Joyful and Triumphant!

We have two sides through to the Fourth Round of the FA Trophy, as Hornchurch and Haringey Borough flew the Isthmian flag high yesterday- both travelling to face National League South opposition and emerging joyful and triumphant.

The Urchins headed to Champion Hill, home of Dulwich Hamlet, and fell behind after sixteen minutes when Sanchez Ming fired home from the spot. But a second spot kick nine minutes later, this time for the visitors, was converted by Sam Higgins- and then four minutes from time up stepped Charlie Ruff to get his sixth goal of the season to clinch a famous victory. That was Charlie’s third in four Trophy matches this season, and a second giantkilling for Hornchurch in four days, after they defeated Tonbridge Angels on Tuesday night.

Headline image from a soaking wet Champion Hill courtesy of Hamlet.

Haringey Borough have had a number of great runs in knockout competitions over the last few years, and they got perhaps their biggest scalp yesterday, as they travelled to Dartford- second in National League South. Borough were without their usual vocal support but gave the Bell End something to sing about from home as Bobson Bawling got the only goal of the game in the very last minute.

Corinthian-Casuals were a round behind after a midweek postponement, and they fought National League South Hemel Hempstead Town to a nil-nil draw yesterday, but sadly departed the competition on penalties.

Finally, Maldon & Tiptree were forced to postpone their tie with Gloucester City for coronavirus related reasons. We await the outcome of that one.