A South East- and Cup- Round Up

Emirates FA Cup

Horndean had won each of their first three FA Cup matches this season by three goals to nil, but we thought that they might find visitors Poole Town a little more difficult to defeat, and indeed the visitors went ahead five minutes before the break. It was two-nil to the Dolphins with twelve minutes left, and shortly afterwards it was three-nil, and that was that, the visitors comfortably through.

Sheppey United welcomed Burgess Hill Town in an all-South East clash. The Ites were unbeaten in all competitions until a narrow loss in the County Cup in midweek, but they were quickly ahead in this one, Jacob Lambert opening the scoring on ten minutes. It took until fifteen minutes from time for the next goal to arrive, and again it went to Lambert, and nine minutes later Richard Hamill made it three-nil from the spot, ensuring the Ites progressed to the next round. Image from Marc Richards.

Pitching In Isthmian South East

Three Bridges hoped to increase or at least maintain their lead at the top of the table as they travelled to East Grinstead Town for the A264 derby against their fierce rivals. Bridges had gone six matches in all competitions without experiencing defeat, and looked well on the way to making it seven when Camron Lawson gave them the lead ten minutes after half time. The points were secured when Kevin Rivera made it two, three minutes before the end, and although Matthew Weaire got a very late consolation for the Wasps they have now lost seven in a row in all competitions. Bridges remain one point clear at the summit.

Chichester City and Hythe Town, in third and fourth place at start of play, were both hoping to capitalise on any Bridges slip up and take top spot for themselves. The two met in Sussex with both sides sporting unbeaten league records- indeed the visitors had a one hundred percent league record- but it was the hosts who took control of the match in the first half, an Ethan Pritchard double putting them two up inside the first half an hour. Pritchard left a shellshocked Cannons looking for their powder as he completed his hat trick on fifty six minutes, and City were rampant as Seok-Jae Lee added a fourth seven minutes later. Right at the end Conrad Honore made it five-nil, and the Cannons had a long trip home to contemplate what had gone wrong. City climb to second.

Ashford United, in seventh at start of play, knew that they could also go to the top of the table if results went their way and they could defeat Phoenix Sports. The visitors had lost their previous five matches in all competitions but were quickly ahead in this one, Kieran King scoring after just two minutes. It took an hour for the Nuts and Bolts to find an equaliser, Harvey Brand with it, but Sports quickly restored their lead, Alfie Evans making it two-one. Within two minutes parity was restored, Lanre Azeez for the Nuts and Bolts, and three minutes later the hosts were ahead for the first time, Mason Saunders-Henry making it three-two- and we’d had four goals in ten minutes. The excitement certainly wasn’t over. Four minutes later Ashdon Day levelled for the visitors, and Sports then added another to make it three-four, Evans with his second of the afternoon- and we’d now had six goals in eighteen minutes! There was still time for another, Isaac Thompson making it five-three right at the end, that losing run coming to an end in style!

Merstham, still looking for their first league win, welcomed Sittingbourne. The visiting Brickies were on a five match unbeaten run across all competitions, and they extended that to six, a goal from Donvieve Jones five minutes from time- a win that sends them fourth.

Beckenham Town welcomed Broadbridge Heath to Eden Park. Neither side had been in the best of form, Heath still awaiting their first Isthmian win, but they went ahead just after the half hour through Sam Lemon. They could almost see three points when Matt Penfold made it two just before half time, and a third goal just before the break from Louis Evans left them rather comfortable at half time. A red card for Dieko Falade with eighteen minutes to go ended any Becks hope, and Heath added a fourth, Tadley Bromage leaving the visiting support pinching themselves. Heath up to tenth.

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