Casuals wobble after Jelly strikes

The hosts got off to a sizzling start. Jamie Byatt put them ahead after 12 minutes, Steve Goddard added another and a Byatt penalty made it 3-0 with only a quarter of the game gone.

Marcus Elliott reduced the arrears ten minutes after the interval but when Tom Jelly netted Casuals’ fourth on 63 minutes it looked all over. Instead, it was Casuals who wobbled after Byatt was sent off for violent conduct.

Elliott scored again in the 71st minute and a double by Abubacarr Touray made it all square with nine minutes to go. So it was Casuals who were relieved to hear the final whistle.

James Gershfield did not take long to continue his goalscoring form for Potters Bar, giving them a first-minute lead in their home FA Cup replay against local rivals Cheshunt and striking again in the 35th minute, his sixth goal in four games this season.

Andrew West pulled one back before half-time and it was the 73rd minute before Daniel Ailey completed a 3-1 win for the Scholars. They now visit Premier side Hendon in the first qualifying round.

Heybridge earned themselves a home tie against Sudbury with a 4-0 whitewash of Felixstowe. It had taken a goal in the third minute of added time to save Swifts in the first game and, as so often happens, they made the most of their reprieve.

Ben Newson, twin brother of Needham’s Sam, met a Shane Stamp cross with a thumping header to give them a tenth-minute lead and Solomon Ofori struck either side of half-time to put the result almost beyond doubt. The spirited visitors never gave up but conceded a fourth goal at the death, a close-range header by Michael Cheek.

Horsham had also saved themselves with a late goal on Saturday and they, too, made no mistake at the second attempt even though they had to travel for their replay against Raynes Park Vale.

Adam Hutchings put them ahead on 27 minutes and Kery Kedze doubled the tally before the interval. Calum Forbes replied with 12 minutes left to threaten a comeback but Ryan Marriott made it 3-1 almost at once. Hornets now visit VCD.

Thamesmead will feel that justice was done as they won 2-1 at Walton Casuals, having been ahead when the first meeting was abandoned on Saturday.

They took the lead again, this time through Lea Dawson in the 21st minute, whose goal is pictured courtesy of Andy Nunn. Hassan Nyang squared it early in the second half, only for Ashley Probets to hit the winner with 14 minutes left.

That means a handy £1,750 in prize money for Thamesmead, whose manager Keith McMahon warned at the weekend that club were in urgent need of income, and they now have a home tie against Worthing.