FA Trophy round-up | Burgess Hill run riot as Hashtag stun Brentwood to reach first round proper

In a weekend of eye-catching scorelines, Burgess Hill’s was one of the more convincing as Shamir Fenelon and Chris Whelpdale scored two apiece to help their side race into a six-goal lead before the hour mark. 

Winslow did grab two late consolations, but they proved to be in vain as the Ploughmen exited the competition. 

Meanwhile, Hashtag battled resolutely to defeat Brentwood Town, booking their spot in the first round proper. 

A topsy-turvy affair saw the Tags take the lead twice, only for the Blues to put themselves on the verge of victory late on. Ryan Henshaw may have thought his 81st minute goal was enough to send the hosts through, but Harry Day’s equaliser two minutes later sent the contest to a shootout. 

It was then the turn of Hashtag goalkeeper Joseph Whitney to turn hero in the shootout, helping his side to a 4-2 victory on spot-kicks.

Elsewhere, Whitehawk won a battle of two Isthmian Premier sides against AFC Whyteleafe.

The contest at Flamingo Park was all-but-over inside 21 minutes as Kamarni Ryan bagged a hat-trick for the Hawks.

Despite Leafe pulling a goal back through Daniel Bennett just before the break, any hopes of a dramatic comeback were short-lived as Ryan claimed his fourth to round off the scoring in the 57th minute. 

Ryan’s hot streak of six goals in the last two games has led Jay Lovett’s side to successive victories, ending their horror start of eight games without a win in 2026/27. 

Similar can be said for the tie at Clarence Park Stadium, where Kai Brown’s quickfire hat-trick spearheaded St Albans City’s triumph over an in-form Bury Town. 

A trio of emphatic finishes from the striker gave the Saints a three goal cushion inside the opening half-hour, only for the visitors to pull one back before the break. 

But after Inih Effiong converted Ollie Knight’s cross to restore the three-goal advantage, there was no coming back for the Blues. Victory for Gary McCann’s side extends their unbeaten run to seven matches across all competitions.

There were also convincing 4-2 victories for Eastbourne Borough and Enfield Town, defeating Welwyn Garden City and Hanwell Town respectively.

Meanwhile, Dartford clinched their sixth win in a row as they eased past Leiston. 

A double from Max Fiddes, taking his tally for the season to eight, plus a cool finish from Ben Greenhalgh, sealed a comfortable 3-0 triumph for the Darts at Victory Road.

In a shock at Maldon Stadium, Isthmian South Central side Egham Town were deserved winners against Step 3 opponents Maldon & Tiptree. 

The Sarnies were unlucky not to be in front at half-time after missing several good chances, but would soon put that right after the break. Deago Dunbar-Bonnie opened the scoring three minutes into the second half, before Connor Cullen’s penalty rounded off the scoring in the 66th minute. 

The Jammers were unable to claw themselves back into the contest despite Egham midfielder Connor Jeanes seeing red, with the result ensuring visiting manager Jordan Berry had a birthday to remember.

Elsewhere, a shock in East Sussex saw Isthmian Premier side Dulwich Hamlet edged out by Hastings United. 

The U’s made the perfect start on home turf thanks to Sam Pidgeon’s clinical first-minute finish, only for Hamlet to equalise through Danny Mills six minutes later.

But as both sides jostled for the winner in the second half, it was Ronnie Dolan’s men who would have the final say. A rocket from midfielder Max Walsh on the hour mark was enough to seal a 2-1 victory at The Pilot Field - a fourth in a row across all competitions. The Isthmian South East outfit also sit top of the table on 18 points from seven fixtures.

Over in Surrey, Leatherhead survived an almighty scare to emerge victorious after a dramatic shootout against Isthmian Premier rivals Ramsgate. 

The Tanners appeared to be heading straight through at Fetcham Grove, leading 2-0 through Tom Dryer and Marcel Barrington, only for the Rams to strike late. 

Solomon Ogunwomoju first bundled home Alfie Paxman’s cross, before Billy Munday’s bullet header in stoppage time confirmed penalties. 

An almost never-ending shootout was won 6-5 by Leatherhead, despite the Tanners missing four, with Kemall Wilson sending Jonny Henly the wrong way to seal victory.

An equally dramatic contest at the Anthony Martin Community Stadium witnessed hosts Welling United come from a goal behind twice, only to have their hearts broken by Chertsey Town.

Lekan Majoyegbe’s second of the match deep into added time took the contest to a shootout, but the Curfews would not be denied after converting all five of their penalties.

Zak O’Keefe’s miss confirmed the Wings’ first home defeat of a successful 2026/27 campaign so far, where they sit second in the Isthmian Premier.

With a brilliant display of their own in Bedford, Wingate & Finchley comprehensively ended Real Bedford’s incredible winning streak.

The hosts came into the tie off the back of 10 successive victories to start the season, but were simply no match for Ahmet Rifat’s side. 

An early goal from Jack Thomas and his second just after the break put the visitors two in front, before an unfortunate own-goal put the tie to bed midway through the second half. 

It is the second knockout competition triumph in the space of five days for the North London side, having beaten Hemel Hempstead Town in an FA Cup replay on Tuesday night.

Elsewhere on Saturday, AFC Croydon Athletic had an afternoon to forget against Waltham Abbey. 

A hat-trick from Ben Baker, brace from Steve Cawley and a goal apiece for Jack Blower and Maxwell Appuah gave the home fans plenty to shout about. The only consolation in a crushing 7-1 defeat for the Rams came through Brandon Pierrick, who drilled a shot into the bottom corner at Capershotts. 

Playing a day earlier on Friday evening, Aveley and Three Bridges recorded 3-1 victories over Ware and Biggleswade respectively. 

The Millers secured their safe passage to the first round proper thanks to goals from Malachi Napa, Emmanuel Harvest and Toby Aromolaran, confirming their first win under new manager Alex Akrofi.

As for Three Bridges, Jamie Crellin’s side made the long journey worth it in a morale-boosting display at The Eyrie. 

Charlie Bennett’s brace and a thunderous strike from Kevin Rivera spearheaded the club’s first victory in September, ending a five-game winless streak. 

The final tie of the weekend saw Southall overcome Carshalton Athletic on penalties in a Sunday afternoon thriller.

Goals from Liam Ferdinand and William Montague had Southall in control before the break, but a goal early in the second half from Nathan Young-Coombes reduced the arrears.

Then, at the death, Fikayo Atewologun scored for Carshalton to take the game to penalties.

With Southall missing two of their five spot-kicks, the pressure on sending his side through fell of Young-Combes and he duly obliged, helping the Robins triumph 4-3 in the shootout.

The draw for the next round will be released at 1pm on Monday.

All results involving Isthmian League sides* are listed below:

Results - FA Trophy third round qualifying

AFC Whyteleafe 1-4 Whitehawk

Ashford United 0-0 Deal Town (Deal Town win 6-5 on penalties)

Aveley 3-1 Ware

Berkhamsted 3-1 Chatham Town

Biggleswade 1-3 Three Bridges

Brentwood Town 3-3 Hashtag United (Hashtag United win 4-2 on penalties)

Burgess Hill Town 6-2 Winslow United

Canvey Island 0-3 Needham Market

Cheshunt 1-1 Cray Wanderers (Cray Wanderers win 5-4 on penalties)

Eastbourne Borough 4-2 Welwyn Garden City

Hanwell Town 2-4 Enfield Town

Hastings United 2-1 Dulwich Hamlet

Hayes & Yeading United 1-1 Erith Town (Erith Town win 4-3 on penalties)

Leatherhead 2-2 Ramsgate (Leatherhead win 6-5 on penalties)

Leiston 0-3 Dartford

Maldon & Tiptree 0-2 Egham Town

Moneyfields 1-3 Wimborne Town

Newmarket Town 2-1 Leighton Town

Real Bedford 0-3 Wingate & Finchley

Southall 2-2 Carshalton Athletic (Carshalton Athletic win 4-3 on penalties)

St Albans City 4-1 Bury Town

Stanway Rovers 0-2 Faversham Town

Takeley 2-0 Hitchin Town

Uxbridge 2-1 Lewes

Waltham Abbey 7-1 AFC Croydon Athletic

Welling United 2-2 Chertsey Town (Chertsey Town win 5-4 on penalties)

*Bold signifies Isthmian League team