Saturday's FA Trophy action review

By David Watters

FA Trophy First Qualifying Round

The Ryman League has plenty of teams still flying the flag in Monday's draw for the FA Trophy's Second Qualifying Round after the majority of those playing clubs outside the league earned results, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

But there were casualties with Southern League outfits Hemel Hempstead Town, Dunstable Town, St Albans City and Arlesey Town, Bedford Town, Potters Bar Town and Hitchin Town all drawing or beating Ryman clubs.

Soham Town Rangers were also held to a 2-2 draw at Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Grantham Town and will count themselves unlucky not to have gone through at the first attempt. Kallum Smith gave the Gingerbreads a 12th minute lead but Soham's Connor Wood on 30 and Buster Harradine on 62 minutes, turned the game in their favour. Gregg Smith salvaged a replay with a 76th minute equaliser.

Ryman Premier AFC Hornchurch are out after Southern Premier leaders Hemel won by the odd goal in five at Vauxhall Road. David Hutton gave the Tudors an 11th minute lead that Frankie Curley cancelled out three minutes later. Lewis Toomey restored the home side's lead four minutes after that and then Ben Mackey made it 3-1 just before the break. Rickie Hayles pulled one back for the Urchins 10 minutes from time, but the Tudors held on.

Ryman newcomers Peacehaven & Telscombe must have had hopes of making it to the next round after taking a two goal lead within half an hour at Southern Central side Dunstable but they hit back to win 3-2 at Creasey Park. Charlie Walker bagged a first half brace for the Sussex side but the Blues scored three second half goals, with their 87th minute winner netted by Chris Marsh.

Southern Premier Division St Albans eased to a 3-0 win at Ryman Division One North outfit Witham Town, courtesy of goals from Mark Nwokeji and a John Frendo brace.

Arlesey won comfortably 3-0 at Hitchin Road against Ryman Division North side Waltham Abbey, with former Fulham star Barry Hayles bagging two.

St Albans' league rivals Bedford conceded a goal just after half-time to Hampton & Richmond Borough`s Stuart Lake, but the Ryman Premier side lost their advantage less than four minutes later when in-form Eagles striker Andrew Phillips struck to earn a replay.

Another Southern Premier side, Hitchin, were 2-0 up inside half-an-hour at Ryman Premier Wingate & Finchley, thanks to a Robbie Burns double. But Leroy Williams reduced the arrears seven minutes after the break and then Spence McCall netted a last-gasp leveller for the North Londoners.

Southern Central side Potters Bar Town were ahead at Ryman Division One South Whitstable Town after just seven minutes through Cole Penny. But Thompson equalised less than two minutes later for the home side. Josh Hutchinson`s spot-kick restored the visitors' lead just after half-time.

Joe Kane earned the Oystermen a second chance on 68 minutes and there was still time for Potters Bar`s Tom Laxton and Whitstable`s Scott Heard to also have an early shower.

Southern League Aylesbury United and AFC Hayes were beaten by Ryman League opposition.

A second half penalty from Warren Schulz sent Division One Central Aylesbury out 1-0 at home to Ryman South Ramsgate and their misery was compounded when they had Stacy Field sent-off 15 minutes from time.

The Ducks` league rivals AFC Hayes were beaten 2-0 at Ryman Division North side Chatham Town, for whom Brad Potter and Kalvin Morath-Gibbs were on target.

All-Ryman League ties saw few 'surprises', although Ryman South Folkestone Invicta`s 2-0 win at home against former winners Kingstonian comes top of the pile. Ter Horst bagged a second half brace for the Kent outfit.

Invicta's league rivals Leatherhead also ousted a Premier Division side, but impressively it was at Lewes` Dripping Pan. Nicky Wheeler gave the Rooks the lead but a Darren Smith penalty and Dan Parkinson's long-range effort won it for the Tanners.

Ryman North Wroxham were well and truly ousted at Trafford Park by Premier Division Margate who ran out an amazing 9-4 winners! Charles Ademeno with two, Jack Sammoutis with two more, Phil Walsh, Matt Bodkin, Giannoulis Fakinos, Scott Kinch and Ryan Dolby scored the goals to fire Gate into the next round.

Wroxham's league rivals AFC Sudbury beat Ryman South visitors Crawley Down Gatwick 5-0 with a brace from Sam Clarken and goals from Ryan Henshaw, Ben Thompson and Ryan Swallow.

Will Holmes bagged a brace for Cheshunt but the Ryman North side were beaten 4-3 at home by Ryman South Three Bridges, for whom skipper Lee Carney grabbed a last-gasp winner.

Bridges' league Ryman South rivals Guernsey AFC are out, losing 2-1 at home to Premier Division Billericay Town. Glenn Poole's penalty and Joey Benjamin's effort gave the visitors a 2-0 half-time lead and they could have been out of sight had it not been for the excellence of Guernsey `keeper Chris Tardif.

All-Premier Division ties saw Enfield Town 2-1 winners at home to Lowestoft Town, second half goals from Tyler Campbell and Liam Hope proving enough to overturn Lowestoft's lead.

Hendon won 4-1 at Cray Wanderers with goals from Tony Taggart, Chris Seeby and a Jefferson Louis brace scoring for the Greens.

Leiston and Wealdstone must replay after they shared a goalless draw.

Where next?

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