A Tuesday Cup Round Up

We had a big night of Cup action. Here's what happened.

In the FA Cup, Canvey Island travelled to National League South side Braintree Town hoping to slay that giant at the second time of asking. The Gulls went ahead on the stroke of half time, the ever-reliable Evans Kouassi doing what he does best, and they held onto that lead until the very lasty seconds, an equaliser for the Iron shattering the away fans in attendance. The hosts then added two more in added time to finally triumph three-one.

We had a real thriller at the Artic Stadium. Cray Valley PM, unbeaten in all competitions, put that record on the line once more against a Northwood side who had lost only once this season- and the two sides delivered seven goals between them in a match full of twists and turns. The hosts took only eight minutes to go ahead, Matthew Vigor with his fourth of the season, but the Woods levelled eleven minutes before the break through Harry Gallagher, and just after the hour mark Gallagher put them ahead, taking his tally for the campaign to four, too. With only ten minutes left the Millers got an equaliser through Sonny Black, and just two minutes later Denzel Gayle popped up to put them ahead, but the visitors weren't giving up and it took only two more minutes for Luke Tingey to equalise. Into extra time we went, and on ninety nine minutes Adam Coombes delivered the footballing equivalent of a ninety nine, adding the flake and strawberry sauce to a fine Cup tie with a winning goal for the hosts. Brackley Town will head to Kent in the next round.

It’s was a quick turnaround for Wingate and Finchley who, following their goalless draw against Farnborough on Sunday, headed to Hampshire to try again. Farnborough were unbeaten at home this season, and made quite sure that record would continue by scoring six goals without reply.

We had a titanic Kentish Seaside tussle as Folkestone Invicta and Margate met for the third time this season. Invicta won the league encounter between the sides and looked as if they’d done the same on Saturday, only for the Blues to level deep into added time to force this replay- and Margate made sure that they didn't leave anything to chance, making the game safe in little more than one half. Tyrone Sterling gave them the lead on eighteen minutes, within five minutes Ben Greenhalgh had added a second, and just after the start of the second half Steve Cawley made it three, his sixth goal of the season. Ira Jackson got a goal back for the hosts just before the end, but it mattered little. Margate travel to Chesham United in the next round.

Marlow felt unlucky that they hadn't defeated Premier Division Horsham at the Camping World Community Stadium on Saturday; whilst Horsham were feeling similarly aggrieved that they didn’t finish the job, given they failed from the spot in the initial two-two draw. The Hornets certainly finished the job last night- indeed they scored all of the goals in a three-one win! Jack Mazzone put them ahead six minutes before half time, and there was time for James Hammond to make it two before the break. An own goal ten minutes after the restart gave Marlow hope, but it was quickly extinguished, Charlie Hester-Cook making it three-one. Hanworth Villa will travel to Sussex in the next round.

Wroxham welcomed Barton Rovers to the Norfolk Broads, and we had a seven goal thriller, but it ended sadly for the Yachtsmen. Wroxham will perhaps think that this was one that got away, given they were two goals up within fifteen minutes- Harley Black and Josh Harvey, but they were quickly pegged back and then went behind, three goals in fifteen minutes for Rovers turning the tie on its head. On sixty eight minutes Rovers went four-two up, and although Rio Abodunde pulled things back to three-four, the equaliser didn't arrive- despite a late red card for the visitors.

The Velocity Cup has two Kentish derbies in its Second Round, and a Surrey derby too. In the Garden of England Sheppey United welcomed Herne Bay whilst Sittingbourne played host to Hythe Town.

At Woodstock Park Sittingbourne went ahead on fourteen minutes through Jean-Baptiste Fisher, and it looked like that was enough only for the Cannons to level right at the end, scorer as yet unknown. A penalty shootout was next, and Hythe triumphed four-three.

Herne Bay took the lead on nineteen minutes at Sheppey United, Michael Salako with the opener, and nine minutes after the restart Gil Carvalho doubled it. Four minutes later Josh Wisson got a goal back for the Ites, but that was that, the visitors through to Round Three.

Corinthian-Casuals played host to Westfield, and a goal from Shea Cascoe-Rogers put them ahead just before the hour. It looked as if Casuals would progress, only for Mayowa Adaje to level for the visitors a minute from time. Penalties beckoned, and the visitors triumphed four-one.

Finally, in the Reposs Women’s Cup, Coles Park was the venue as Haringey Borough welcomed London Seaward. After a two-two draw we were off to penalties, and Borough slayed that giant, winning the shootout four-two.

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