Wands and Wingate deliver Cup upsets- and Brentwood hit five
Cray Wanderers and Wingate & Finchley beat Step Two opposition, whilst in the Premier Division Brentwood hit Maldon for five whilst Bridges and Tanners share six goals
Brentwood Town were under the management of Brett Munyard for the first time- they defeated Aveley without his presence in the dugout on Saturday- and they welcomed a side who dispensed with their manager at the weekend, Maldon & Tiptree.
Town went ahead on fifteen minutes, Malachi Linton with the opener, but the lead didn’t last long, Sam Adeyeye levelling only six minutes later. Home advantage was reestablished just after the half hour, Bradley Sach scoring from the spot, and it was three-one early in the second half, Harry Gibbs putting a little daylight between the sides. Linton added a fourth with twenty two minutes remaining, and still they weren’t finished, Max Hudson making it five-one. Town climb to eighteenth.
With only one win all season Three Bridges were hoping to end a three match all-competitions losing streak as they welcomed Leatherhead, the Tanners still unbeaten on the road this season- after spending all of last season also unbeaten on the road! Bridges started at top speed and were ahead on two minutes, Sam Bull with the opener, and only six minutes later Reece Hallard added a second, cutting inside and finishing beautifully. The Tanners got back into the match just after the half hour, Nathan Hogan halving the deficit, but Bridges quickly re-established their dominance, with Kevin Rivera making it three-one six minutes later.
Tom Dryer gave the travelling fans reason to believe when pulling it back to three-two eleven minutes from time, and only three minutes later it was three-three, Dryer striking again. Leatherhead’s away record stretches on, whilst Bridges will be again ruing their failure to hold onto a lead. Leatherhead are sixth, their hosts second from bottom.
In the FA Cup, Cray Wanderers travelled to Maidstone United hoping to do even better than in their one-one draw at the weekend- and Wands started well, Ola Ogunwamide putting them ahead midway through the first half. Deep in added time Ade Yusuff delivered a fine second, and the Wands had dumped the National League South leaders out of the competition.
Wingate & Finchley welcomed National League South side Hemel Hempstead Town to North London hoping to slay that particular giant- and they delivered the first blow just before half time, Ashley Nzala with the opening goal. They delivered the second blow, too, Jack Thomas doubling the lead early in the second half, but midway through the half the Tudors halved the arrears to set up an exciting finish. Could the hosts hold out? They could, giant- slain!