at the MKM Arena. After a goalless first half, Lucas Pattenden quickly put the Rocks ahead, and although the visitors immediately levelled Craig Robson made it two-one just before the hour. Alfie Rutherford, just back at the Rocks on loan from Dorking Wanderers, then got a decisive third on sixty four minutes- three minutes after emerging from the bench- and that was that.

Carshalton Athletic must be heartily sick of Cray Valley PM, and their former boss Steve McKimm. In midweek the Millers were giantkillers, knocking the Robins out of the FA Cup, and they’ve now slain the same giant twice in a week after returning to Colston Avenue for a second Saturday in succession. Sonny Black put Cray ahead five minutes before half time, and with nineteen minutes remaining Adam Coombes made it two-nil to the visitors. A Danny Bassett penalty with four minutes left made things interesting, but the Millers held on for a two-one victory.

Enfield Town came from behind three times at Chesham United, but eventually succumbed four-three. Sam Youngs made it one-one, Kyle Bailey made it two-two, and Youngs made it three-three, but with penalties looming United got a winner right at the end.

Dulwich Hamlet bounced back from league defeat at Cheshunt last weekend to get their revenge in the Trophy. The Ambers went down to ten men just before half time, Isiah Noel-Williams seeing red, but it took them until four minutes from time to take advantage, Ayuk Tarh giving the pink and blue hordes something to sing about on his debut.

Concord Rangers were knocked out of a second cup competition by lower league opposition as Hythe Town joined Wroxham in the beachboys bad books. The Cannons took the lead after a quarter of an hour, Johan Caney-Bryan opening the scoring with his fifth of the campaign, but the hosts were quickly level, Freddie Price on his debut making it one-one. The visitors were ahead once more just before the break, Ethan Smith making it two-one, but it looked as if were off to penalties when Ricky Modeste levelled for the hosts seven minutes from time. Right at the end, rather than being off to penalties we were off to penalty, Town being awarded a late spot kick. Frannie Collin, deadly from the dead ball, made no mistake.

We had a late goal show on the Kent coast as Folkestone Invicta welcomed Haringey Borough. Invicta went ahead from the spot nine minutes after the break, Ira Jackson with the goal, only for the visitors to level six minutes from time through Michael O’Donaghue. Right at the end Invicta thought they’d won it, Jackson scoring his eighth of the season, but there was still time- somehow- for Matthew Young to level for Borough; that’s nine for the Coles Park number ten. Off to penalties we went, and the visitors held their nerve to win five-three.

Margate went down one-nil at Harrow Borough, and saw Skye Salmon sent off with twenty five minutes remaining.

In Sussex, Hastings United were hoping to get back to winning ways as Kingstonian came to call- but the K’s were speedily out of the blocks and quickly two goals up. Eddie Dsane scored the opener after just ten minutes, and eight minutes later Rio Campbell made it two, leaving the hosts with an uphill battle. Substitute Tayo Oyebola gave them hope, pulling a goal back with twenty minutes remaining, but the equaliser didn’t arrive and the K’s celebrated.

It was North v Premier as Heybridge Swifts welcomed Chatham Town. The Chats in second place in the league, were unbeaten on the road, and they continued that run by taking a two goal lead into the break. Jack Evans opened the scoring on thirty three minutes, and a Ben Allen spot kick just before half time doubled their advantage. Swifts have also been better on the road than at home, but they got one back with twenty five minutes remaining, Sam Park with the goal- however that turned out to be just a consolation.

Horsham met North opposition, as a side with a one hundred percent league record arrived at the Camping World Community Stadium. The last time the two sides met, in the Premier Division in April, the Hornets hit Regent for six, and this one was much closer, but the outcome remained the same. Both Horsham goals arrived in the second half, Daniel Ajakaiye opening the scoring on sixty eight minutes, and a late goal from Charlie Hester-Cook sealing victory right at the end. Horsham have now defeated Regent six times in seven meetings.

Hornchurch’s chances of another trip to Wembley came to an end after a marathon shootout at Leiston. Tom Wraight put the Urchins ahead from the spot midway through the first half, but the hosts levelled with twenty four minutes remaining and we went to penalties- and then we went to sudden death penalties. Leiston eventually triumphed nine-eight.

Lewes took on Pitching In Isthmian North leaders Lowestoft Town, and the Trawler Boys took the lead after just six minutes through Robert Eagle- but it was the Rooks who were soaring by the end. Marcus Sablier took only six minutes to level, and Tommy Wood completed the turnaround just before the half hour. Into the last ten minutes with the visitors still in the match, Harvey Hughes delivered a fatal blow for the hosts, and just before the end new signing Ola Ogunwamide, on from the bench, capped his debut with a goal to make it four-one.

Image from James Boyes.

Cray Wanderers looked to have a difficult trip as they travelled to face a Needham Market side who sit second in Pitching In Southern Premier Central, but they made light of any thoughts of difficulty as they ended the Marksmen’s unbeaten home record. Ellis Brown got the only goal of the game just before the break.

Potters Bar Town took on Berkhamsted on Friday evening, and despite going a goal down after just three minutes quickly completed a turnaround. Temi Babalola was the Scholars hero, an eleven minute hat trick in the closing stages of the first half putting the hosts three-one up at half time- and a fourth from Valckx Fernandes fourteen minutes from time saw Town sail serenely home.

South Park Reigate were giant slayers, sending Hashtag United out of the competition. They went ahead early on, Ethan Ford with the goal on four minutes, and a second from Aiden Brown ten minutes after half time sealed victory for the Sparks.

Walton & Hersham, enjoying a positive first season in Pitching In Southern Premier South, proved too strong for Canvey Island. The Swans went ahead after nine minutes, only for Elliott Ronto to level for the Gulls just after the break- but two goals in the last seven minutes were enough to send the hosts through- and Canvey out.

Whitehawk and Ascot United looked to be heading to a penalty shootout as we reached the last minute without a goal- but the hosts didn’t fancy that, and somehow managed to score twice! Louis Collins and Ryan Worrall delivered the Hawks late show.

Bury Town were giant killers in a blue on blue battle at Wingate & Finchley. The game saw only one goal, and it went to the Suffolk side, Jose Santa De La Paz striking the killer blow six minutes after half time.

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