AFC Sudbury, Hastings United and Folkestone Invicta slay giants, Tooting get seven, whilst Bognor and Heath hit five.

Emirates FA Cup

Sixteen of our clubs started today two wins from the promised land- the First Round of the FA Cup. Ten remain.

AFC Sudbury hosted Cheshunt. The Yellows had lost only one match all season- from ten- and had seven clean sheets during that run, whilst Cheshunt had lost only one of their last five, so we predicted that this would be close. The hosts got the breakthrough, Luke Hipkin with the goal just after the half hour, and that turned out to be the only goal- giant slain, and AFC Sudbury through to the Fourth Qualifying Round.

Bedfont Sports reward for their famous win over Dulwich Hamlet was to entertain former FA Vase winners Sholing (it’s on the outskirts of Southampton, in case you were wondering), in second place in Pitching In Southern League Division One South. Sports got off to a flyer, Darryl Sanders opening the scoring in the third minute, and things got even better for the hosts as Joe Jackson made it two just after the half hour and Ricky Wellard got the third two minutes later. The Boatmen weren’t about to give up, however, and got one back eleven minutes after the restart and another with twenty minutes left, setting up a rip-roaring finale. Could Sports hold in? They couldn’t, and a third Sholing goal ensured a replay.

East Thurrock United travelled to Boston United of Vanarama National League North. Boston were in good form, with four wins from their last five- and they continued in similar fashion, winning four-nil to end the Rocks hopes.

Bowers and Pitsea hosted Hornchurch, both already rather familiar with each other. The Urchins came into this one on the back of three consecutive victories and looked back to their best when defeating Lewes at the weekend, whilst Bowers had also hit a purple patch and were unbeaten in six, and showed how by scoring after nine minutes, Bradley Sach with the opener- his fourth of the season. The hosts were two up on thirty six minutes, an own goal doubling their advantage, but the Urchins weren’t finished. On own goal gave them hope seven minutes from time, and they equalised right at the end, Ollie Muldoon earning a replay.

Enfield Town travelled to Essex to face National League South side Chelmsford City. Town had never reached the First Round of the competition, and only twice reached the Fourth Qualifying Round, and that statistic remains the same after the only goal of the match went to City.

Hastings United also travelled to take on a National League South side, in their case Chippenham Town, who sit fourth in the table. United were in fine form, having won their last six matches across all competitions and scored nineteen goals in the process, and they got another when Kenny Pogue put them ahead four minutes after the break. Ben Pope saw red for the visitors, but the ten men held out for a fine victory and a giant slain!

We’d an all-Pitching In Isthmian Premier tie as Corinthian-Casuals hosted Wingate and Finchley with both sides in good form, but the first notable action of the day came in the form of a red card for Casuals Wasiri Williams. The ten men scored the opening goal, however, Kieron Cadogan four minutes after the restart, but the equaliser arrived ten minutes from time, Alphanso Kennedy scoring for the Blues and ensuring a replay.

Folkestone Invicta would undoubtedly be top of the league of only they could turn draws into wins! Still unbeaten in all competitions but with three draws from their seven matches in the league, the side in stripes had the task of welcoming National League North side Gloucester City to the BuildKent. City have only one league win all season and sit second bottom of their division, having lost at Gateshead last weekend, and Invicta must have scented blood when they went ahead after twenty two minutes, Adam Yusuff with his sixth of the season so far- five of which had come in the Cup. That turned out to be the only goal of the match- success to the side in stripes!

Marlow travelled to face Pitching In Southern Premier side Harrow Borough, the visitors in such good form that it almost defied superlatives- eight matches played, eight victories, and not a goal conceded. That goal eventually came three minutes after the break, seven hundred and sixty eight minutes after the season started, but the equaliser followed from Nnamdi Nwachuku with seventeen minutes left. Who would get the next one? Sadly it was Harrow, and Marlow tasted defeat for the first time.

Whitehawk have had a terrible time in the league so far but have been fabulous in the cup, having knocked National League South side Slough Town out of the competition in the last round. They needed to find the same form this weekend as they travelled to face Pitching In Southern South Premier leaders Hayes and Yeading United, unbeaten in all competitions and having won seven of their eight league matches so far- and they went ahead in this one after just five minutes. United made it two just before the half hour, and three before the break, but the Hawks didn’t roll over and Henry Muggeridge got one back in the fiftieth minute. The next goal also went to the Hawks, Javaun Splatt with his fourth of the season and twenty eight minutes left to find an equaliser- but that was that, and after a valiant effort the Hawks were downed.

Horsham welcomed National League South side Eastbourne Borough to the Camping World Community Stadium. The Sussex seaside side defeated Hanwell Town in the last round, and were four games unbeaten- but the Hornets stung early, Lee Harding getting the first goal of the game after seven minutes. They doubled their advantage just before the break, Charlie Harris with number two, but the lead was cut five minutes after the restart as Borough got one back, and the equaliser came from the spot with fourteen minutes left. A replay awaits in midweek.

Merstham hosted Hereford, who we last saw as they lost to Hornchurch in last seasons FA Trophy Final at Wembley. The Bulls got the opener three minutes before the break, and another two minutes after it, and that was that.

Jersey Bulls v Chertsey Town was postponed.

Pitching In Isthmian Premier Division

Carshalton Athletic hosted a Cray Wanderers side in terrible form, with seven straight defeats in all competitions including a five-three loss to Wingate and Finchley in midweek, but the Wands got the opener in this one, Marvin McCoy putting them ahead on twenty seven minutes. They got the second of the afternoon, too, Dean Beckwith five minutes after the restart, but the Robins were soon back into it as Daniel Bennett halved the deficit two minutes later. The next goal was all-important, and it went to the visitors, Andy Drury making it three. This was Cray’s first win over the Robins in five years, and it sees them up to fifteenth.

Bognor Regis Town had the long, long trip to take on Brightlingsea Regent. The Rocks problem this season had been an inability to turn one point into three- they’d drawn five of their eight matches before today- so they’d have taken nothing for granted when Ashton Leigh’s third of the campaign put them ahead on twenty one minutes. They might have relaxed a little when Leigh got his second of the afternoon twelve minutes after the break, and the away fans will have begun to party when Kayne Diedrick-Roberts made it three on sixty eight minutes. That party will have turned into a conga when Nathan Odokonyero and Charlie Bell made it four and five, and five was definitely the magic number as the Rocks are up to fifth.

Haringey Borough and Leatherhead didn’t manage a goal between them in awful conditions at Fetcham Grove.

Kingstonian’s match at Potters Bar Town was abandoned in the second half with the Scholars one goal up.

Pitching In Isthmian South Central

Uxbridge started the day top of the table on goal difference from Bracknell Town, but were ahead by actual points- three of them- after Anthony Mendy got his eleventh goal of the season to put them on the road to victory over Ashford Town. It came thirteen minutes from time, and they managed another late on through Mahlondo Martin to make it two-nil and seal victory.

Binfield, who started the day in fourth, knew that they could close the gap on third place Marlow if they could defeat South Park. It took only two minutes for the Moles to go ahead, Josh Helmore with the goal, but the Sparks were level just after the half hour, Terrique Anderson with the equaliser. The winner came late, very late, and it went to Callum Bunting for the hosts. Mo Otuyo saw red for Sparks.

Basingstoke Town welcomed Chipstead, and as usual opened the scoring- and as usual it was Conor Lynch who did it, his ninth goal of the season. Chipstead had a striker with an even better strike record, and it was Tom Collins who drew them level on twenty seven minutes with his tenth of the campaign. A red card for Shaun Dallimore as we approached half time made it difficult for Town, but you wouldn’t have known it as Lynch put them ahead eight minutes after the break- and drew level with Collins on ten. That was that, and Town are fifth, six points off the top with three games in hand.

Thatcham Town welcomed Chalfont St Peter. The Kingfishers had taken only one point from their last twelve but they got the best possible start, Alex Miller opening the scoring after just five minutes. On sixteen minutes Lamin Ceesay made it two, and it was three-nil at the break, Shane Cooper-Clark sending the home fans into dreamland. They were woken up with a shock when the Saints got one back on the hour through Shamal Edwards, and then got back to three-two when Josh Boorn scored on sixty six minutes, but the equaliser didn’t come and the hosts are up to seventh.

Tooting and Mitcham United picked up their first win of the season last time out, but last time out was as far back as September 14th. They hosted Northwood, walloped seven-one by Uxbridge last weekend- but the Woods soon put that behind them as Connor Cullen opened the scoring on six minutes. The Terrors then sprang into action, and were ahead nine minutes later, Andrew Sesay with the equaliser and Jamarie Brissett putting them ahead- but the visitors immediately hit back, William Dupray making it two-two. Who would get the next one? It came quickly, and it went to Tooting, Mark Waters making it three-two, and after that the hosts ran away with it, Sesay making it four, Daniel Williams getting number five, Sesay getting his hat trick and number six on sixty six minutes, and Williams getting the seventh with twelve minutes left. Shakeel Morris made it seven-three with nine minutes remaining, but the Terrors coasted to the win and ninth place.

Finally, Westfield, without a win since the opening day, hosted Staines Town, who got their only win of the season against…Westfield! That match was only a fortnight ago, and in between the two matches the Swans lost an eleven goal thriller against Hanwell Town by the odd goal, so were certainly on an upward curve- but it was the hosts who made the breakthrough, Tayshan Hayden-Smith with the opening goal eight minutes before the break. They got goal two of the afternoon too, IK Hill with that thirteen minutes from time, and climbed to eleventh.

Pitching In isthmian North Division

Grays Athletic, our leaders, had been in fine form- and a change of manager seems not to have affected them at all. They welcomed Felixstowe and Walton United to Parkside hoping to preserve their one hundred percent home record, and they opened the scoring, Anointed Chukwu with his sixth of the campaign- and got another a minute later, Joe Paxman with the second. It took until nine minutes from time for the next goal, and again it went to the hosts, David Knight getting his eighth of the season and keeping his side at the top.

With AFC Sudbury in Cup action, the biggest challenge to Grays’ supremacy came from Canvey Island. The Gulls came into their match at Heybridge Swifts in fabulous form, with Matt Price and Evans Kouassi scoring goals for fun- and today those two faced their former club as Heybridge Swifts arrived at the seaside. Price put them ahead on twenty six minutes, but Swifts were quickly level, Jack Adlington-Pile with the equaliser. The next goal came to the Gulls, and it came to Evangelos Empochontsif nine minutes after the break- and they got the next two, too, first Jamie Salmon and then Michael Finneran making it three and then four-one and sending Canvey second, a point behind the leaders.

Fourth place Barking hosted eighth place Witham Town- the match was abandoned midway through the second half due to an injury to a Barking player. Our very best wishes to the player concerned.

Dereham Town travelled to Tilbury knowing that a win could send them top if results went their way- but they had to settle for third. The Dockers struck first, Phil Roberts putting them ahead on fourteen minutes. Four minutes after the break the Magpies were level, Matthew Castellan silencing the home support, and they’d have been quieter still when Charlie Kendall AND Darren Phillips saw red. It was no surprise when Toby Hilliard put the visitors ahead on the hour, and a third from Adam Smith made sure of the points.

Bury Town entertained Aveley. Town seemed to have found their rhythm again with seven points from the last nine, and they started well, Cemal Ramadan opening the scoring midway through the first half- his fifth of the season. Baris Altintop got the second for the hosts eight minutes before half time, but straight after the restart the Millers struck back, Alex Akrofi with his fifth of the season. The next goal was an equaliser, Harry Gibbs drawing the visitors level, but they were level for only six minutes before Ryan Horne made it three-two to the hosts. The next goal also went to Bury, Gerrard Buabo making it four-two, but the visitors wouldn’t lie down and Manny Ogunrinde made it four-three with eight minutes left- but there were no more equalisers and Town are up to fifth.

Maldon & Tiptree had not had the start we expected, losing their last three matches- and they fell behind at Brentwood Town, Josh Gray opening the scoring on twenty minutes. The equaliser came just before the break, Lordon Akolbire scoring for the Jammers, but once more they went behind, Daniel Ogunleye scoring for the hosts sixteen minutes from time. What could the Jammers do? They could grab all three point, Shomari Barnwell with the equaliser three minutes from the end and Brian Moses with the winner just before full time to see his side up to sixth.

Stowmarket Town headed to winless Hullbridge Sports, who these days are under new management and who announced three new signings this morning. Jack Ainsley put the visitors ahead on nine minutes, Jack Ainsley with his third of the season- but they weren’t ahead for long, Tony Stokes equalising just twelve minutes into his Sports debut. The hosts then suffered a big blow as Dexter Peter saw red, and Stowmarket took advantage as George Bugg restored the lead. Bugg got number three seven minutes after the restart, and then his hat trick on the hour, and Town climbed to eighth.

Basildon United fans were in positive mood as Coggeshall Town came to call, the Bees unbeaten in three- but they were beaten in this one, Milo Grimes with the only goal of the game for the Seed Growers who climb to twelfth.

Pitching In Isthmian South East

Leaders Haywards Heath Town travelled to face an inconsistent Phoenix Sports. The hosts had lost four matches in a row, but they started superbly, Byron Walker putting them ahead after just two minutes. The equaliser wasn’t long in coming, however, Jerson Dos Santos with it on eighteenth minute, and Heath scored next, too, Nathan Cooper putting them ahead just after the hour. Davigildo Cravid made it three, an own goal made it four with fifteen minutes remaining, and although Alex Breffo got one back for the hosts right at the end there was still time for Luke Robinson to make it five-two and give Heath a three point cushion.

Anything less than victory for Haywards Heath could have let Ramsgate hit the summit, but VCD Athletic seemed to have other ideas, a Marcus Elliott double giving them a two goal half time lead. Tijan Jadama got one back for the Rams with twenty three minutes left to find the equaliser, but it didn’t arrive, Vickers climbed to seventh, and Ramsgate slipped to third.

East Grinstead Town v Herne Bay was abandoned at half time.

Cray Valley PM were off to Whitstable Town, who hadn’t won a single match yet and are currently without a manager. The Oysterboys got off to a superb start, Harry Stannard opening the scoring in the second minute, and got another ten minutes later, Tom Mills making it two. Rory Hill hit back for the Millers, but on nineteen minutes Stannard got his second of the afternoon to make it three-one. The visitors didn’t lie down, and Denzel Gayle got it back to three-two twelve minutes before the break- and they were given a boost when the hosts went down to ten, Harry Goodger seeing red. They took advantage, equalising on sixty seven minutes through Nathan Green, but then also went down to ten, debutant David Ompreon seeing red. Where would the next goal go? It went to the visitors, Francis Babalola giving them a four-three win ten minutes from time- three wins from four consecutive away games for the Millers and up to second.

Ashford United hosted draw specialists Three Bridges- who have drawn four of their seven matches so far. It was level, and goalless, at half time, and level, and goalless, at full time. The Nuts and Bolts still climbed a place, to fourth, whilst Bridges are twelfth.

Sittingbourne travelled to Chichester City. Both were in fine form, and the first half saw only one goal- which came to the visitors, skipper Kane Rowland with his third in three. The second half got only one goal, too, and it came right at the end, Ryan Davidson earning the hosts a point.

Lancing had a torrid start to the season but two wins from three have seen them climb the table. Opponents- and visitors- Sevenoaks Town started well, but they’d won only one of their last eight matches in all competitions as they arrived at Culver Road, and fell behind in this one, Kane Louis opening the scoring three minutes before the break. The equaliser came on the hour, Lamin Bah scoring for Oaks, but the advantage was soon back with the hosts, Matt Daniel making it two-one- and that was that, the Lancers up to tenth.

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