Once more on the road to Wembley!

Most of our teams had a day off from League action yesterday- but they didn’t get a rest as they were kicking off in the Buildbase FA Trophy First Qualifying Round. There were a few exceptions, however, with a handful of matches in the South Division and one in the Velocity Trophy, so we’ll round up those in a moment, but first, the road to Wembley!

There are a number of contenders for our imaginary performance of the day award, and we’ll start with Wingate and Finchley, who travelled to Biggleswade Town of the Evo-Stik South Premier and left 90 minutes later having scored five goals. Sean Cronin, Luke Hill and Rob Laney made the tie safe before half time, whilst Reece Beckles-Richards and Ahmet Rifat rubbed salt into the wounds before the end. The Rooks of Lewes were twenty miles down the road, visiting Biggleswade’s rivals Dunstable Town, and whilst they couldn’t match the eight goals they scored last weekend they did add another four before half time. Lloyd Cotton set them on the way, before a brace from Charlie Coppola and another right on half time from Jamie Brotherton meant that they could relax a little in the second half. Their higher placed opponents did get a goal back, but the Lewes held on for a fabulous victory.

Next we have Mildenhall Town, who had perhaps the hardest task of any of our clubs yesterday as they travelled to Kings Lynn Town- second in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier and behind leaders Slough Town only on goal difference. Well Lynn’s league form counted for nothing when, in the 54th minute, Daniel Brown stepped up in front of a crowd of 534 to send Mildenhall into the next round. A mention also goes to Heybridge Swifts, who travelled to Bostik Premier Tonbridge Angels and came away with a 3-3 draw which earns them a midweek replay. None of the big names are safe against Swifts this season, so look out Exeter City next weekend!

There were a number of all Bostik Premier League ties. At New Lodge Tooting & Mitcham United went a goal up in the 38th minute and held that lead until nine minutes before the end, when Joseph Ellul stepped up to equalise for Billericay Town. He added another one minute later, and a last minute Ricky Modeste strike made the game look safe when it had been anything but. Leiston entertained Folkestone Invicta in a replay of last weekend’s league fixture, but on this occasion there was no repeat of last weekend’s home capitulation, with a Matt Blake strike cancelling out an early Ian Draycott opener from the visitors.

Staines, last week 3-0 winners at home to Leatherhead, surprisingly delivered the reverse scoreline when Margate came to Town, Jack Evans, Chris Sessegnon and Jordan Chiedozie with the goals, and down at Woodside Road Worthing notched their second cup victory in a week against a depleted Lowestoft Town who could only name two substitutes, two added time goals making the match seem far more entertaining than it actually was as the Mackerel Men ran out 3-0 winners. For a full account of that match, head here.

Other matches included a 5-0 victory for Dorking Wanderers over Ware, a 2-0 victory for Burgess Hill Town over Aveley, a 3-1 victory for Corinthian Casuals over Hertford Town, a 3-1 victory for Hendon over Kings Langley, a 1-0 victory for Leatherhead over Hythe Town, 3-0 wins for Maldon & Tiptree, Metropolitan Police and Potters Bar Town over Walton Casuals, AFC Sudbury and Witham Town respectively. Dulwich Hamlet also won 3-0, away to Waltham Abbey. A full collection of results can be found HERE.

In the South Division Whyteleafe had the chance to go second with victory at Ashford United, but managed only a 1-1 draw which leaves them in sixth and the home side one place off the bottom. That bottom place is taken by Shoreham, who yesterday travelled to Herne Bay. Bay got back to winning ways after last weekend’s capitulation at Lewes by scoring four goals of their own, recording a 4-1 victory to move up to 12th. East Grinstead travelled to Phoenix Sports and came away with a narrow 1-0 victory, and the other two matches, where Horsham took on South Park and Ramsgate entertained Guernsey, ended 0-0.

In the Velocity Trophy, Romford defeated AFC Hornchurch 2-1.

There is one fixture today. In the FA Trophy Thamesmead Town entertain Brightlingsea Regent.

Kick-off is 2PM at Princes Park.