Mixed fortunes for Premier sides in the Cup

Bognor Regis Town entertained National League South opponents, Hampton & Richmond Borough arriving at the Nyecamp. Sadly the entertainment came from the visitors, who won two-nil.

Canvey Island welcomed St Ives Town, and the visitors were just too strong for the Gulls, winning three-nil.

Dulwich Hamlet, who parted company with their manager this week, welcomed Margate to Champion Hill. The Blues looked back to their best in defeating Herne Bay four-nil in midweek, but they couldn’t inflict a sixth consecutive defeat on National League South Hamlet, the hosts winning two-one. Harvey Smith was on target for the Blues- his third of the season. Hamlet played the last hour with ten men after the dismissal of Kreshnic Krasniqi, who you might remember from his spells at Heybridge Swifts and Billericay Town.

Enfield- not to be confused with our Towners- played host to Billericay Town. Enfield had already slain two ‘giants’ on their way to this stage of the competition- our very own Hullbridge Sports and Pitching In Southern Premier Central side AFC Rushden and Diamonds- but they didn’t take a third scalp, as a second half Alfie Cerulli hat trick for the Blues saw them comfortably through, a four-nil win which started with a Bradley Stevenson goal.

Our image comes from the expert lens of Nicky Hayes.

Folkestone Invicta bounced back from their surprise midweek defeat to Cray Wanderers with a comprehensive win over Chichester City arrive. Invicta were unbeaten prior to that match with Wands, and quickly found their form once more, two-nil up inside eight minutes through Adam Yusuff and Josh Vincent. The third took a long time coming, arriving three minutes from time-Ira Jackson scoring his first goal since his return to the club.

Hendon hosted a North London derby- indeed a North London derby that we’ve missed since they left our parish- against Wingate & Finchley. The Greens had lost all six matches in the league this season, but they had too much for our Blues, who conceded three first half goals. Dylan Kearney got one back after the break, but that was the only high point for the travelling faithful.

Lewes scored eight goals against Pitching In Isthmian South East opposition in the last round, but we expected Three Bridges to put up a stronger fight as they arrived at the Dripping Pan for a Sussex derby- and we were right; indeed they were seconds from a famous victory. Kieron Pamment- a former Rook- gave Bridges the lead nine minutes after the break, but right at the end Razz Coleman De-Graft earned his side a reply. We expect you could hear the sigh of relief from the majority of the one thousand, one hundred and seventy eight watching on as far away as Crawley.

Maldon & Tiptree defeated Premier Division side Haringey Borough in the last round so they would have been confident as Hornchurch arrived. That confidence would have taken a hit early on, however, as Sam Higgins scored on six and ten minutes to take his tally for the season up to seven, and although the Jammers kept the Urchins out until right before the end, Liam Nash made it three. Laste Dombaxe saw red for the hosts late on.

Potters Bar Town hosted Romford at the Lantern Stadium, and despite taking the lead after just eighteen minutes departed the competition, Boro bouncing back with two goals of their own. A red card for Tyler Christian-Law for the Scholars rubbed salt in the wound. Jacques Kpohomouh got that opening goal.

Waltham Abbey, fresh from conceding four at Chipstead in the Trophy in midweek, welcomed a Brightlingsea Regent side who were also conceding four, against Enfield Town. Both sides had been in good form prior to those defeats, and they served up a five goal thriller. Regent were ahead eight minutes before the break, Sam Jeremiah with the goal, and Ollie Sotoyinbo made it two just after the restart. The Abbots halved the deficit only for Harrison Carnegie to make it three-one, but again the hosts hit back with fourteen minutes remaining on the clock to make the closing stages tense. Regent held on for victory.

Westfield welcomed Carshalton Athletic, and the Robins emerged with victory after a hard-fought ninety minutes. Aaron Smith-Joseph opened the scoring for the visitors just before the break, but Nathaniel Mensah got the hosts level from the spot with twenty one minutes left. Parity was short lived, however, Ollie Cook getting the winner just four minutes later.

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PREMIER

The last time Horsham visited Coles Park, in April, they won three-nil, and they travelled yesterday aware that another victory would take them to the top of the table- but Haringey Borough had other ideas. The match looked to be petering to a goalless draw as it entered the last ten minutes, but with just eight minutes to go Chaynie Fage-Burgin opened the scoring. As the Hornets strove for an equaliser, Georgios Aresti made it three goals in three matches to secure a two-nil win that sent his side up to ninth- and ensured that Aveley remained at the summit.

Cray Wanderers could go second today, if they can defeat Bowers & Pitsea at Hayes Lane. 3PM is kick off time.