Millers Five!

We had no League fixtures in Pitching In South East, so all action focused on the FA Trophy.

Ashford United played host to Three Bridges in an all-South East tie. The Nuts and Bolts won four-nil at Corinthian in the league in midweek, whilst their visitors did even better, winning by the same scoreline but demolishing Premier Division Lewes. When they last met in the League, back in February, Bridges sprung an enormous surprise and crushed their promotion chasing opponents five-one- but the Nuts and Bolts broke the deadlock in this one just after the break, George Nikaj with his fourth goal in five matches. They went two up with twenty one minutes left, Gary Lockyer doubling their advantage, and the visitors saw red just before the end, Tressor Difika sent off.

Chatham Town hoped to bounce back from cup defeat against Walton & Hersham in midweek by defeating Stowmarket Town, but Stow had other ideas. Kane Munday opened the scoring seven minutes from time, and that turned out to be the only goal.

Corinthian and Whitehawk met in another South East Trophy match up. The Hawks were six matches unbeaten, and went ahead on seventeen minutes through Joel Daly, doubling their lead from the spot just after the half hour, Joe Shelley converting. Daly added another just before the break, but the hosts didn’t give up and Oliver Box got one back just after the hour. When Oscar Housego made it two-three the home fans dared to dream, but they were soon awoken, Rob O’Toole getting a fourth for the Hawks and securing their place in the next round.

Cray Valley PM had lost only one of their last eight matches in all competitions, and it took them only nineteen minutes to go ahead against East Thurrock United- Tom Chambers with the goal- but it was a short lived lead, Brian Moses scoring for the visitors. Just before the half time whistle sounded the Millers got their noses in front once more, Hassan Ibrahiym with the goal which sent home fans off for their half time beer in a good mood. They’d have been happier still when Dan Bennett made it three immediately after the restart, but the Rocks weren’t done yet, Harry Hope pulling a goal back from the spot. The Millers then hit top gear, Ibrahiym with number four and Adam Coombes getting a fifth, but the visitors then got the eighth goal of the game when Hope converted another spot kick. On this occasion, that turned out to be that- and our eight goal thriller was over. Image courtesy of the Millers.

Littlehampton Town got off to a flying start at Hanworth Villa, Dion Jarvis scoring the opening goal in the very first minute. The Villains have been rather difficult to beat, losing just one league match this season, and got themselves level just before the hour, Jonathan Hippolyte with the equaliser. That spurred the Golds to greater heights, Joe Benn putting them ahead once more, but once again the Villains hit back, Sam Merson equalising from the spot. Charlie Ten-Grotenhuis saw red for Villa, but it was the ten men who found a late winner, Jordan Williams sending them through.

Sevenoaks Town have been better in cup competitions that the league so far, with five knockout wins as they welcomed Hertford Town of Pitching in Southern Division One Central to Greatness Park- but they fell behind against the Stags after sixteen minutes. The equaliser arrived just before the break, Omari Hibbert with it, but the visitors were quickly ahead once more and as usual Ryan Gondoh was called upon to get the Oaks out of trouble, his eighth of the season coming with seventeen minutes remaining. That took us to a penalty shootout, and Oaks progressed, five-three.

Sittingbourne welcomed fellow Pitching In Isthmian South East side Burgess Hill Town. The Brickies saw a three match winning streak come to an end in midweek, as Hythe Town left Woodstock Park with three points; whilst the Hillians are still looking for a first league win, but had won three times in Cup and Trophy. Hill beat the Brickies twice last season, and went ahead in this one, Dan Perry opening the scoring with just twenty four minutes left. Just when it looked like the visitors had taken victory, Donvieve Jones levelled- but the shootout went the way of the visitors, who triumphed four-three.

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