Chi and Canvey march on!

Chichester City have had a marvellous start to life in Step Four- but last night they took their success this season to a whole new level, dumping Hartley Wintney of Southern Premier South out of the FA Cup at Oaklands Way to set up a home Third Qualifying Round tie against Enfield Town.

The one hundred and eighty minutes played by the two sides produced only one goal- and it came in the one hundred and fortieth minute, Jamie Horncastle finding the net to send Chi through and spark some green delight!

Half an hour along the A27 in Worthing, the outcome was rather different. The Mackerel Men had their chances against National League South St Albans City, but they couldn’t take them- whilst the visitors had no such problem, charging into a three-nil lead before the break. A customary late goal from Worthing- Jalen Jones in the ninetieth minute- was no more than a consolation.

The match between Canvey Island and St Ives Town at the weekend didn’t deliver a solitary goal, but the sides made up for it last night by scoring five. Delightfully three of those went to the Gulls, and two of the three to Jason Hallett, as Canvey came from behind to earn extra time and then dump their Southern Premier Central opponents out of the competition. Josh Hutchinson got that equaliser seven minutes from time; but make no mistake, this was the Hallett show, the striker getting his fourth and fifth goals since returning to the club.

Canvey set up a local derby against Bowers and Pitsea in the next round.

Velocity Trophy

We had a large collection of Velocity Trophy matches last night.

Starting in Group 1, a double from Ross Wall which sandwiched efforts from Nnamdi Nwachuku, Tom Blackwell and Jack Simmons got Coggeshall Town back to winning ways as they hammered AFC Sudbury five-one. Tom Maycock got the one. Maldon and Tiptree won yet again, goals from Jake Wiffen, Sam Cornish and Jacob Hutchinson putting them three up within twenty six minutes at Felixstowe and Walton United. Jacob Lay got one back for the Seasiders twelve minutes from time.

In Group Two, Brentwood Town saw off the determined challenge of Aveley. Jason Williams, Bobby Vaughan and Khadean Campbell got the Blues goals, the last one the winner after first Firmin Ngandu and then Kane Hearn had equalised for the Millers.

Group Three saw two penalty shootouts. The first went the way of Histon, who got the extra point courtesy of a 4-2 win after they’d played out a 2-2 draw with Ware. Buster Harradine and Lee Smith got the Histon goals, Gareth Madden and Tommy Shepherd the Ware equalisers. The second also went to the home side, as Soham Town Rangers got the extra point by defeating Harlow Town 4-2 from the spot, after a 1-1 draw. Zachary Hope scored for Soham, De’juane Taylor-Crossdale equalised for Harlow.

Group Four had two matches and twelve goals. East Grinstead Town and Burgess Hill Town shared five of them, but it was the Hillians- through Andy Briggs, Aaron Smith-Joseph and Ryan Palmer- who got three of them, O’shaye Giraud-Hutchinson getting both goals for the Wasps. Hastings United got five of their own in victory over Three Bridges, and Davide Rodari got three of them, the others coming from James Pool and Tom Chambers. Andre McCollin and Tom Tolfrey made sure that the goalmouth action wasn’t only at one end.

Group Five saw Gianni Crichlow twice put Hanwell Town ahead against Westfield, only for Rhys Rabess and Tinashe Nkoma to equalise. Westfield then won the penalty shootout 4-3. Marlow got off to a flier at home to Chalfont St Peter, Kelvin Bossman getting two in the first eleven minutes, only for Sean Giordmaina to get two of his own to draw the match level. An own goal eight minutes from time gave the points to the home side.

Basildon United travelled to Great Wakering Rovers in Group Six, and gave their hosts a hammering- but it seems that three of their four goals came in the last minute! Danny Norton gave the Bees an early lead, and a Regan Mead double and one from Kristopher Newby brought that manic finish. Hullbridge Sports were the other victors, goals from Adebola Sotoyinbo and Joseph Wright enough despite Jacob Cleaver’s late goal for Witham Town.

Into Group Seven, and Ramsgate twice came from behind at home to Faversham Town- Tom Wynter with both goals- and then claimed an extra point with a 5-3 shootout win. Jamie Maxted and Michael Freiter scored for Town.

A late own goal gave Northwood victory at Bedfont Sports in Group Eight. Kingsley Eshun and Alex Witham gave Woods a two goal lead, Ezekiel Bademosi and Keanu Williams levelled matters, but in the very last minute Woods took victory. Staines Town and Uxbridge couldn’t find a goal between them, but the visitors took the extra point with a 4-1 shootout win.

A crazy match at Wodstock Park in Group Nine saw Sittingbourne and VCD Athletic play out a four-all draw. The Brickies then won the shootout, 5-4. Josh Oliver put the home side ahead early on, only for Alex Gaggin and Azeez Lyoubi to turn the tables for Vickers. Johan Caney-Bryan equalised for Sittingbourne, and then Sid Sollis made it 3-2, but after the break Kelvin Ogboe drew VCD level once more. Sollis made it 4-3, Gaggin got his second to level matters right at the end, and then the Brickies narrowly got the extra point.

In Group Ten South Park won their Surrey derby at Chipstead 3-2, with another late goal. Sahr Kabba gave Sparks the lead, but it was 1-1 by half time, Joe Jackson steppin’ out to equalise for Chips. Henry Arnold gave Park another lead sixteen minutes from time, but once more Chips drew level, Tom Collins making penalties likely with five minutes to go. Nathaniel Williams then gave Sparks the last laugh a minute from time.

Tonight we have an FA Cup Second Qualifying Round tie, as Kingstonian host March Town United. We also have a Velocity Trophy match as FC Romania entertain Bracknell Town.