And Then There Were Six

We had so much to celebrate yesterday. Four of our clubs knocked out higher Division opposition to reach the FA Cup First Round, one more earned a replay against a side two divisions higher- and yet little of that will be noted across the country this morning, due to the events at Coles Park. Haringey Borough, with memories of last season’s cup heroics still fresh in the memories of the home faithful, entertained Yeovil Town, who were in the Football League this time last year. The match got as far as the sixty fourth minute, but no further, the Borough players leaving the field after keeper Valery Pajet allegedly had missiles thrown at him and defender Coby Rowe was the victim of racist abuse. That match was abandoned soon afterwards, and we await the decision of the FA about what will happen next. Borough manager Tom Loizou was later interviewed by BBC Five Live, and explained:

“My goalkeeper got spat at, and had a bottle thrown at him. They took the penalty, and then my number six, Coby Rowe, got called names- and to see the look on the kids face, he got racially abused, and there was no way I could let him continue. The referee was trying to calm him down, the Yeovil Town players were trying to calm him down, our players were trying to calm him down, and in the end I took my own decision to take the players off.

We came off, I asked the referee if he could guarantee our safety, he said no, and in the meantime my players were talking amongst themselves and we decided not to go back on. People subjecting them to that, standing five, ten, fifteen feet away…they’ve never had that type of experience. I had a look at their faces, they were distraught, and I took them off the pitch. The (Yeovil) manager and players were different class. Their team tried to calm their supporters down. They tried their best, they supported us. They said if we were walking off they were walking off with us, but I took the decision to take my team off, I don’t want Yeovil Town to get punished for that. If we get thrown out of the FA Cup and they go through, there’s no hard feelings there. I haven’t done it for any other reason other than looking at my players faces and seeing how distraught they were.”

We’ll let you know what happens as this matter moves forward, but in the meantime let’s get back to the action on the pitch- although somehow it now seems far less important than it should. Our best wishes go to all at Coles Park, who shouldn’t be having to deal with such a situation.

The day started at the Pakex, where at 12.30 Potters Bar Town faced their neighbours as Barnet made a rather short journey. The National League visitors took an early lead in front of the BBC cameras and a sell out crowd, and as the game entered the last minute it seemed that would be enough- but up stepped Andrew Lomas to stun the away contingent amongst the two thousand and eleven in attendance and send the Scholars into the First Round Draw- and into a replay at the Hive.

Two sides who had never got to the First Round Proper faced off at the Len Salmon, as Bowers and Pitsea took on Chichester City. The visitors had already played five rounds to get to this stage, and beaten two higher division opponents, so weren’t short on confidence- and it showed, as another giant was slain. Matt Axell and Kaleem Haitham put Chi 2-0 up in the first twenty three minutes, and although Max Cornhill got one back right at the end for Bowers, it wasn’t enough for the home side and the green and white celebrations began.

Carshalton Athletic had beaten Bracknell Town, Harrow Borough and Lowestoft Town to get this far, but faced their toughest challenge yet as Dagenham & Redbridge headed to Colston Avenue. Once more it was a challenge which the Robins were ready for, and after a goalless first half Bobby Price put them ahead. Reece Grant equalised for the Daggers, but five minutes from time Ricky Korboa stepped up to delight the home faithful and seal a famous victory.

Kingstonian put their much improved recent form to the test as they travelled to Princes Park, home of National League South Dartford. The Darts, who knocked out Horsham on the way to this stage, had also been in fabulous form- but Hayden Bird’s men were better! Reece Hall, Louie Theophanous and Tom Kavanagh put the K’s three goals up, and although the home side managed to get two back they couldn’t find an equaliser, leaving the K’s feeling- deservedly- rather special.

Maldon & Tiptree, who had won every game in every competition this season, travelled to face Royston Town, the winners knowing they would play host to the First Round Draw on Monday. The Jammers marched on magnificently, an own goal and one each from Danny Parish and Jorome Slew giving them a three-one victory. The BBC cameras will be heading to Park Drive on Monday, the draw being broadcast at 7PM on BBC2. That was the club’s SIXTEENTH successive win, by the way.

Margate travelled to face National League South Oxford City filled with confidence after victory over Salisbury in the last round, but couldn’t quite get the better of their higher-division opponents, Stewart O’Shane’s goal not enough as they lost two-one; whilst Whyteleafe’s cup heroics came to an end as they lost three-nil at home to Chippenham Town, eleventh in National League South.

We had six matches in the Premier Division. Our leaders Folkestone Invicta hosted another side from the seaside, Bognor Regis Town, the visitors desperate to bounce back after last week’s thrashing at the hands of Potters Bar Town, whilst the hosts looked to maintain or increase their four point lead at the top. It was the visitors, giving a debut to former Merstham keeper Amadou Tangara, who left with the points, a late Dan Smith goal earning them victory after James Crane’s opener had been cancelled out by an Ira Jackson equaliser.

Hornchurch, who started the day in second place, travelled to Fetcham Grove to face a much improved Leatherhead side, the Tanners having won their last two matches comprehensively after a rather dodgy start to the campaign. The green army were given more to sing about, Tommy Wood and Ibrahim Olutade scoring in the first half to give them a two goal cushion, which the Urchins could only halve after the break through Charlie Stimson. The visitors slip to fourth, the Tanners are up to eleventh.

Horsham ended the day in second place, after defeating Merstham at the Camping World Community Stadium. The Hornets had lost last time out, at Bishop’s Stortford, but the Moatsiders came into this match on the back of four straight league defeats so looked to have an uphill task- and so it proved, after Horsham scored two goals in each half to record a four-nil win. Charlie Harris, Rob O’Toole, Chris Smith and Lea Dawson found the Moatsiders net.

Enfield Town came into their match with Cheshunt as our form team, with five consecutive league wins- whilst the Ambers had lost three of their last four. The A10 derby finished with another hard-fought victory for the home side, two goals from Muhammadu Faal enough to seal three points despite an own goal giving the Ambers an equaliser. It’s being suggested that Ken Charles might have got the final touch to one of the Towners goals, but we’ll leave the club to decide!

Lewes was a rather sombre place, as the fans turned out to cheer manager Darren Freeman in his last game in charge before he departed for a new career. Cray Wanderers came along to spoil the party, and did exactly that, running out three-two winners. Dayshonne Golding gave the Rooks the lead midway through the first half, but they were behind by half time, Joseph Taylor and Mitchell Nelson turning the match on its head. Andre Coker made it three-one just after the break, and although Stefan Ilic reduced the arrears five minutes from time the home side couldn’t find an equaliser.

Worthing, with only one defeat in their last six, had been climbing the table of late. Brightlingsea Regent, under new manager Kem Izzet, were determined to stop them at Woodside Road, but Regent conceded the first premier Division goal of the day as Marvin Armstrong put the hosts ahead after seventeen minutes. Armstrong got another just after the break, and Callum Kealy made it three, three minutes from time. Worthing are sixth.

North Division

With leaders Maldon & Tiptree in cup action it was a chance for the chasing pack to catch up or overtake the Jammers. Grays Athletic needed only a draw to go top, and they travelled to Great Wakering Rovers in search of it, but the home side weren’t in the mood to do Jim Cooper’s men any favours, Jake Gordon, Joe Benton and Jack Stevenson putting them three-nil up before Joao Carlos got a last minute consolation.

Bury Town, then, just needed to better Grays result to find themselves at the summit. They travelled to Felixstowe and Walton United and a Will Gardner double was enough to send them top, despite Armani Scaar’s late consolation for the Seasiders.

Aveley and Heybridge Swifts could technically have gone top with victory, but that victory would, in both cases, have to be fifteen-nil so looked rather unlikely! The Millers hosted Coggeshall Town, and the visitors replaced them in the top five after a two-one victory. Tyler Brampton and Robert Harvey scored for the Seed Growers in the first half, George Sykes got one back after the break, but the Millers couldn’t find an equaliser.

Swifts welcomed Witham Town for a local derby, and it was Teniola time after only fifteen minutes as Alex put the hosts ahead. It was Teniola time again twenty minutes later as he got Swifts third, Emmanual Osei-Owusu with the second- and after the break Matthew Price made it four. Scott Kemp got one back for Town eight minutes from time.

Histon travelled to face a Romford side still looking for their first league victory but showing distinct signs of improvement- and so it looked after five minutes when Timi Babalola gave Boro the lead with our first North Division goal of the afternoon. The lead lasted only two minutes, however, Dan Brown equalising for the visitors, but the hosts were soon in front once more, Reece Tranter making it 2-1. Romford then went goal crazy, Babalola making it three, before Giovanni Palmer got numbers four and five after the break.

Hullbridge Sports travelled to Dereham Town and took a second half lead through Jamie Salmon- but they couldn’t hold on to it as the draw-specialists got an equaliser through David Hinton.

Cambridge City hosted a Brentwood Town side who had got their first league win of the season in their last league match, and started this one in the same way, Andy Freeman giving them an eighth minute lead. Sam Bantick got the home side level midway through the first half, but parity lasted only two minutes as Connor Hogan put Town ahead once more. Jason Williams made it three-one twenty minutes from the end, and although Ryan Sharman got one back in the ninetieth minute it was to be too little, too late for City.

Canvey Island’s cup exploits have left them playing catch up, but Jason Hallett has been anything but slow and gave them the lead after ten minutes as they hosted Basildon United- his ninth goal since returning to the Gulls. Adam Vyse got an equaliser for the Bees, but an own goal gave the home side victory.

Lewis Clayton gave Soham Town Rangers an early lead at AFC Sudbury only for Tom Maycock to equalise soon afterwards- and the yellows went ahead through an own goal twenty minutes after half time- but that simply stung the visitors into action, and Lloyd Groves, Sam Mulready and Groves once more earned them victory. Groves was also credited with Sudbury’s second, so he got a sort of hat trick, but not one that would earn him the match ball!

South Central Division

Westfield’s match with Hanwell Town was lost to the weather, so the question was whether Tooting & Mitcham United could take advantage as they travelled to FC Romania. They could- but only just, a Dontai Stewart goal five minutes from time giving them a point after Adrian Hurdubei had given the Wolves the lead just beforehand.

Marlow got the first South Central goal of the afternoon as Kelvin Bossman put them ahead at Waltham Abbey. The Abbotts won 6-1 against Northwood last time out, but Billy Holland receiving a red card early on didn’t help their cause – although it was the last minute before they conceded another, Kwai Marsh-Brown sealing victory.

Ashley Lodge gave Staines Town an early lead at home to Hertford Town, and when Aaron Ibe made it two before the break it must have seemed as if the Swans were on course for victory. They weren’t. Sam Oueniran reduced the arrears six minutes after the break, but even then it seemed, as the match ended the last minute, as if Staines would hold on for three points. They didn’t- indeed, they didn’t even get one, as Percy Kiangebeni and Luke Gymer somehow both managed to score and give Town cause for unlikely celebration.

Ware, still unbeaten in the league, travelled to Bedfont Sports and Joshua Williams gave them a tenth minute lead. Olu Akinsanya made it two six minutes later and it looked to be all over for the home side, but they pulled one back before the break through Andy Ali and fought for an equaliser. Sixteen minutes from the end, however, Akinsanya made it safe for Ware, who ended the day in fifth.

Harlow Town are fourth, the Hawks winning a five goal thriller against Chipstead despite losing a two goal lead. Tayo Oyebola and Matthew Rush scored the first two for the Hawks, but after the break Kyen Nicholas and Josh Gallagher made it two-two, only for Ozzy Adeniji to restore the home lead sixteen minutes from time.

Two of the three goals at Chertsey Town were in the wrong net, but the one that went the right way- the opener, scored by Lubomir Guentchev in the thirty sixth minute, was enough to give Chertsey Town a two-one win over Bracknell Town.

Another two-one win went to Chalfont St Peter, who came from behind to beat Barking in added time. Michael Dixon gave the Blues a first half lead, but the home side equalised through Hani Berchiche and Ricky Brennan got a late, late winner.

Northwood have had a terrible start to the season, and it continued at South Park, who got the biggest win of the day. Hayden Skerry and Elliot Cross put Sparks two up at the break, and they got two more after it, Alfie Rogers and Charlie Gee with those.

Ashford Town are still looking for their first victory, after Uxbridge won their derby by the odd goal in five. Tommy Brunton gave the Tangerines the lead after nineteen minutes, but Jack Beadle equalised just before the break and just after it a former Town man, Mark Bitmead, gave the Red Army something to cheer in making it two-one. Hafid Bounyafe found an equaliser, but nine minutes from time Mahlondo Martin made it three-two.

South East

Sevenoaks Town are the leaders of the South East Division after an impressive three-nil demolition of Ashford United at Greatness Park. Daniel Cumber, Adrian Stone and Louis Collins scored the goals as Town went above Hastings United on goal difference.

United were at Haywards Heath Town, and needed a Ben Pope equaliser to cancel out Trevor McCreadie’s opener for the home side, whilst Cray Valley PM are third, a late Warren Mfula double enough to defeat Faversham Town.

Phoenix Sports impressive run continued at Three Bridges, Sports winning the match four-nil. It was three by the break, Danny Young, Kehinde Aileru and Harry Harding making the second half rather academic- although Danny Young wouldn’t agree, as he got the visitors fourth five minutes from time.

Two penalties from Zak Ansah saw Herne Bay see off the challenge of Guernsey, although both sides did get a goal which didn’t originate from the spot. Bradley Stevenson got the opener for Bay, whilst Robbie Legg found the net for the Green Lions.

Johan Caney-Bryan got the only goal of the game as Sittingbourne defeated Hythe Town, whilst Whitstable Town earned a three-nil win at East Grinstead Town, Marcus Elliott, Tijan Jadama and Freddie Parker scoring for the Oysterboys, who are up to ninth. The Wasps are still searching for their first victory.

The match between Burgess Hill Town and Ramsgate was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.