Shootout sorrow for Swifts and Stripes

Heybridge Swifts had already defeated Potters Bar Town, Royston Town and Hereford to reach the Third Round of the FA Trophy for the first time in twenty years, so the arrival of National League South side Hungerford Town didn’t bring fear in its wake- but it did spell the end of their journey in the competition. Swifts, with keeper Callum Chafer having climbed out of his sick bed to play, took the lead just after the half hour- Ross Wall slotting the ball home for his twelfth of the campaign. That roused the visitors, and two efforts cleared the bar- and then after the break Chafer was repeatedly called into action before, just after the hour mark, Town levelled. A free kick from Jake Evans did the damage.

Chafer kept his side in the match with two more excellent saves, and off we went to penalties. Sadly it took only one miss to send the hosts out, as Town were clinical from the spot.

Image- Alan Edmonds.

Folkestone Invicta had saved most of their best form for Cup competitions this season, and another win would have equalled their best ever FA Trophy run. Sadly it wasn’t to be, as visitors Leiston turned out to be far more clinical from the spot.

Swifts went ahead five minutes before the break, than man Ade Yusuff doing what he does best for the twenty first time this season, after leaving the keeper trailing in his wake and finishing into an empty net. After the break Invicta had a goal disallowed for offside, and soon afterwards Leiston drew level, Finley Barnes with the equaliser. The winner didn’t arrive for either side, and off we went to penalties, which were the hosts undoing. Leiston were perfect from the spot, whilst Invicta sadly converted only their first attempt, and that was that.

The matches between Banbury United and Bognor Regis Town and Dagenham & Redbridge and Uxbridge will now be played on Tuesday evening, weather permitting.

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