Hornets through to Round Four of the Trophy

FA Trophy

Horsham, superb in the FA Cup this season, were also doing rather well in the FA Trophy, and welcomed Pitching In Southern Premier side AFC Totton to the Camping World Community Stadium. The Hornets got back to winning ways in the league against Canvey Island in midweek, and we expected them to be confident, particularly given that the only sides to defeat them in knockout competitions this season had been Barnsley and Sutton United! Totton had already faced Isthmian opposition this season, the victims of a giantkilling by Ramsgate in the Cup, but they’d only lost once in nine matches since that defeat and were winners against National League South side Havant & Waterlooville in the last round, so we expected it to be close. The Hornets went ahead on twenty seven minutes, Jack Brivio with the opener- and the visitors saw their chances ended just before full time, Jack Mazzone making it two and ensuring that Horsham went through to Round Four.

Pitching In Isthmian Premier

With leaders Hornchurch not in action, second place Chatham Town had the chance to cut the Urchins lead to six points as they welcomed Hastings United. With four wins from their last five the Chats looked to be returning to their early-season form, and they had lost only once at home this season, but they fell behind six minutes before the break, Davide Rodari opening the scoring for the visitors. Right on the stroke of half time Rodari did it again, making it two-nil, but just before the hour mark the Chats gave themselves hope as Ben Allen got a goal back. Most of the one thousand, three hundred and seventy eight watching on shared that hope, but it was to be a forlorn hope as United held on for three points- and climbed to sixth.

Only one point separated Lewes and Dulwich Hamlet at kick off- in favour of the South Londoners, although the Rooks had played four games fewer. With only one win from their last five league matches the Rooks had hit a bit of a bump in the road, whilst Hamlet were nine unbeaten, and it perhaps wasn’t too much of a surprise when the visitors went ahead fifteen minutes in, Ryan Scott opening the scoring. Hamlet made sure of the points four minutes from time, Luke Wanadio making it two-nil, and the locals amongst the one thousand, one hundred and eighteen went home rather miserable. Hamlet are ninth- pictured courtesy of the club.

Margate, under new management with the arrival of Mark Stimson, were looking to get their new boss off to a winning start as Carshalton Athletic travelled to the seaside. Both sides had seen their form drop off a cliff, each recording only one win from their previous ten, the travelling Robins arriving on the back of a run of five consecutive defeats. It was the visitors who struck first, Bradley Williams breaking the deadlock on fifty seven minutes- and that turned out to be that. Athletic fans breathed an enormous sigh of relief, and Stimson will certainly be aware of the size of his task.

Gate haven’t beaten the Robins in nine attempts- although five of those have ended level.

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