Six Chips!

We start our round up in the North Division, and salute Hullbridge Sports for one of the comebacks of the season. At half time they were down and out at Brentwood Town, three goals behind and with a mountain to climb. Anthony Furlong, Sewa Marah and Connor Hogan had seemingly put the home side out of sight.

Cue a second half fightback.

It took until twenty six minutes from time for Sports to get themselves on the scoresheet, Joseph Wright adding some respectability to a surely inevitable defeat. And then, with nineteen minutes remaining, Timothy Monsheju made things interesting, and reduced the deficit to a single goal. Two minutes later the visitors were level, Luke Hornsley getting his hundredth goal for the club as the impossible was made possible. But it got even worse for Brentwood, as three minutes from the end Wright got his second goal and earned his side all of the points. Sports climb to fifteenth, four points clear of their hosts.

Into the South Central, and Chipstead did their best Ware impression, walloping six goals past Hertford Town. A draw with Ware and a six-one thrashing of Northwood suggested that Town had turned a corner- a narrow loss at Marlow at the weekend a small aberration- but the Chips overwhelmed their visitors at High Road, scoring three goals in each half and delivering a dominant display, climbing to thirteenth in the table and winning their third consecutive match in all competitions.

Kyen Nicholas was the star of the show, notching a hat trick, whilst Tom Collins wasn’t far behind with two. Chris Boulter got the other goal, the second of the night.

All of the action at Bedfont Sports came in the second half as the hosts came from behind to earn a point against South Park. Nathan Wood gave Sports the lead in the fifty eighth minute, but Andrew Herring equalised for Sparks ten minutes later, and four minutes after that they were ahead, Lea-Van Sullivan with their second. Six minutes from time Ezekiel Bademosi got the equaliser for the home side.

South East Division leaders Hastings United extended their lead, winning their match at Sittingbourne by the only goal of the game. United are now four points clear of Cray Valley PM, and for the second Tuesday night in a row they had veteran defender Gary Elphick to thank. That’s his third goal in a week, who needs Davide Rodari?!

Faversham Town and Ramsgate played out a goalless draw.

Velocity Trophy

We’ve reached the knockout stages of the Velocity Trophy, but we’ll start by looking at a final group game- and a local derby. Heybridge Swifts put out a very youthful side for the arrival of Maldon & Tiptree, and the Jammers also opted for youth, albeit with some experience and enough firepower on the bench to sink a battleship.

The visitors were five up by the break, Lance Akins, Marley Marshall-Miranda, Thomas Stagg, Donnell Thomas and Martyn Stokes all finding the back of the Swifts net. Trevor Whymark got one back for Swifts three minutes after the break, but that was the last thing the home faithful had to cheer, as in the last seven minutes the Jammers added three more, Akins getting his second of the night before Danny Parish, on as a very late substitute, added two more to make the final score Heybridge Swifts 1 Maldon & Tiptree 8.

Now we’re into the knockout matches, and we had a giant-killing at the Pakex, as North Division Basildon United came from behind to defeat Potters Bar Town. The Scholars took the lead four minutes before the break through George Quarrington-Carter, but within seven minutes of the restart the turnaround was complete, Harry Norman and Danny Norton putting the Bees in front. Ernest Okoh made it three-one eighteen minutes from time, and although Roman Michael-Percil pulled it back to three-two, the last word went to Adam Vyse, who made it four-two and delivered the shock of the evening.

Another away side who got four were Bishop’s Stortford, who travelled to East Thurrock United and emerged with a four-three victory. Mark Haines gave the Blues the lead in only the sixth minute, but it lasted only eight minutes before Ryan Scott equalised for the home side. Stortford then ran riot, Jordan Wescott, Louie Jordan and Shomari Barnwell making it four-one at half time. Five minutes before the end Darren Foxley reduced the arrears, and then in the very last minute Sean Bonnet-Johnson made it three-four, but the visitors were able to see out the last seconds and claim victory.

Billy Hunt got the only goal of the game fourteen minutes from time as Brightlingsea Regent defeated Histon, whilst the match between Barking and Cheshunt was abandoned at half time due to a waterlogged pitch- which was rather unlucky for the Ambers as they were three-nil up at the time.

In tonight’s fixtures, Guernsey entertain Whitstable Town in the South East Division, whilst we have Velocity knockout matches between Lewes and Sevenoaks Town, and between Kingstonian and Merstham, the Moatsiders getting an early opportunity to avenge their thrashing at King George’s Field on Saturday.