Crows knock out the former holders…

Chatham Town, in third place in Pitching In Isthmian Premier and former holders of the Velocity Cup (2024) and finalists last year, travelled to South East side Crowborough Athletic with their eyes firmly set upon a promotion and Cup double- but they’ll have to concentrate on the former, as the Crows ended their chances of the latter.

The travelling Chats made a collection of changes, but the side they put out could hardly be described as weak- yet it fell behind on the half hour, Brady Ayoola scoring his third goal in seven matches. By that point both sides had seen efforts chalked off for offside, and, despite chances at both ends, the ball wasn’t interested into heading into either net for the remainder of the match- not that the hosts minded. 

The Crows will be at home again in the Quarter Finals, North Division Redbridge making the trip- and both sides will see this as a great chance to reach the last four. 

In Pitching In Isthmian South East we saw an improving Ashford United- who had won three of their previous four and been rather unlucky in losing a five-four thrillfest against the leaders- fly across the sea to take on Jersey Bulls. Their hosts were also in fine form, with only one defeat from seven.

The opening stages saw chances at both ends, but the breakthrough, when it arrived, was a thing of beauty- Jack Dixon putting the visitors ahead just before half time. The hosts tried their very best to find an equaliser in the face of some stout United defending- and then, right at the end, a mistake led to the visitors adding a second and sealing the points, Gary Lockyer’s fifteenth goal of the season making quite sure. 

The Nuts and Bolts are up to thirteenth- Bulls stay seventh.