Millers make history!

All hail the Millers! Aveley travelled to Biggleswade Town, ninth in Southern Premier Central and victors over Met Police in a midweek replay, and their hosts found themselves going the way of Taunton Town and Bowers and Pitsea, out of the competition. Town had more in common with Bowers than Taunton, however, as they went on out the receiving end of a hiding, Aveley thrashing them by four goals to one. Alex Akrofi has been on fire this season, and he had two goals by half time- his thirteenth and fourteenth strikes in his last thirteen matches. He gave Biggleswade a bit of a break in the second half, letting George Sykes- seven in ten- add the third, and then after the hosts pulled a goal back with nine minutes to go Shad Ngandu got the Millers fourth from the spot to put the gloss on the victory, as if it needed any.

Aveley have never previously been in the First Round of the competition. On this form, they should fear none of their prospective opponents.

Joining the Millers in that First Round draw on Monday will be Enfield Town, who today did something rather unprecedented. They became the first side this season to defeat Maldon and Tiptree in anything other than a penalty shootout. The Towners took a first minute lead, Muhammadu Faal with his sixteenth goal of the season- but the Jammers were level in the twentieth minute, Danny Parish getting the equaliser. Five minutes before the break Marc Weatherstone again put the home side ahead, only for Parish to once more draw the visitors level. After the break Charlee Hughes made it advantage Maldon just before the hour, but with eighteen minutes remaining Billy Bricknell drew the hosts level, and three minutes later the same player got what proved to be the winner.

The Towers go on to the First Round, Maldon focus on the Second- of the FA Cup, as they host Newport County on Friday. You might see them on the telly.

We had an all-Isthmian tie at Colston Avenue, as Carshalton Athletic hosted Tooting & Mitcham United. The Terrors brought early terror, Hady Ghandour putting them ahead in only the fifth minute, but two goals in six minutes shortly after the break gave the Robins victory. Tommy Bradford and Jerry Amoo found the net.

Another all-Isthmian tie featured Kingstonian and AFC Sudbury. Kingstonian, who drew with Enfield Town on Wednesday night, were unbeaten in six matches, and went into the match on the back of only one defeat in thirteen. The Yellows defeated Step Three sides Worthing and Harrow Borough in the last two rounds and were determined to demonstrate that they could do it a third time; but in the end they came up just short as a late goal sent the K’s through. Callum Harrison put Sudbury ahead just after the break, but the lead lasted only six minutes until another Calum, this one minus an ‘l’ and named Davies, got the equaliser. With the match seemingly heading for a replay, Dan Bennett popped up just two minutes from time to earn another red and white victory.

Hornchurch travelled to National League South side Oxford City, and will host them in midweek after a one-one draw. Rickie Hayles got the Urchins equaliser after Nana Owusu put City ahead.

The rest of the news wasn’t quite so positive.

Bognor Regis Town travelled to Tonbridge Angels and despite a late James Crane penalty bowed out of the competition, Joe Turner and Tom Derry having put the hosts two up before then.

Leatherhead welcomed our reigning Premier Division Champions, Dorking Wanderers. Jack Barham- remember him from his days at Greenwich Borough- is on loan at Wanderers from Barnet, and loved his return to Isthmian pastures, firing in a hat trick to send the Tanners crashing out.

Hastings United had a long trip to Weymouth, currently fourth in National League South. Their hosts had only one defeat in thirteen matches, that coming in the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round against Dover Athletic, and the last time they had lost a league match was on August Bank Holiday Monday- but Hastings weren’t overawed and were unlucky to fall to defeat by a single goal, that coming in the fifty ninth minute.

Haringey Borough also entertained National League South opposition, in their case the sixth placed Tudors of Hemel Hempstead Town. Town didn’t have a win in three, and lost their last two, against Braintree Town and Concord Rangers, whilst Borough were undefeated in three- but it turned out that looking at form was rather pointless as the visitors thrashed Borough by four goals to one. Borough’s goal came in the last minute, and was scored by substitute Joseph Staunton.

Premier Division

The Trophy meant that we had a vastly reduced programme in the Premier Division, and that gave Worthing the chance to climb to within three points of leaders Horsham with victory over Corinthian-Casuals. Two goals in two minutes on the approach to half time put them in the driving seat, Ricky Aguiar and Reece Myles-Meekums finding the net, and the second half saw the scoreline untroubled and the Mackerel Men up to third. Casuals are holding up the rest.

Margate have found consistency impossible to come by this season, and went into their match with Potters Bar Town with a ten match league record which demonstrated exactly that, five wins and five defeats. A double from Elliott Reeves meant that they were two up within twenty five minutes, but the Scholars quickly halved the deficit through Roman Michael-Percil, and that’s how it remained at the break. In midweek the Hartsdown Park faithful watched their side concede a late goal to lose at home to Bishop’s Stortford, and another late goal- Josh Hutchinson in the last minute- saw them drop points once more as Town left with a draw.

Cheshunt went into their match with Merstham without a league win in seven matches, and desperately needed to pick up three points. Their visitors, however, were in even worse form, with eight straight league defeats, and it was the home side who got their noses in front before the break through Ryan Moss. In the second half the Ambers put their foot down and got two more, Zack Newton scoring on the hour and Ibrahim Diallo getting their third with fifteen minutes remaining. Cheshunt climb to seventeenth.

Lewes welcomed back Billy Medlock after almost a year out of the game at Bishop’s Stortford, and the striker watched from the bench as Dayshonne Golding got the only goal of the first half for the Rooks after seven minutes. Lewes went two up eighteen minutes from time through Stefan Ilic, and that’s how it ended, a result which saw the visitors leapfrog their hosts into fifteenth.

North Division

With neither Bury Town, Maldon & Tiptree nor Heybridge Swifts in action, Coggeshall Town had the chance to take over at the top of the North Division as they hosted Soham Town Rangers- and it took them only eighteen minutes to go ahead, Ross Wall with the goal. They couldn’t hold on to their advantage, however, and Matt Allan got an equaliser for Rangers with nineteen minutes to go. The Seed Growers ended the day in third.

Grays Athletic have been in indifferent form of late, but had the chance to climb back into the top five with victory at Histon. Steve King put them ahead six minutes before the break, and that turned out to be the only goal of the game.

Dereham Town have been in fabulous form, with ten goals in their previous two matches. They hosted a new-look Romford at Aldiss Park, and started this match as they had finished the last, Ryan Crisp opening the scoring in the very first minute and getting a second half an hour later. Adam Morgan got one back for Boro two minutes after the break, but the visitors couldn’t find a way to level, and in the last minute Adam Hipperson made the points safe by making it three-one. The Magpies end the day in eighth, Romford are four points adrift at the bottom.

Tilbury hosted Felixstowe and Walton United, and after a goalless first half David Knight gave the Dockers the lead from the spot after fifty six minutes. The Seasiders took only fourteen minutes to draw level, Jack Newman with the goal, and that was how the match ended. The Dockers are ninth, the Seasiders seventeenth.

Basildon United came from behind repeatedly in midweek against Canvey Island, and they had to come from behind again at Hullbridge Sports. Luke Hornsley put Sports ahead, but only for two minutes, Ernest Okoh getting the equaliser. Unlike in midweek this wasn’t a goalfest, and those two first half goals were the only ones we saw in the ninety minutes.

South Central

Leaders Hanwell Town almost lost their unbeaten record at home to Chipstead in midweek, and they fell behind at home again- this time to Ashford Town- when Daniel Brown got the opening goal of the match in the fifteenth minute. This time there was to be no comeback, so it was a Tangerine dream, as the visitors not only had the accolade of being the first side to beat the Geordies but climbed off the bottom of the table by doing so.

Chipstead came very, very close to being the first side to defeat Hanwell Town, but they came nowhere near being the second side to defeat Ware. They did open the scoring, Sam Clayton scoring after only ten minutes, but that just provoked their hosts. Joshua Williams equalised before the break, and then put his side ahead four minutes after it. The same player got his hat trick on the hour, and by then Ware had scored another through Thomas Bruno, so Williams third was Ware’s fourth. They didn’t stop there. Leigh Rose made it five with nineteen minutes to go, and Liam Hope made it six, six minutes later. That was that, and the Blues ended the day in second, four points behind Hanwell.

Uxbridge were looking to bounce back from midweek defeat as they travelled to face a much changed South Park, the Sparks having signed half a squad over the past two days. Mark Bitmead- it always seems to be Mark Bitmead- put them ahead in the first half, and that’s how it ended.

Harlow Town travelled to Marlow, and the Hawks took the lead in the eighteenth minute through Tayo Oyebola. It lasted for only a quarter of an hour before Kelvin Bossman drew the home side level, and both sides had to settle for a point. The Hawks are fourth, Marlow end the day in twelfth.

Waltham Abbey went into their match with Chertsey Town unbeaten in three league matches, and went ahead eight minutes before the break through Charlie Edwards. They held onto their lead until just before the end, when they doubled it through Prince Domafriyie to confirm all three points.

Barking and Bracknell Town had both been in fine form recently, the Robins with only one defeat in their last six and the Blues with three consecutive wins. The two met at Mayesbrook Park, and Barking took the lead in the twelfth minute through Michael Dixon. They couldn’t hold it until the break, Nathan Minhas drawing the Robins level in the forty first minute, but they restored their advantage in the sixty seventh minute through Johnny Ashman, and Ashman got his second six minutes later. Two minutes after that Nana Boakye-Yiadom made it four, and surely that was game over? It wasn’t. Kai Walters pulled it back to four-two with seven minutes remaining, and then Seb Bowerman made the home fans sweat, making it four-three only three minutes from time- but the Blues were able to hold out and claim victory.

Northwood seemed to have put their terrible early season results behind them of late, and when Harry Lodovica put them ahead against Hertford Town after only twelve minutes it seemed the turnaround in their fortunes was complete. The visitors had other ideas.

After the break Ben Herd, Luke Theo Gymer (2) and Isaac Dizolele Pedro each found the net as Town ran riot, and then eight minutes from time Percy Kiangebeni made it five. It still wasn’t over, as Luke Theo Gymer got his hat trick.

Bedfont Sports hosted FC Romania and took an early lead, Ezekiel Bademosi scoring after twelve minutes. Ed Cook made it two just after the half hour, but Adrian Hurdubei halved the arrears for the Wolves before the break. Sports waited until almost the end to make certain of three points, Max Oldham scoring their third in the very last minute.

South East

Leaders Cray Valley PM extended their lead at the top of the table to three points- but they managed only one point today in a one-one draw with Guernsey. The visiting Green Lions took the lead with a first half penalty, Ross Allen converting that, but the hosts earned a point seven minutes from time, Francis Babalola with the equaliser.

Hastings United are in second place with two matches in hand, a point ahead of third placed Sevenoaks Town. Oaks entertained Ramsgate and recorded a comfortable three-one victory. Frankie Sawyer got the opening goal after eleven minutes, and Louis Collins made it two before the break before adding the third nine minutes after it. The Rams consolation came from Kane Rowland four minutes from time.

Whitehawk picked up their second victory of the week to go into fourth place. The Hawks, who won the Sussex Club of the Year Award on Friday evening, travelled to Ashford United and, after a goalless first half, took the lead through Duane Ofori-Acheampong. The same player got their second in the seventy third minute, but by then Jay May had equalised for the Nuts and Bolts, and May did it again ten minutes from time to make it two-two. Then right at the end up popped David Martin to send all the points back to East Sussex.

VCD Athletic are fifth, one place above Ashford, but Vickers lost today at Sittingbourne, who climb to thirteenth. Sid Sollis and Tommy Fagg put the Brickies two up at half time, and although Jack Steventon got a goal back nine minutes after the break the equaliser wouldn’t come.

Whyteleafe climbed to eighth with victory at Whitstable Town. Both of Leafe’s goals came early, Antonio Walker-Barth in the thirteenth minute and Ronald Sobowale in the twenty first allowing them to control the match and ease to a two-nil win at the Belmont.

Chichester City are up to ninth, leapfrogging their hosts Phoenix Sports and warming up for their FA Cup tie at Tranmere Rovers with a three-two victory. Kaleem Haitham and Scott Jones put City two up before Jeff Duah-Kessie and George Whitelock drew Sports level- but it was a short-lived comeback. Twelve minutes from time Jones got City’s third and made sure of victory.

Three Bridges have been terrible at holding on to commanding leads this season, but for once they managed to do so in style, hammering Hythe Town by four goals to one. They were three-nil up at the break, Ruben Soares Junior, Alex Laing and Andrew Sesay with the goals, and although Frannie Collin got one back after the break the collapse didn’t come on this occasion, and Solomon Taiwo made it four just before full time.

Finally, bottom side East Grinstead Town must have been sure they were about to get their first win of the season- against Burgess Hill Town. Thomas Bramble put them ahead in the forty ninth minute, and as the clock ticked around to full time they were still ahead- only for Junior Baker to step up and ruin their afternoon with an equaliser.

In the Velocity Trophy, goals from Alan Fleming and Charlie Ruff gave Wingate & Finchley victory over Bowers and Pitsea.