Cannons, Millers, Nuts & Bolts, Rams and Ites progress

FA Trophy

Ascot United would have counted themselves unlucky to lose to Premier Division Lewes in the Cup last weekend. They welcomed another Sussex side to the Racecourse Ground, Lancing making the trip as Yella played yellow, and United were quickly ahead, Brendan Matthew opening the scoring after just four minutes. The Lancers levelled on twenty six minutes, Lucas Franzen-Jones scoring for the second successive match, but the hosts were ahead again just before the break, Matthew finding the Lancing net once more. Matthew claimed the match ball two minutes after the break, but for the time being the game went on so he had to share it. Harvey Killeen made it four-one just before the hour, and almost immediately Matthew wanted his ball back and scored his fourth of the game, to make it five-one. It was six on sixty seven minutes, Sean McCormack getting in on the act, and a late goal from Franzen-Jones in added time saw the scoreline end at six-two.

Chertsey Town played host to Hythe Town- and the Curfews gave the Cannons an early helping hand, as Rob Sheridan saw red and conceded a penalty, which Frannie Collin converted. Within two minutes Ethan Smith had made it two-nil, and it looked like it was going to be a long afternoon for the home fans. The third goal arrived on the stroke of half time, Lex Allen making it three-nil, and shortly after the break Jack Steventon added a fourth. Gianluca Botti did get one back for the hosts with nine minutes left, and the scoreline was made more respectable when Gareth Chendlik made it two right at the end, but that made little difference to the outcome.

Cray Valley PM are having a fine campaign, unbeaten in all competitions and scoring lots of goals- eighteen in their previous five matches. They finally defeated South Central opposition in the shape of Northwood in a midweek Cup replay, and had more South Central opposition in the Trophy as Hartley Wintney came to call- and were ahead after thirteen minutes, Adam Coombes converting from the spot. It was almost full time before the hosts clinched the match, Freddie Parker making it two.

Metropolitan Police welcomed Ashford United to Imber Court. The Boys in Blue had only one win in all competitions so far this season, that coming in the last round against Phoenix Sports- whilst the travelling Nuts and Bolts probably didn’t want to hear anything about Phoenix Sports whatsoever after the match between the two sides last weekend, which saw United come from behind to go three-two up against Sports with only seventeen minutes remaining, only to somehow contrive to lose five-three! It took sixty eight minutes before a goal arrived, and it went to the hosts, Shkyler Burrows with it, but the visitors levelled three minutes from time through Anthony Edgar. That sent it to penalties, and Nuts and Bolts squeezing through, five-four.

Ramsgate have been in blistering form of late. The Rams knocked Premier Division side Cray Wanderers out of the Cup on Wednesday evening, the second Premier side they’d despatched after a five-one hammering of league leaders Chatham Town in the previous round. The Rams had lost only one league match, that defeat coming on the opening day, and the victors in that game, Sevenoaks Town, headed to the Kent coast for a rematch. The Rams went ahead just before the break, Medy Elito opening the scoring, and soon after the restart it was two, Joe Taylor doing Joe Taylor things, his ELEVENTH in EIGHT matches. Jack Parter added a third on sixty six minutes, but the visitors hit back with twenty minutes left, Kieran Cadogen giving them hope. Sadly it was forlorn hope, and the Rams held on for a comfortable win.

Sheppey United have been in fine form, through to the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Cup and unbeaten in the league. They welcomed neighbours Sittingbourne in an all-ticket match and local derby, the two sides having already met this season, a two-two draw on August Bank Holiday Monday. The Ites broke the deadlock just before the break, Jacob Lambert’s sixth of the season the opener, and added another six minutes after the restart, Josh Wisson with that one. The Brickies hit back, Javaun Splatt scoring his first of the season with twenty one minutes left, but derby rights remained with the Ites. Image from Paul Richards.

South Park (Reigate) welcomed Pitching In Isthmian South East leaders Three Bridges. The Sparks had won their previous three matches in all competitions- including Cup/Trophy wins against two South East sides, Erith & Belvedere and East Grinstead Town- whilst Bridges arrived with a seven match unbeaten run which had seen them win their last three matches. The hosts were ahead after a quarter of an hour, Joe Bell with the opener, and Bell added another five minutes before half time. A red card for Kelvin Manuel Massango saw the Spars reduced to ten men just before the break, and Bridges got a goal back three minutes from time, Noel Leighton’s seventh of the season- but the hosts held on for victory.

South East

We had only one match in the South East Division, Horndean welcoming Herne Bay. The visitors went ahead seven minutes before half tie, Michael Salako opening the scoring, and three minutes later Sam German made it two- and it got worse for the hosts, Rudi Blankson seeing red. The ten men managed a goal back before the break, Zack Willett closing the gap, but it was soon three-one to the visitors, Salako once more, and three minutes from time Theo Osinfolarin made it four.

The hosts did have time to bring it back to two-four, Daniel Sibley with a late consolation, but Bay are up to fifth.

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