It’s a Red and Amber day, as magnificent Uxbridge, Cray Wanderers and Cheshunt slay giants

By Ian Townsend

What a day we had in the FA Trophy, with fine wins for Bishop’s Stortford, Enfield Town, and Folkestone Invicta- and we had no shortage of action in the Pitching In Isthmian League, too. Here’s our comprehensive round up.


Buildbase FA Trophy

Fourteen of our clubs kicked off in the Second Round of the FA Trophy this afternoon, with a fifteenth, Kingstonian, to play tomorrow.

Binfield, who went to Wembley last season in the FA Vase, wanted to get a step closer to a return as they hosted Truro City after defeating Cinderford Town, Herne Bay and North Leigh to get to this stage. City, in mid table in Pitching In Southern Premier South, knocked out Bognor Regis Town on penalties in the last round and had proved difficult to beat of late, and got themselves quickly in front in this one, scoring after just eight minutes. It was two for the Cornish side on twenty five minutes and it was more of a mountain to climb than a molehill for the Moles when City made it three just before the break. The hosts got a goal back nine minutes after the restart, Josh Howell giving them hope, and then with thirteen minutes left Ollie Harris reduced the defecit to molehill size for the Moles, but the equaliser didn’t come and Binfield are out.

Bishop's Stortford hosted Leiston, fifth in Pitching In Southern Premier Central, and our Blues had the perfect start, Frankie Merrifield opening the scoring after just five minutes- his ninth of the season- and then got number two/ten four minutes later to double the home advantage. Leiston halved the arrears on twenty minutes, so the next goal was all-important, and it went to the hosts, Darren Foxley making it three-one eight minutes after the restart. Chris Harris made it four-one with ten minutes remaining, Ryan Charles got number five, and that was that.

Potters Bar Town were on the road to National League South Braintree Town, the Iron second from bottom and with only two league wins all season- but it was the hosts who broke the deadlock on twenty minutes. The equaliser came just before the break, and it went to Samson Esan for the Scholars, but soon after the restart the hosts were ahead once more, and they got a third just before the end to end the Scholars hopes.

The last time Brentwood Town hosted Dulwich Hamlet was back in 2018, when a last minute goal from Hamlet goalkeeper Corey Addai broke home hearts in the Quarter Finals of the Velocity Trophy, and led to a rather famous photograph. Today’s Town look a much more complete side, but so do today’s Hamlet, fifth in National League South, and they went ahead on thirteen minutes courtesy of ‘head for the hills it’s Danny Mills’ (copyright: Whitehawk announcer). The hosts weren’t downhearted, and drew level five minutes after the break through Rob Harvey- his seventh of the season- but a late goal six minutes from time gave the victory to the visitors. Five hundred and fifty watched the match.

Canvey Island also hosted National League South opposition, and another former Isthmian side, as Tonbridge Angels arrived. Angels are third bottom and have taken only one point from their last fifteen in the league, whilst the Gulls, well, we’ve run out of superlatives to describe their recent form. Twelve consecutive wins in all competitions (albeit one of them on penalties), eight consecutive wins in the league, unbeaten in the league- we’ll leave you to add your own gasps of admiration. Angels, however, weren’t just standing back and admiring their hosts, and Joe Turner got the only goal of the game eleven minutes after the break to seal victory.

Cheshunt were on the road to face another National League South side in Chelmsford City. The Ambers are having a great season, and defeated our title favourites Worthing last weekend and then Wingate and Finchley in midweek- their eleventh unbeaten match in all competitions. City have won only two league matches all season and sit third from bottom, and this one must have looked like a huge potential banana skin for them- and they slipped on it as early as the fourteenth minute, when Reece Beckles-Richards put the Ambers ahead. The equaliser arrived just before the break, but once more the visitors got themselves in front, Rowan Liburd making it two-one on sixty nine minutes. The Ambers held on to take a famous scalp.

Chippenham Town, six places above Chelmsford, welcomed Uxbridge. The travelling Red Army have only seen their side lose once in the league this season, and watched them stick six goals past Step Three Walton Casuals in the last round, so wouldn’t have been short on confidence- and that confidence would have soared still further when Alex Witham put them ahead with only nineteen minutes remaining. That turned out to be that, and Uxbridge marched on, taking a famous and fabulous victory.

Cray Wanderers welcomed Ebbsfleet United. Wands drew with Folkestone Invicta in midweek and have been a little up and down in recent weeks, whilst their visitors, in second place in National League South, lost to Maidstone United in midweek but had been in tremendous form prior to that. It was Wands who brought us the first magic of the match, Jamie Yila opening the scoring ten minutes before the break, and it was abracadabra once more three minutes later as Yila made it two. United got one back with fourteen minutes remaining, and then got an equaliser right at the death- but the penalty shootout went the way of those magic Wands, as they scored five out of five.

Felixstowe & Walton United had described their match with AFC Telford United as arguably the biggest in their history, and the Seasiders had a significant amount of giantkilling experience in their locker over the past couple of years so wouldn’t have been short on confidence- particularly as their visitors are rock bottom of National League North with only two wins all season and a management team who have only been in place for five days. That said, it was the visitors who went ahead midway through the first half, and they very quickly made it two, that new manager effect kicking in quickly. It was three-nil by the break, four-nil thirteen minutes after it, and that was that as United eased to victory.

Hanwell Town welcomed Enfield Town to the Powerday in a match between two in-form Isthmian sides. The Geordies defeated Enfield’s Premier Division neighbours Wingate & Finchley in the last round, whilst the Towners had lost only one of their last twelve in all competitions- and it was the visitors who broke the deadlock, Mo Faal scoring three minutes before half time. Mo then made sure of victory ten minutes from time.

Folkestone Invicta travelled to Hartley Wintney, fourth from bottom of Pitching In Southern League Premier South. Invicta have lost some of their invincibility in recent weeks, whilst their hosts would gladly swap the stripes record for their own, without a league win in more than a month. It was Invicta who made the breakthrough, Adam Yusuff getting his eleventh of the season nine minutes before half time, and they doubled their advantage when Scott Heard made it two on sixty four minutes. That was that, and Invicta march on.

Finally, our title favourites, Worthing, hosted our reigning champions- which is still a label owned by Dorking Wanderers despite the fact they seem to have left us a very long time ago. The Mackerel Men saw their mask of invulnerability slip last week as they went down to Cheshunt, ending a thirteen match unbeaten run; whilst Dorking are in tenth place in National League South, but only two points off a play off place and seven off the top. Alfie Rutherford, formerly of Worthing’s great rivals Bognor Regis Town, opened the scoring for the visitors seven minutes before the break, and then got a second on sixty four minutes to seal the win.

Pitching In Isthmian Premier

Bognor Regis Town welcomed Hornchurch to the frozen Sussex seaside, but it was the home defence who were frozen- to the spot- when Charlie Ruff opened the scoring for the Urchins on ten minutes. It was two-nil just before the break, that man with too many consonants, Lewwis Spence, with the second, but there was still time for James Crane to halve the deadlock from the spot to give the home fans amongst the seven hundred and ninety three hope. The next forty five minutes saw no more goals, and the Urchins are up to twelfth.

Carshalton Athletic welcomed bottom side Leatherhead, who seemed to be involved in every transfer story yesterday. It was the much-changed Tanners who struck first, Michael Bakare scoring on his debut, and they also struck second, Bakare with another, before Lewis White halved the arrears. Another Tanners debutant, Matt Bentley, made it three-one six minutes after the break, but the last words went to the hosts, Dan Hector making it two-three on eighty two minutes and Harry Ottaway levelling things up with six minutes remaining. That was that, and they had to settle for a point each.

Corinthian-Casuals and Brightlingsea Regent couldn’t find a goal between them in the frozen wastes of Tolworth.

Horsham have been much improved of late and begun to rapidly climb the table, but it was Margate who got the first blow at the Camping World Community Stadium, Harrison Hatfull opening the scoring twenty minutes into the second half. Rob O’Toole got the Hornets level thirteen minutes from time, and then the killer blow came right at the end, Lucas Rodrigues getting a last-gasp winner for the hosts. Horsham climb to fifteenth.

Merstham welcomed East Thurrock United to the Whisky Bible Stadium on a day when a hot toddy would have been more than welcome. Callum Robinson opened the scoring for the Rocks nine minutes before the break, and just after the hour Alex Hernandez made it two from the spot and got himself to double figures for the season. Just as it seemed the game was over, Korey Henry got one back with a minute left, and then Dylan Adjei-Hersey grabbed a point in the last minute.

Wingate & Finchley and Lewes couldn’t be separated in the first half, but were soon apart in the second, Bradley Pritchard’s third of the season putting the Rooks ahead. The hosts weren’t downhearted, however, Peter Dexter with the equaliser nine minutes later, and that was that- one point each. The Rooks stay third.

Pitching In Isthmian South Central

Chalfont St Peter hosted our leaders, Bracknell Town, and it took until just before the break before the breakthrough came- to the Robins. Duncan Culley was the man with the magic boots. Dave Tarpey made it two just before the hour, and the Robins went eight points clear at the top.

Bedfont Sports have been virtually unbeatable this season, but Basingstoke Town weren’t deterred by that, and Bradley Wilson put them ahead on eleven minutes. Ten minutes later the visitors doubled their advantage through Ben Cook, and it was three twelve minutes before the break, Anton Rogers with that one. Lewis Flatman looked to make a game of it, pulling one back three minutes from half time, but seven minutes after the restart Wilson made it four for the visitors, who go third, whilst Sports slip to fifth.

Guernsey welcomed unbeaten Chertsey Town to the Channel Islands for our early kick off, and after a goalless first half the Curfews broke the deadlock on sixty three minutes, Bryan Taylor with the goal. That turned out to be the only goal of the game, in front of a crowd of five hundred and forty eight. Town are fourth.

Northwood looked much improved last time out, but fell behind early on as they hosted Ashford Town, Aaron McLeish-White opening the scoring on thirteen minutes- and it was two-nil twelve minutes later, Connor Cullen with that one into the far corner of the Woods net. McLeish-White had his second of the afternoon eight minutes after the break, and that was that. The Tangerines end the day in twelfth.

After a goalless first half at Staines Town, Sutton Common Rovers quickly went ahead- Will Efambe opening the scoring on forty eight minutes. The points were secured when Anh-War Tran-West made it two from the spot five minutes from time, and sent Rovers thirteenth.

After eighty one goalless minutes at Thatcham Town, Chipstead got their noses in front, Kofi Anokye-Boadi with the opener- but there was still time for an equaliser, Daniel Fosu levelling right at the end.

Pitching In Isthmian North Division

Dereham Town saw Adam Hipperson score from the spot to break the deadlock against Coggeshall Town with only eighteen minutes remaining, and soon afterwards Toby Hilliard made it two, before the Magpies went down to ten men as Andrew Fisk saw red. It didn’t matter, as Hipperson made it three, three minutes from time- and three is also the gap, in points, between the Magpies and leaders Canvey Island.

Aveley took eleven minutes to get their noses in front against Witham Town, Harry Gibbs up from the back to open the scoring, but they couldn’t hold onto their lead and Suaibo Balde got an equaliser ten minutes before the break. That spurred the Millers into action, and two minutes before the break Alex Akrofi made it two-one from the spot, and there was still time for Jon Benton to get his fifth in two matches to make it three-one before the players departed for the changing rooms. The next goal saw Town reduce the arrears, John Adebiyi with the second for them, but George Sykes restored Aveley’s two goal advantage with twenty one minutes left. The Millers jump to third.

The first goal of the afternoon came at Hullbridge Sports, but as might be expected given the respective form of the two sides, it came to visitors AFC Sudbury. Lewis O’Malley opened the scoring, and he did it with a backheel – his fourth goal of the season, but we suspect his first backheeled goal! The Yellows gave the hosts hope when Cruis Nyadzayo saw a different colour, red, as we approached the break, and eventually the man advantage told, as Tobi Adekunle got the equaliser with nine minutes remaining. Sudbury are fourth, Sports five points behind second bottom Romford.

Hashtag United hosted Grays Athletic, and it took until sixteen minutes from time for the opening goal to arrive, Geoff Okonkwo up from the back to get that one. That was that, and Grays are fifth.

Barking came into today’s match with Stowmarket Town without a league win since early September, and the visitors weren’t showing any sympathy when Willie Clemons opened the scoring after thirteen minutes, and were positively sadistic when Luke Brown made it two eight minutes later. Clemons got the third and made sure on sixty six minutes, and then claimed the match ball with his third and his side’s fourth eighteen minutes from time. Darnell Goather-Braithwaite got one back, but that was the cue for Chris Casement to make it five-one. Joe Jefford made it six, four minutes from time, and it really was the story of the Blues for Barking. Town are sixth, outside the top five only on goal difference.

Basildon United and Romford competed in a basement battle, and the visitors did themselves no favours when Bleron Ademi saw red midway through the first half. It was not much of a surprise when the eleven men took the lead on fifty six minutes, Alex Balisani opening the scoring, and the Bees stung again when Ruben Carvalho made it two eight minutes later. Basilani got his brace six minutes from time to make quite sure of the outcome.
Tilbury and Heybridge Swifts looked as if they’d go in goalless at half time, but Darius Ghinea thought otherwise, and broke the deadlock just before the whistle. The same player doubled the Swifts advantage fifteen minutes from time, but Ola Ogunwamide made things interesting, getting one back for the Dockers six minutes from time. There was no time for an equaliser, however, and Swifts climb to eleventh.

Pitching In Isthmian South East

Ashford United have been in fine form of late, and took the lead on eighteen minutes as Jay May broke the deadlock against VCD Athletic. It was two-nil just after the half hour, Josh Wisson with that one as the Nuts and Bolts looked to go top, but Athletic weren’t done, and on fifty four minutes Youssef Bamba halved the arrears. Gary Lockyer made sure for the hosts one minute from time, three goals and three points sending them to the summit.

Ramsgate hosted Cray Valley PM, who led the way at the start of play, and let everyone in for free because they’re nice like that. It was the majority of the bumper crowd of seven hundred and three who were given something to warm them up just after the half hour, an own goal breaking the deadlock in the Rams favour. Matthew A-Warren equalised for the Millers just before the hour, and that was that- a result which sees both sides drop a place, the Millers to second and the Rams to fourth.

Haywards Heath Town hosted Hastings United in a Sussex derby, and went ahead on ten minutes, Josh Clack with his fifth of the campaign. The afternoon got worse for the visitors immediately after the break, Sam Remfry making it two-nil with his fourth goal of the season, and there was no comeback from out title favourites, who stay sixth whilst Heath are up to third.

Fifth place Herne Bay and Burgess Hill Town, who end the day in eleventh, couldn’t see a goal between them. The away fans, pictured above courtesy of Colin Bowman, had only drumming and singing to keep them warm on the Kent coast- and credit to so many of them for making the trip.

Sittingbourne’s new signing Duane Ofori-Acheampong opened the scoring at East Grinstead Town on twenty four minutes with a drive into the bottom right hand corner of the net, and then got another five minutes later- and there was time for a third before the break, this one going to Johan Caney-Bryan as Brickies fans pinched themselves- and not in a vain attempt to warm up. The Wasps stung back eight minutes after the restart, Richard Pingling with the afternoon’s fourth goal, and then with fourteen minutes to go Seidou Sanogo made things very interesting when making it two-three, but the next goal went to the Brickies, and it was a hat trick for Ofori-Acheampong. Sittingbourne are seventh.

Corinthian and Chichester City was goalless at half time, but City were ahead soon after the break, Rob Hutchings opening the scoring. It was two-nil ten minutes from time, Ryan Davidson with that one, and City end the day in ninth.

Sevenoaks Town got our first South East goal of the afternoon, Dean Gunner opening the scoring at Faversham Town after just five minutes. The next goal of the game came sixty four minutes later, and it also went to the Oaks, Bobby Dunn doubling their advantage. The Lilywhites made it interesting when Emmanuel Oluwasemo got one back eleven minutes from time, but there was no equaliser, despite Louis Collins seeing red for the visitors.

Lancing and Hythe Town managed no goals in eighty three minutes, so the opener came in the eighty fourth, and it went to the Cannons, Jordan Sarfo giving them all three points, which sees them tenth.

Three Bridges travelled to bottom side Phoenix Sports and took an early lead, Dan ‘hitman’ Perry scoring after just seven minutes, but it wasn’t long before Sports were level, Byron Walker with the equaliser. The next goal came nine minutes from time, and it went to Camron Lawson for the visitors- but there was still time for Sports to equalise, an own goal seemingly giving them a share of the points. But no! Joe Kay got the winner for Bridges to break home hearts!

Whitehawk hosted a Whitstable Town side who were in Kent Senior Cup Final action in midweek, but there was no hangover as Kemo Darboe gave the Oysterboys the lead sixteen minutes from time. That turned out to be the only goal, as the visitors climbed out of the bottom three.

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Where next?

Westfield sign Saints skipper Luke Elliot makes a South Central move
The Isthmian League Show- Episode Four Highlights from across the Pitching In Isthmian League, an interview with Chair Nick Robinson, and an in-depth feature from Cray Valley PM are amongst some of the best bits. Watch now!

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