Six shootouts, six for Wands, and giants slain by the Millers, Sports and City

Once we shrugged off the disappointment of a handful of rain-related postponements- here’s hoping we’re not going to have another winter of that- we had some fabulous football this afternoon.

We’re going to start in the Pitching In Isthmian Premier Division, where Lewes- giving a start to newly returned Bouwe Bosma- struck early at Wingate and Finchley. Aaron Cosgrave has scored in every game but one, and got his fourth of the season in the fourth minute- but the Rooks held the lead for only seven minutes before Bilal Sayoud equalised for the hosts. Three minutes later the Blues were ahead, Kavan Cotter finding his way past Nathan Stroomberg-Clarke in the visitors goal, and by the half hour it was three, Billy Healey getting the third. Healey made it four with thirteen minutes remaining, sealing the Blues first victory and leaving the Rooks still searching for a first point.

Leatherhead, who picked up their first win of the season on Monday night at Haringey Borough, were hoping for a first home win as Margate arrived at Fetcham Grove. Neither side managed a goal, however.

Another side without a victory before today, East Thurrock United, travelled to Brightlingsea Regent, and after a goalless first half we almost got a goalless second half, until Khris Oti broke the deadlock from the spot for Regent six minutes from time. We then got a second goal, this one from the Rocks, Phillip Brown-Bampoe equalising right at the end.

North Division

The first goal in the Pitching In Isthmian North Division came at Witham Town, but given the way the hosts campaign has started it was no surprise that it came to the visitors, Histon. Ed Rolph got it after five minutes, but the hosts struck back after the break, Greg Akpele getting their first of the season. They couldn’t hold on for a point, however, as Charlie Lewis got a last minute winner for the Stutes, who are fifth.

AFC Sudbury fell behind as they hosted Hullbridge Sports, the visitors George Cocklin getting the opening goal after twenty two minutes. Sports got the second too, Lewis Watson getting that fifteen minutes from time- and the third, through Joseph Wright, a result which sees them lead the table.

Felixstowe and Walton United have had a great start to the season, but they fell behind as visitors Coggeshall Town opened the scoring through Aryton Coley. Two minutes later the Seasiders were level, and for once it wasn’t Ollie Canfer but instead Lamell Howell, but just before the break Matthew Price made it advantage Seed Growers. That looked like being that, but a last minute penalty from Callum Bennett meant the spoils were shared.

Great Wakering Rovers got their noses in front against Romford just before the break, Jake Pitty finding the Boro net, and made it two ten minutes after the restart as Alex Hernandez doubled their advantage. There was also time for a third, as Ade Sotoyinbo sealed an impressive victory and climb to eighth.

Heybridge Swifts announced a number of new signings this morning, but visitors Dereham Town didn’t want them to enjoy their arrivals as they took the lead and then doubled it midway through the first half- both of their goals scored by opposition players. At least a Magpie got the third, Adam Hipperson with that as Town coasted to victory and went fourth.

South Central

Postponements and FA Cup involvement left us with only two matches in the Pitching In Isthmian South Central Division, with Tooting and Mitcham United hosting Harlow Town and Chalfont St Peter welcoming Ware.

Ware opened the scoring for the day, Louis Rose after twenty six minutes, and by the break the Terrors were also ahead, Dan Williams scoring at Imperial Fields. The second half saw no further goals.

South East

Our first two goals of the Pitching In Isthmian South East fixtures both came to visitors, as Joe Denny put Faversham Town ahead at Sittingbourne and Ollie Rowe scored for Whitstable Town at Haywards Heath Town.

The Oysterboys were two up before the break, Tijan Jadama giving Heath a mountain to climb, and a second from Faversham, scored by Sam Bewick, gave the Brickies a similar summit to scale. A Stephen Okoh third for the Lilywhites made things safe six minutes from time, and Whitstable also have a happy trip home after holding on to their advantage.

Herne Bay and Whitehawk are both highly fancied for success this season, and they met at Winch’s Field. Henry Muggeridge opened the scoring for the Hawks after twenty five minutes, but Bay looked to have grabbed a point when Laurance Harvey equalised with eight minutes to go. They did even better, however, Harvey grabbing another in the very last minute- and there was still time for Zak Ansah to make it three in added time.

Hythe Town and Phoenix Sports were goalless at the break, but Sports made sure that statistic changed after the restart, Kweku Ansah and Ben Fitchett scoring in quick succession to put them two up. Zak Bryon made it three with thirteen minutes remaining, and Lauris Chin got number four seven minutes from time. Sports end the day in fifth.

Sevenoaks Town and Burgess Hill Town couldn’t find a goal during the first forty-five minutes, but Oaks got one in the second half through Dan Parkinson, and that was enough for victory, and to see them into second place.

VCD Athletic have had a fine start to the campaign, and continued it in the first half at Three Bridges. Ayman El-Mogharbel got the first for Vickers on the half hour, and before the break Lea Dawson made it two. Five minutes after the restart Joe Bingham got number three, and when Paul Vines got the fourth just before the hour it seemed a question of how many. The answer to that question was four, and their position in the table is one, as they are two points clear at the top.

FA Cup

Aveley were magnificent in knockout competitions last season, and have started in a similar fashion this time around. Harry Gibbs gave them the lead at Brantham Athletic after twenty seven minutes, Steve Sheehan doubled it on the hour, and when Wyan Reid made it three in the last minute that was most definitely that.

Barking took the lead after nine minutes against Kings Langley, Junior Dadson with his seventh of the season in only his fifth match. Michael Dixon made it two sixteen minutes from time, and although the visitors managed to draw level in the last ten minutes. The Blues progress, however, winning the shootout three-two.

Bedfont Sports and Carshalton Athletic couldn’t be separated in the first half, neither managing a goal, but the hosts shocked their high-flying visitors when opening the scoring after sixty three minutes, Shamal Edwards with the goal. Edwards then got another twelve minutes from time, and the giants were well and truly slain.

Bishop’s Stortford and Brentwood Town got to the break goalless, but the hosts went ahead after sixty two minutes as Ryan Henshaw broke the deadlock, and held on to progress to Monday’s draw.

Bognor Regis Town travelled to Pitching In Southern Premier South side Hayes and Yeading United. The two couldn’t find a goal in the first half, but the hosts got the first three minutes after the restart, and a second soon afterwards. With twenty five minutes left it was three-nil, and by the end it was five, as the Rocks cup adventure ended rather badly.

We had a South Central battle at Larges Lane, and it was first blood Bracknell Town, Seb Bowerman breaching the Marlow backline. The visitors went down to ten men late in the first half as Curtis Ujah was dismissed, and Bowerman took advantage seven minutes after the restart, doubling the Robins lead. The ten men then got one back, Jordan Brown firing home from the spot, and eleven minutes later drew level through James Clark. So off we went to spot kicks, and the hosts triumphed, four-three.

Bury Town welcomed former North Division- these days South Central- rivals Waltham Abbey to Ram Meadow, and got the best possible start, as Cemal Ramadan put them ahead in the first minute. It looked at uphill struggle for the Abbotts after they went down to ten men as Prince William Domafriyie saw red, and indeed it proved as Ramadan got his second and Town’s second from the spot seven minutes after the restart. Jake Chambers-Shaw made it safe thirteen minutes before the end, and although Aron Gordon did get one back for the visitors Cruise Nyadzayo’s fourth saw Bury through to the next round.

Cambridge City were at Cheshunt, looking to slay a Pitching In Isthmian Premier giant, and Ryan Sharman put them ahead after thirty four minutes. An own goal doubled their advantage just after the hour, and although the Ambers got a late consolation from Taylor Miles that was all they left with.

Canvey Island weren’t far behind Bury, as they scored in the second minute, Connor Hubble putting them ahead against Biggleswade. Elliott Ronto made it two a quarter of an hour later, but Biggleswade weren’t done and got one back eleven minutes before the break before equalising just after the hour. The Gulls managed to come through a tense shootout, winning that four-three.

Chichester City went behind just after thirty three minutes as they hosted Risborough Rangers, but levelled through Kaleem Haitham with twenty three minutes left- and the comeback was complete as Lloyd Rowlatt made it two-one with less than a quarter of an hour remaining.

Chipstead went ahead against East Grinstead Town just after the half hour, Tom Collins with the opening goal, and when the Wasps saw Jerome Beckles dismissed after the break it only increased the Chips advantage- and they held onto it.

Corinthian-Casuals, hosting our former favourites Dulwich Hamlet, went ahead just before the break- Kieron Cadogan opening the scoring. The visitors drew level with nineteen minutes remaining, and although Benjamin Checklit restored the home advantage six minutes from time Hamlet had time to conjure another leveller- and then triumphed on penalties.

Cray Valley PM travelled to Harrow Borough, and Ade Yusuff hoped he’d put them on the road to a giantkilling from the spot on thirty two minutes. Borough had other ideas, however, and equalised two minutes before the break, but the Millers got their noses in front again as Connor Dymond made it two-one twelve minutes after the restart, and were soon coasting as Denzel Gayle made it three. Ade Adeyemo made quite sure that those giants were most definitely slain with number four ten minutes from time, but there was still time for Matthew A-Warren to make it five and end a famous victory.

Joe Taylor was deadly for Cray Wanderers last season, and has immediately found his shooting boots in the new campaign- and he had two goals to his name at Moneyfields within thirteen minutes, making it seven already since we kicked off the new campaign on 19th September. Freddie Parker made it three just after the half hour, and when Jay Leader got number four ten minutes before the break it looked like a cricket score might be on the cards. Moneyfields struck back just before the break, however, but the four goal advantage was soon restored as Charlie Allen made it five-one.

Moneyfields got another back with nineteen minutes remaining, but it’s two hundred and eighty two days unbeaten for Wands and another hat trick for Taylor, who made it six-two just before the end.

Folkestone Invicta hosted another Kentish side, Chatham Town, and the visitors went ahead ten minutes before the break. A very bad day at the office for Invicta was confirmed after the break, as Town added two more to dump out our giants.

Hanwell Town looked to slay a giant, as Hartley Wintney arrived in West London. Ogo Obi gave them the perfect start after five minutes, and made it rather more perfect from the spot after nineteen. The visitors weren’t taking that lying down, and pulled one back six minutes before the break, but on the stroke of half time Obi made it three for him and the Geordies. It was three-two six minutes after the restart, and then three-all twelve minutes from time- and the visitors broke home hearts with another six minutes from time, before getting a fifth as the Geordies ran out of steam just before the end.

Haringey Borough hosted South Central Chertsey Town and took an eighth minute lead, Alfred Bawling finding the net. The same player made it two six minutes from time, and Borough went through to Monday’s draw.

Hastings United travelled to Ebsfleet United on the back of three successive goalless draws, and delivered a goalless first half- but there were two quick goals after the break, one for each side, Kenny Pogue equalising for Hastings on the hour just a minute after they went behind. The visitors then went ahead four minutes from time, Sam Adams giving them cause for celebrations, but they were cut short as the hosts levelled in the last minute. The penalty shootout went the way of the hosts, who triumphed four-one.

Hornchurch also took a second minute lead, Lewwis Spence striking at Walthamstow- and soon it was two, Mark Onyemah doubling their advantage. The hosts then went down to ten men, and the Urchins coasted to victory.

Maldon and Tiptree and Grays Athletic faced off at Park Drive, and the Jammers went ahead seven minutes after half time, Adam Vyse with the opener. The hosts then made it difficult for themselves as Scott Kemp saw red, and so it proved as Mitchel Hahn equalised on fifty seven minutes. An own goal went in favour of the Jammers four minutes from time, but there was still time for Joe Paxman to equalise for Grays and we went to penalties. The hosts triumphed narrowly, five-four.