Bridges can't hold their lead

Callum Donaghey scored for Bridges in the 20th minute but the homeless Combined Counties League side, who now share Chipstead’s ground, hit back 12 minutes later and netted the winner with 20 minutes left.

Returning to yesterday’s ties, a number of other Ryman sides suffered disappointing exits at the hands of opposition from lower in the pyramid, most notably, perhaps, Redbridge, whose achievement in reaching the second round proper last season must have seemed a very distant memory as they crashed 5-0 at AFC Dunstable.

Burgess Hill went down 3-0 at home to Step 6 club Littlehampton and there was another surprise as Harlow, despite taking a tenth-minute lead through new signing Tony Jacobs, were beaten 2-1 at home by Hadleigh.

Corinthian-Casuals were on the wrong end of a 3-0 scoreline at Redhill and Whitstable were beaten 2-1 at VCD. The Kent League side took the lead midway through the first half but Micheal Everitt squared it just before the hour, amid thunder and lightning. A replay was two minutes away when Billy Shinners got VCD’s winner. (Action from the game is pictured, with Whitstable in red).

The only other Ryman side to bow out were Ramsgate, who crashed 5-2 at Godalming. The Surrey club, who were transferred to the Southern League in the summer, showed they had lost none of the touch they showed in their thrilling 44 draw at Bognor in last season’s play-offs as Scott Harris fired a hat-trick. G’s were 2-0 up before Charles Walsh scored for the visitors in the 36th minute, and Michael Yianni pulled it back to 3-2 on the hour.

The two suides sharing top spot in Ryman North had to fight hard to progress. Chatham were in some trouble at home to Peacehaven when they fell behind with 20 minutes left but hit back to win 2-1. Lee Hales equalised with a 76th-minute penalty and Jack Pallen struck six minutes later.

Grays, meanwhile, were made to fight all the way by Essex Senior League visitors Takeley and could not add to Jack West’s 12th-minute goal.

Another Essex League side, Haringey & Waltham Development, led Waltham Abbey at half-time and almost held on for a replay after James Peagram equalised on the hour. Ayrton Coley saw the Abbotts through with an 86th-minute goal.

A Hicham Akhazzan double put Sittingbourne 2-0 ahead at home to Burnham but no massacre followed. Kieran Knight, well known in Ryman circles, replied on 32 minutes and the Brickies had to settle for a 2-1 victory.

Wroxham accounted for the side they replaced in Ryman North, Great Wakering, with a 2-0 win in Norfolk. Both goals came in the first half, a Matt Daniels penalty and Matt Blake added another before half-time.

Two goals in the last five minutes of the first half, from Jordan Cox and Ricky Edwards, eased Aveley’s nerves at Whitton. A late strike by Junior Appiah made it 3-0.

Another big crowd at Maidstone, 938, had a shock when Colliers Wood took a tenth-minute lead. Ade Olorunda replied six minutes later, after which the visitors held out until the 57th minute when Paul Booth put Stones in front. Highly-rated youngster Kaiyne Woollery and Shaun Welford completed a 4-1 win: not quite as emphatic as last season, when Stones hit nine in each of their first two ties.

Faversham cruised to a 3-0 home win over Ringmer with goals from Luke Harvey, Adrian Stone and Matt Bourne, while Eastbourne saw off Chessington 2-0 with an early goal from Danny Curd and a late one from Matt Geard. Louis Rose scored the only goal to see Ware through at Biggleswade United.

Horsham must replay after a narrow escape against visitors Raynes Park Vale. Gary Charman’s solo goal wiped out the visitors’ opener but they went in front again and only three minutes were left when Tony Nwachukwu’s penalty made it 2-2 and gave Hornets a second chance.

Leatherhead took the lead through Jamie Coyle after 80 scoreless minutes at Horley only for the home side to reply almost at once and force a return match on Wednesday.

Heybridge and Felixstowe meet again on Tuesday after a 1-1 draw in Suffolk.