Giants. Slain.

We had a magnificent day in the FA Cup yesterday, with a number of notable giant killings.

We start at Imperial Fields, home of Tooting & Mitcham United. It seems only yesterday that the Terrors and Dorking Wanderers were fighting it out for the South Division title, but these days Wanderers are sitting pretty in fourth place in National League South. They didn’t look too pretty yesterday, however, as Tooting continued their unbeaten run by winning their ninth game of the season. Danny Bassett got the only goal, his sixth of the campaign.

Chelmsford City, mid table in National League South, travelled to King George’s Field to face a Corinthian-Casuals side who were still looking for their first league victory of the season. Well they’ve had no such difficulties in the Cup, and yesterday City found them just too good, Nathaniel Pinney’s first half spot kick and a goal from Shaun Okojie after the break giving them victory.

Ware took their unbeaten record in all competitions to Biggleswade Town yesterday, their opponents sitting in tenth place in Southern Premier Central. Once again the Blues were imperious, and goals from Olu Akinsanya- his eleventh of the season- and Leigh Rose saw them into the draw for the next round.

Maldon & Tiptree, leaders of the North Division, hosted Premier Division Wingate & Finchley, and the Jammers made quite sure that they retained their 100% record by putting four goals- including a Jerome Slew hat trick, his second this week- past their visitors. Charlee Hughes got the other, whilst Ahmet Rifat and Marvin Morgan replied for Wingate. That’s ten consecutive victories for Maldon in all competitions.

Enfield Town hosted Braintree Town, sixth in National League South and these days managed by former Leiston boss Glen Driver, who must have felt quite familiar with the away dugout at Donkey Lane. By full time he’d probably have been looking the other way, as the Towners Muhammadu Faal, who is in fabulous form at present, scored a goal in each half to send Enfield through. That’s three consecutive matches that Faal has now scored in, and he has seven goals for the season.

Margate were another side to defeat National League South competition. They welcomed Concord Rangers to Hartsdown Park, fell behind on three minutes, were ahead by eight, and got a third goal a minute from the end to seal victory. Noel Leighton, Adem Ramadan and Jack Richards got their goals.

Haringey Borough brought their league form to the cup, walloping Staines Town by five goals to nil. We spent much of last season writing about goals for Chid Onokwai, then turning out for FC Romania (before a short spell with Hayes & Yeading United), and the step up to the Premier Division hasn’t fazed him at all. He got three yesterday, all in the last fifteen minutes, to add to goals already scored by Rakim Richards and Dimitri Froxylias.

Carshalton Athletic travelled to Harrow Borough and despite spending almost the entire second half with ten men, after Daniel Pappoe was dismissed, held on to the advantage that Christie Pattison had given them in the first half.

We had an all-Isthmian Premier match at Lewes, and it’s quite clear that Bowers & Pitsea fans are likely to join those who vote the Dripping Pan as their favourite away ground. They’ve travelled there twice this season, and won both times! Kayne Diedrick-Roberts gave the Rooks the lead early in the second half, but James Thomas and Brad Warner struck in the last twenty minutes to send Bowers into the next round.

Whyteleafe travelled to Moneyfields, and goals from Ronald Sobowale- one just before the break, one nine minutes after it- saw them leave Portsmouth with the plaudits.

We had another all-Isthmian Premier tie at the Pakex, and the Scholars despatched the Urchins two-nil. Both goals came just before the break, James Budden and Josh Hutchinson leaving Hornchurch to concentrate on the League.

Chichester City travelled to Step Three Hartley Wintney and came back with a creditable 0-0 draw, so will see whether they can go one better on Tuesday night.

Along the A27 Worthing will also be trying to knock out higher level opposition, as they got their customary last-gasp goal to earn a draw at National League South St Albans City. The Mackerel Men were twice behind, and even down to ten men for the last eleven minutes, but still managed to grab an equaliser, Reece Myles-Meekums scoring right at the death. Joel Colbran had got their first goal.

Canvey Island will replay after a great result- a goalless draw at Southern Premier Central St Ives Town.

Right, onto the miserable news.

Basildon United travelled to face National League South Billericay Town, who seem to having one of their regular periods of crisis. The Bees gave a good account of themselves, but fell by the game’s only goal.

Horsham hosted National League South Dartford, and departed the competition after a two-nil defeat, and Folkestone Invicta, who have been magnificent in the League, came badly unstuck in the cup. The journey home from Kings Langley wouldn’t have been a happy one after a four-nil defeat.

Ramsgate also had to travel back to Kent with nothing to show for their endeavours, having lost narrowly 1-0 at Hadley.

Peterborough Sports gained a second Isthmian Premier scalp in two weeks, with Bishop’s Stortford following East Thurrock United out of the cup. Shomari Barnwell got the Blues goal in a 2-1 home defeat.

Bognor Regis Town travelled to Dulwich Hamlet, and the less we say about that match the better. James Crane got a goal for the Rocks, but sadly Hamlet got six.

Cheshunt travelled to Maidstone United for an Amber battle, and came away on the receiving end of a 4-1 defeat. Mo Camara brought the Ambers back into the game in the second half, reducing the arrears to 2-1, but that stung their hosts into action and within eleven more minutes all the goals were scored and the match was effectively over.

Chipstead travelled to National League South Welling United. We’d like to say no more, but we need to add that the trip home must have been rather miserable, as United scored seven goals without reply.

Premier Division

We had only one match in the Premier Division, and it saw East Thurrock United climb to fourth place after a last-minute Frankie Merrifield winner saw them overcome Brightlingsea Regent. Merrifield got the Rocks first, too, but when Jake Turner equalised ten minutes from time it seemed that Regent would take a share of the points.

North Division

Bury Town closed to within a point of Maldon & Tiptree at the top of the table, coming from two goals down at Dereham Town to win by three goals to two. Adam Hipperson and Ryan Hawkins gave the Magpies that lead, but a goal either side of the half time break from Cemal Ramadan drew the visitors level, and then Ollie Hughes sent the points back to Ram Meadow with the winner twenty minutes from time. Our image above is of a Bury Town celebration, and you can see the rest of Alan Palmer's fabulous shots by heading here.

Our featured match saw Great Wakering Rovers jump into the top five with victory over Witham Town- you can read all about it HERE- and they’re now only a point behind Coggeshall Town, who went two goals up at Cambridge City only to lose three-two. Conor Hubble and Chris Regis gave the Seed Growers that lead, only for Jordan Gent, Adam Watkins and Arel Amu- in the last minute- to turn the match on its head.

Aveley are sixth, and not to buck a trend they also came from two goals down to win three-two. Danny Gould and an own goal put visitors Histon in the driving seat at Parkside, but Harry Gibbs got one back on the stroke of half time, and a double from Reggie Hubbard sealed the comeback.

We’ve had three matches with five goals, and our final one, at Tilbury, had six- but there was no winner, as the Dockers and Hullbridge Sports got three each. Ade Sotoyinbo gave the visitors the lead, but Tilbury hit back three times, Brian Moses, an own goal and Moses again making victory look certain- but it wasn’t, as Yemi Ogunfunmilade and Joseph Wright struck to earn Sports a point.

South Central

Westfield increased their lead at the top of the South Central Division to three points (and four goals), and maintained their unbeaten record. Both goals came in the second half, Aaron Watson and Sonny Black seeing off Marlow resistance.

Harlow Town are up to fifth, falling behind at home to Hertford Town- Kouadio Georges-Ehui giving the visitors a first half lead- but hitting back with two second half goals to record victory. Terrell Egbri and Matthew Rush found the net for the Hawks.

Chalfont St Peter are fourth, and were quickly two goals up at home to Bracknell Town, Kofi Quartey with both. The Robins had drawn level by half time, however, Nathan Minhas and Daniel Bayliss with their goals, and the next fifty four minutes saw no addition to the scoresheet. Bracknell are seventh.

Barking got their first win of the season, and moved up to fourteenth place, with a win over FC Romania. The Blues fell behind to a goal from Dumitru Gritcan, but strikes from Ans Seymour and Dixon Michael saw them bounce back to victory.

South Park are up to eleventh courtesy of a three-three draw against Ashford Town. Hayden Skerry got two for the Sparks before the break, Daniel Brown finding the net for the Tangerines, and when Louie Downey made it three-one it looked as if the points were staying at home, but Tommy Brunton and Harrison Okwu-Ndubuisi had other ideas.

South East

VCD Athletic and Hastings United couldn’t find a breakthrough at Oakwood in a nil-nil draw, and that let Sevenoaks Town through to become the new leaders as they delivered a three-one win over Faversham Town. Kyle De Silva gave Oaks the lead only for Anthony Adesite to equalise just before the break, but in the second half De Silva and Ryan Fowler sent Sevenoaks soaring.

Ashford United are up to second place, and still have a one hundred percent record. Goals from Aaron Condon, Jerald Aboagye and David Smith saw them win at East Grinstead Town- their fifth victory of the season, they have two games in hand over the sides around them. The Wasps saw O’shaye Giraud-Hutchinson get their goal, but they are still looking for their first victory.

Guernsey are up to sixth, and still the highest scorers in the Division despite only getting one at Sittingbourne. It came right at the end, through Sebastian Skillen, and as it was the only goal of the match it saw the Green Lions roar all the way home!

The Phoenix Sports revival continued, this time at Whitehawk. John Paul Kissock gave the Hawks the lead, but after the break Jeff Duah-Kessie and Ben Allen turned the game on its head and gave the visitors the points.

Burgess Hill Town had been searching for a victory for weeks, not having managed one since the first day of the season. They found it yesterday, defeating Whitstable Town by the odd goal in five at the Green Elephants Stadium. The visitors took the lead through Josh Spencer and held it until two minutes from half time, Erivaldo Felix getting the equaliser. After the break Charlie Bennett and Warren Mfula put some daylight between the Hillians and their visitors, and although Liam Gillies reduced the arrears the home side held on for victory. Our headline image shows Hillians fans in the sunshine, and comes from Chris Neal- you can see the rest of his shots, and they're fab so you really should, here.

Another side desperate for a win were Hythe Town, and they got it at an inconsistent Herne Bay. Frannie Collin and Tom Walmsley got the Cannons goals, both coming after the break.

Velocity Trophy

We had three Velocity Trophy matches yesterday.

In Group One Felixstowe and Walton United and Heybridge Swifts took a point each in a two-two draw. Miles Powell got both goals for the Seasiders, Emmanuel Osei-Owusu and Elliot Ronto found the net for Swifts. There was then another point up for grabs in a penalty shootout, and the Seasiders won that seven-six.

In Group Two a goal three minutes from time from Timi Babalola saw Romford win one-nil against Waltham Abbey, whilst in Group Eight Uxbridge saw Callum Bunting and Jack Beadle put them two-nil up against Bedfont Sports. Andy Ali got one back for Sports right at the end, but it wasn’t enough to earn them any points.

We’ve two FA Cup matches today. Chertsey Town travel to Biggleswade, whilst Cray Wanderers entertain Soham Town Rangers.