Enfield have shootout success in the Billy Bricknell Trophy- and Urchins join them in the final!

Enfield have shootout success in the Billy Bricknell Trophy- and Urchins join them in the final

…and it’s a step too far for Robins in the Trophy, whilst Woods wallop Sparks and Molesey grab a point. It’s our round up of Tuesday’s action.

In 2017, Billy Bricknell scored a hat trick for Billericay Town as they won the Velocity Trophy with a thumping victory over Tonbridge Angels. In 2018 he did it again, as his club came from behind to defeat Metropolitan Police to claim the prize once more. Last night, playing in the Semi-Final of the competition for his current club, Enfield Town, it looked as if his run of success was over, as the match against Bishop’s Stortford entered its final moments with the Blues 3-2 up at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium. But Bricknell wasn’t done. Two minutes into added time he met a long throw at the back post and levelled the tie- and then scored in the resulting penalty shootout as the Towners booked their place in the final.

It could have been so different for Stortford. When George Cradock put them two-nil up in the sixty third minute few in the crowd would have expected them to lose the tie- Alfie Mason got the first in the first half- but two goals in a minute from Sam Youngs and Josh Davison levelled matters. Even then, however, when Ben Worman put the sway side ahead once more with twelve minutes remaining, surely they’d done enough? They hadn’t.

Looking to avoid being on the wrong end of another Bricknell hat trick in this year’s final will be AFC Hornchurch, who were made to fight for their place by South Central side Bracknell Town at Bridge Avenue. Adam Cornell gave the Robins an early lead, only for Alex Bentley to equalise for the home side- and when Charlie Stimson put the Urchins ahead thirteen minutes the turnaround looked complete. But it wasn’t- Liam Ferdinand got an equaliser from the spot, and then, with nine minutes remaining, George Purcell found a Hornchurch winner.

Another set of Robins, Carshalton Athletic, also saw their progress in a cup competition come to an end, as they finally bowed out of the FA Trophy. After a thrilling draw with Barnet in the original tie, Darren Currie’s National League side finally proved too strong for the Robins- but only just. Jacob Mendy got their goal, but Barnet managed two.

We had two rather important matches at the wrong end of the South Central Division- and second bottom Molesey narrowed the gap on third bottom South Park as they picked up a point and the Sparks were on the wrong end of a home hiding. The Moles will undoubtedly be disappointed, as they looked to have taken all three points courtesy of a Ryan Marklew double until Kyi Martin grabbed an equaliser for Bedfont Sports two minutes from time. Charlie Postance got Sports’ opening goal. South Park, meanwhile, were walloped by Northwood at Whitehall Lane- Chris Gosling, Alex Witham, Imran Uche and Jabir Laraba finding the net for the away side before Matt Males got a consolation three minutes from time.

Finally, congratulations to Burgess Hill Town, Cheshunt and Tooting & Mitcham United, each of whom progressed to a County Cup Semi-Final with victories last night.