Three out of three on Cup Sunday

We had three sides involved in FA Cup First Qualifying Round ties yesterday, and delightfully all three marched on to take their place in this afternoon's Second Qualifying Round draw.

Whitehawk were involved in perhaps the most thrilling tie of the round. Travelling to Littlehampton Town, who knocked out fellow Pitching In Isthmian South East side Sittingbourne in the last round, the Hawks triumphed by the odd goal in NINE- two goals in the last ten minutes making sure, if only just.

The Hawks fell behind in only the second minute, the Town opener being scored by a familiar name, former Horsham man George Gaskin- who got their fourth, too. Henry Muggeridge pulled the visitors level after eleven minutes, and ten minutes after that James Fraser put them ahead from the spot- but the hosts again drew level before Muggeridge's second of the match saw the Hawks go into half time in the lead. Again the hosts levelled just after the hour, and it was six minutes from time before Whitehawk got their noses in front once more, Callum Edwards with the fourth goal. Omarr Lawson got a fifth soon afterwards, but even at that point Littlehampton wouldn't give in, Gaskin making the final few moments nervy by pulling it back to four-five.

Our headline image comes from Andy Schofield, and you can see all of his shots here.

Another side who managed four goals were Chertsey Town, but they were given far less trouble at Erith and Belvedere, who got none in reply. Darryl Harrison, Casey Maclaren and Magnus Abisogun gave them a three goal lead, and an own goal just after the break wrapped things up.

Merstham travelled to Thornton Heath, and in the shadow of Croydon Crematorium were made to fight- not quite to the death, but rather hard- by SCEFL side Balham. It took until the eightieth minute before our Pitching In Isthmian Premier side were able to find a way through, Chace Jaquart opening the scoring, but they could breath a little easier three minutes later when Serge Makofo made it two.

The draw for the next round will be published here this afternoon.