Five goal Robins and Gulls take the plaudits on Cup Saturday

Our Premier top two met at Parkside. Aveley and Potters Bar Town each had only one defeat from their five league matches so far, and each had delivered wins from the other four, so we expected a tight match, and we got one. Lewis Manor put the Scholars ahead on sixty four minutes, but George Sykes earned a replay with two minutes to go. The match didn’t end normally, as it was stopped in added time due to a head injury to a Scholars player- we very much hope that all is soon well.

Billericay Town haven’t had the start they might have expected to our Pitching In Isthmian Premier campaign, and they went behind against Leverstock Green- but then put things right in style. Alfie Cerulli got the equaliser, six minutes after the break, added another on sixty five, and then Chris Dickson got into the act with a brace to make it four-one. Image from Nicky Hayes- more here.

Bishop's Stortford welcomed St Neots Town of Pitching In Northern Premier Division One Midlands- and became the victims of a giant killing as the visitors won two-nil. Trey Charles, formerly of Northwood, and Manny Ossei, formerly of Brightlingsea Regent, Maldon & Tiptree, Lowestoft Town and many more, scored the goals.

Bognor Regis Town saw Pitching In Isthmian Premier rivals Cray Wanderers arrive at the Nye Camp. The two had already met this season- a two-two draw at Hayes Lane on August 17th- and of course we had another by the sea. Gary Lockyer put Wands ahead on nine minutes only for Nick Dembele to equalise midway through the first half; and although Michael Ademiluyi restored the visitors lead on sixty six minutes it was restored for three minutes only, Nathan Odokonyero with the equaliser.

Brightlingsea Regent welcomed Mildenhall Town to the Taydal. Regent had won two of their last three, defeating Margate and Billericay, and now they’ve won another, as Hall didn’t ever come close to an upset. Connor Barmby put the hosts ahead on fourteen minutes, Zack Littlejohn doubled their advantage with nine minutes to go to the break, and shortly after it Charlie Durling effectively ended the contest.

Canvey Island welcomed Enfield Town and went rather goal crazy! Evans Kouassi managed three of them, the first and the last two, whilst in between them Danny Parish and Jamie Salmon- who scores very rarely but always with his head, perhaps so that we can say he leapt like a…rather large fish- added to the Gulls five. Jake Cass did get one back for the Towners, but this is a day that his side, and their fans, will want to quickly forget. The two sides meet again in the league in just over a fortnight.

Carshalton Athletic brought VCD Athletic to Colston Avenue and finally hit the heights they’ve been threatening all season. Tom Beere and Brad Williams put them two-nil up at the break, and after it they added three more, Calvin Ekpiteta, Crossley Lema and Ollie Cook with those. Ryan King-Elliott got a late consolation for Vickers.

Corinthian-Casuals hosted Burgess Hill Town in Tolworth. The Hillians have had a torrid start to their Pitching In Isthmian South East campaign, losing every league match- but they delivered a giant killing here. Lewis Finney opened the scoring for the visitors on the half hour, before Dan Perry- a veteran of their last famous cup run- made it two just before the break. Ben Checklit did get one back for the hosts, and they had twenty four minutes to find an equaliser, but the Hillians held on for a famous victory.

Cray Valley PM welcomed Hastings United to Kent, and the Millers slayed those giants emphatically, winning three-nil. Sonny Black opened the scoring on thirteen minutes, Dan bennett doubled the advantage nine minutes before half time, and the same player got the third ten minutes after the break on an abject day for United. Another cup run for the Millers? They’ll hope so!

Folkestone Invicta retained their unbeaten record comfortably against North Greenford United, who currently sit in thirteenth place in Combined Counties Premier North- but they were made to sweat a little. Josh Vincent gave Invicta a twelfth minute lead, but the second goal didn’t arrive and United drew level just after the hour. That was the push the stripes needed, and Ibrahim Olutade and Kadell Daniel finally finished the job, making it three-one.

Herne Bay welcomed Horsham to the seaside (Ramsgate), in an all Pitching In Isthmian Premier clash. The Hornets, you might recall, went as far as the First Round of the competition last season, and have a fine cup pedigree; but they won’t be making a return trip to glory this season, as Bay defeated them by two goals to one. Mason Saunders-Henry opened the scoring for the hosts on twelve minutes, and Marcel Barrington gave them a two goal cushion six minutes before the break. The visitors did get one back, Daniel Ajakaiye with it from the spot just before the end, but that was that.

Ipswich Wanderers were the hosts for Hornchurch. Wanderers, who have drawn their opening three league fixtures of the campaign, comprehensively defeated Pitching In Isthmian North Gorleston in the last round- but the Urchins were too tough for them; Liam Nash, Sam Higgins and an own goal seeing them through, three-one.

Maldon & Tiptree laid out the jam coloured carpet for Haringey Borough. The Jammers came into the match on the back of a string of four successive league defeats, but this is a side who have been slaying giants for years, and they’d already slain this giant in 20-21 so knew they could do it again. So it proved, a late winner from Kamani McFarlane- who also got their opener- enough for victory, despite Georgios Aresti’s equaliser for the North Londoners.

Sevenoaks Town saw Kingstonian arrive at Greatness Park and were the latest addition to our list of giantkillers, as the K’s departed the competition. Ryan Gondoh scored twice for Oaks, and although Louis Collins got a late consolation for the K’s, that was all it was.

Sheppey United defeated a Sussex side, Newhaven, in the last round- and they were two goals ahead against another from a rather higher level, Lewes. Warren Mfula got the two goals, six minutes before the break and nine minutes after it, but that sparked the Rooks into life, Joe Taylor and Razz Coleman De-Graft quickly drawing them level. There were thirty two minutes for someone to find a winner, but neither side managed it, so we’re off to the Pan on Tuesday night. Daniel Birch picked up a late red card for the Ites- who have know drawn in each of the last three rounds.

Wingate & Finchley welcomed Bowers & Pitsea to North London in an all Pitching In Isthmian Premier clash. Second bottom hosted third bottom, with both sides searching for form. The match had only one goal, and that arrived four minutes from time; Yannis Ambroisine getting it for the home side.

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