Towners hit eight, whilst Hillians, Millers, Jammers and Seasiders slay giants

By Ian Townsend

We had some fabulous Trophy football, with big wins, giant killings, and a nine goal thriller at King George’s Field. Here’s our round up of all the action- including our handful of league matches.

Aveley made it all the way to the Quarter Finals of the competition last season before defeat at Notts County, so know only too well what Trophy glory looks like. They hosted Pitching In Southern Premier South’s Beaconsfield Town, who hadn’t won a single match before today and fell behind in this one, Harry Donovan scoring for the Millers. Just after the restart Alex Clark made it two, and George Sykes put them out of sight with number three sixteen minutes from time. Another great cup run? You wouldn’t want to bet against it!

Barking have suddenly found form, winning their last two matches- indeed, winning three of four in all competitions- and defeating the leaders, Waltham Abbey, in midweek. They started quickly against Sittingbourne, Isaac Westendorf’s third of the campaign putting them ahead early on, but Kane Rowland equalised for the Brickies on the half hour and no further goals sent us to a shootout. That went in favour of the Blues, who won it four-three.

Another side in good form, Heybridge Swifts, travelled to Biggleswade Town on the back of three wins on the bounce. Their hosts are sixteenth in the Pitching In Southern Premier Central, and as such favourites- and took the lead eleven minutes after half time. Swifts made things difficult for themselves when Jack Adlington-Pile saw red, and the ten men couldn’t get the equaliser.

Enfield Town v Ramsgate 311020

Enfield Town v Ramsgate 311020

Bognor Regis Town hosted what looked to be a rather tasty tie as Tooting and Mitcham United came to call. The Rocks had a one hundred percent home record, whilst the South Central Terrors had won seven of their last eight and three in a row- and it took almost seventy minutes to prize the two sides apart, Brad Lethbridge putting the hosts ahead. The Rocks were two up with nine minutes left, Alfie Lis doubling their advantage, and held on to progress to the next round.

We had an Essex derby as Bowers & Pitsea hosted Hornchurch. The Urchins knocked Bowers out of the FA Cup at the Len Salmon five weeks ago, winning three-nil, but the hosts weren’t about to let that happen again, it seemed, as Luca Albon put them ahead from the spot on the quarter hour. It took a while for the visitors to get back into the game, but they did just that when Alex Osborn equalised on sixty six minutes, and two minutes later they were ahead, Ellis Brown with their second goal. Charlie Ruff ensured it was another three goal haul for the visitors right at the death.

Burgess Hill Town hosted Harrow Borough, our former favourites who currently sit sixteenth in Pitching In Southern Premier South, and it was the step three side who made the breakthrough three minutes before half time- but the Hillians were level by the break, Nathan Cooper with the equaliser. The hosts were ahead twelve minutes into the second half, the evergreen Pat Harding with the goal, and two minutes later Harding got another to make it three-one. Aaron Smith-Joseph made sure those giants were truly dead when he got number four just before the end.

Whyteleafe, buoyant after that five goal win on Tuesday night, travelled to another Southern Premier South side, Chesham United, and took the lead after eight minutes, Aaron Watson with the goal. They doubled their advantage, Watson again finding the net after twenty four, but just after the start of the second half the hosts got one back and then they equalised right at the end to take the match to a shootout. That went the way of Chesham, who won it three-two.

Burgess Hill Town equaliser, image from Chris Neal

Burgess Hill Town equaliser, image from Chris Neal

North Division Coggeshall Town brought Premier Division Wingate & Finchley to Essex, the visitors in fine form after three wins from four- and it was the away side who struck first, Duane Ofori-Acheampong getting the opener in the twenty ninth minute. The usual Seed Growers goalscorer, Nnamdi Nwachukwu, did what he does best to equalise right at the end, and we were off to penalties, which the visiting Blues won comfortably, three-nil.

Corinthian-Casuals welcomed another of our former favourites, as Hendon headed to King George’s Field. The Greens, seventh in Pitching In Southern Premier South, took the lead on sixteen minutes from the spot, but the hosts bounced back with two goals from Jerson Dos Santos to be ahead by the twenty seven minute mark. Hendon equalised five minutes before half time, but the next goal against went to Casuals, and it came to Kieron Cadogan in the fifty seventh minute. Goal six of the match went to Hendon on sixty six minutes, but six minutes later something strange this way came, Jack Strange, to make it four-three to Casuals in what was fast becoming a defensive horror show! It was five-three when Ben Checklit found the net eight minutes from time, and the four hundred and seven in attendance couldn’t complain that they hadn’t been royally entertained.
The entertainment hadn’t finished. Hendon reduced the arrears and made it five-four a minute from time, but Casuals held on for victory.

East Thurrock United hosted Cheshunt in an all-Premier clash, the Rocks looking for revenge after their visitors defeated them one-nil in the first game of the season- but the Ambers got the first goal of this match, too, Jamie Reynolds with it. The visitors were two up by half time, Taylor McKenzie doubling the advantage, and then got number three five minutes after the restart, Reece Beckles Richards with that one- his third of the season. The Rocks looked to start a revival, Callum Taylor getting one back almost immediately, but the next goal came to the visitors, and it came to Derek Asamoah, six minutes from time. Luke Illsley did manage a second for the Rocks, and then Eze Bademosi made the last seconds nervous for the visitors, but the Ambers held on.

Enfield Town put their one hundred percent home record to the test as they welcomed South East Ramsgate to the QEII Stadium, and demonstrated why they have that record early on, Lyle Della-Verde putting them ahead on five minutes. It was soon two-nil, Neville Nzembela doubling the lead after thirteen minutes, and when Billy Bricknell got number three after thirty two minutes it was game over. Bricknell made it four before the break with his second, and then Della-Verde also got a second just after the restart to make it five. The Rams did get on the scoresheet, Joshua Ajayi getting one back, but that just spurred on the Towners to make it six, Josh McLeod Urquhart getting on the scoresheet eight minutes from time, and then seven, Lewis Taafe with that one. Four minutes from time it was eight, Billy Bricknell claiming the match ball. It will be a long trip back to Kent for the visitors.

Faversham Town put their unbeaten league record to one side as they hosted Premier Division Haringey Borough, and the visitors went ahead after thirty four minutes, Claudio-Octavian Vilcu opening the scoring. It was nil-two after fifty minutes, Alfred Bawling with his seventh of the campaign, but the Lilywhites weren’t about to give up and Michael Hagan got one back with eighteen minutes to go to set up a frantic finale. Borough were able to hold on for victory.

Felixstowe & Walton United have had a fabulous start to the season, losing only one- and walloped Westfield five-nil in the last round. They welcomed Metropolitan Police to the seaside, but weren’t all that welcoming when Sam Nunn put them ahead after fourteen minutes. The boys in blue equalised just before the break, but Nunn put them ahead once more with only sixteen minutes left. Could they hold on? They could do better, Henry Barley making it three-one ten minutes from time to clinch victory.

Nobody will have wanted to play Hastings United at the moment, and the side with that task as they visited the South East Division leaders were Ashford Town, who have had a good start to their South Central season but saw their five match unbeaten run come to an end against Chertsey Town in midweek. The hosts broke the deadlock just before the break through Ryan Worrall, but the Tangerines drew level just after the hour, Matt Bunyan equalising, and the match went to the dreaded shootout. Hastings managed to triumph from the spot, winning four-two.

Herne Bay, who have had a hit and miss sort of season so far, travelled to Pitching In Southern Premier Central Hitchin Town, and a giant killing looked possible when Zak Ansah put them ahead after eight minutes, but the hosts were level ten minutes before the break and ahead three minutes after it. It was three-one with six minutes left, and Bay’s trophy adventure was over.

Horsham were back in their Camping World Community Stadium, where they hosted Pitching In Southern Division One Central side Welwyn Garden City, and the Hornets took the lead after nineteen minutes, Chris Smith with his third of the campaign. The equaliser came twenty two minutes from time, and it took the match to a shootout, which City won five-three.

Brightlingsea Regent travelled to face Kings Langley of Pitching In Southern Premier Central. Kings are the draw specialists in their division, drawing five of their eight matches so far, but they went ahead in this one after eighteen minutes and doubled their advantage eleven minutes later. When the hosts got their third just after the restart it seemed to be game over, and it certainly was when number four went in with twenty five minutes remaining. Regent did get one back through Lewis Byrne-Hewitt, but it was just a consolation.

Leatherhead and Potters Bar Town already knew each other well as they met at Fetcham Grove. Two points and three places separate them in the league, and they’ll meet again at the end of November so one of them knew that they would go into that match with a psychological advantage- and it looked to be the Tanners, as Joe Leslie struck after nine minutes and then did it again after twenty to put his side two up. The next goal came with twenty minutes to go, and it went to the Scholars, Ben Ward Cochrane halving the arrears, but Leslie wasn’t finished, getting his hat trick with four minutes later to restore the Tanners two goal cushion and secure victory.

League leaders Worthing travelled to face former Isthmian favourites Leiston, their hosts bottom of Pitching In Southern Premier Central without a league win this season, but an entirely different prospect in cup matches- and so it looked in this one, as the Mackerel Men were behind after only nine minutes. The hosts were two up ten minutes before the break, but Ollie Pearce gave the visitors hope by pulling a goal back just before the break. The next goal was critical, and it went to the Blues, who went three-one up with half an hour left, but the Mackerel Men reduced the arrears with nineteen minutes remaining, Omar Koroma with his fourth in three matches since moving from Carshalton Athletic. They drew level fifteen minutes from time, substitute Mo Diallo with his seventh of the campaign, but once more the hosts were able to go ahead, on eighty two minutes. Worthing weren’t finished, and another equaliser, this time from Danny Barker, took the match to a penalty shootout, and this time the two sides had to be separated- the hosts winning four-two.

Lewes travelled to face another former Isthmian favourite, Lowestoft Town, and fell behind after sixteen minutes, then went two down just before the break. It was three-nil and game over nine minutes after the restart, although Gary Noel did get a consolation for the Rooks eight minutes from time.

Maldon & Tiptree welcomed Premier Division Kingstonian, and given their form wouldn’t have been at all worried at facing a higher-ranked side- they defeated those for fun last season and had already knocked two out of cup competitions this time around. They went ahead after only seventeen minutes, Shomari Barnwell with his third in three matches, and the same player doubled the lead after half an hour- but the K’s weren’t going to go down without a fight, and Corie Andrews halved the arrears on the hour mark. The next goal was all important, and it went to the Jammers, Hamza Kaid making it three-one- and the visitors were soon down to ten men, Simon Cooper taking an early shower. Andrews reduced it to three-two for the visitors with his second, but that was that and Maldon progress.

Dereham Town travelled to Pitching In Northern Premier side Mickleover Sports. Their hosts sit in third place, and started the day unbeaten in open play (they lost a penalty shootout against St Albans City) in eight matches, and showed why early on as they took a third minute lead. They doubled it twelve minutes into the second half, and were out of sight on the hour, when they made it three. Number four came thirteen minutes from time, and a fifth arrived before the end as the Magpies left the competition in comprehensive fashion.

Three Bridges travelled to face Needham Market. The Marketmen have had a fabulous start to the Pitching In Southern Premier Central season, sitting in second place and still unbeaten, and took the lead in this one just after the half hour mark. They were two up a few minutes later, and made it three just after the break, but Tom Tolfrey gave the travelling fans hope, pulling one back after fifty six minutes. That hope was extinguished when Dean Lovegrove saw red, and the Marketmen responded by scoring a fourth to make sure of victory.

Hythe Town travelled to Royston Town, who sit in eighth place in Pitching In Southern Premier Central. Royston’s only defeat from their last seven matches came against Bishop’s Stortford in the FA Cup, and they went ahead in this one, scoring from the spot midway through the first half- and then doubled their advantage just before the break, holding on for a comfortable victory.

Folkestone Invicta travelled from Kent to Surrey to visit Walton Casuals, and fell behind after eight minutes. They weren’t behind for long, Josh Vincent equalising eight minutes later, but the next goal was a very long time coming. It seemed to be heading for penalties, but Casuals grabbed their place in the next round in the very last minute.

Whitehawk have not had the start to the season they would have hoped for, winning only one league match so far, and their visitors this weekend looked daunting opponents, as Cray Wanderers arrived at the seaside bursting with confidence after a six-nil win in midweek. The Wands took twenty minutes to get their noses in front, Rhys Murrell-Williamson with his fifth of the campaign, and doubled their advantage just before the break when Charlie Allen made it two. Freddie Parker got number three for the visitors four minutes from time.

Pitching In Isthmian North Division

First played fourth in our top North Division game of the day as Tilbury and Soham Town Rangers both looked to get back to winning ways, and it was the visitors who struck first, Joe Carden opening the scoring seven minutes before the break. Brian Moses equalised for the Dockers on the stroke of half time, and then on the stroke of full time they took victory, Lee Burns sending them five points clear. Soham dropped to sixth.

Bury Town started the day with the welcome boost of being awarded three points from their match against Witham Town last month, and looked for three more against Romford. It didn’t start well for them in this match, however, as Lee Newton put Boro ahead, but they levelled through Cemal Ramadan after twenty one minutes. The second half saw another goal for each side, Ryan Jolland putting the hosts ahead with ten minutes left, Malaki Toussaint equalising just a minute later.

AFC Sudbury got back to winning ways at Soham in midweek, a result which took them to three matches unbeaten. They hosted Witham Town, who had only avoided defeat once all season and fell behind in this one, Ben Hunter putting the Yellows ahead on the quarter hour. It was two after thirty three minutes, and three after forty two, Emmanuel Machaya and Joe Whight putting the hosts out of sight, and when Machaya made it four eight minutes into the second half it looked a question of how many. The answer was five, but before the fifth arrived Town got two back, Billy Willis and Julian Simon-Parson with the goals, with Freddie King having the final word for the hosts in the last minute.


Pitching In Isthmian South Central

Our leaders, Waltham Abbey, lost their first league game of the season in midweek, crashing to a three-nil defeat at Barking, and hoped to bounce straight back at Westfield arrived at Capershotts- but they didn’t have the best of starts, Kai Hamilton-Olise putting Field ahead after twenty minutes. It got worse five minutes later, Darnell Goather-Braithwaite doubling the advantage for the visitors, and that’s how it ended

Staines Town knew that they could go level with Waltham Abbey at the top had the Abbotts lost, and started well, Temi Eweka putting them ahead after only five minutes. The lead had hardly lasted four minutes before FC Romania responded, Armoo Jesse with the equaliser, but in the last twenty minutes the Swans added two more through Tayo Oyebola and Josh Luther, and now only goal difference keeps them in second place.

Hanwell Town had gone rather off the boil of late, perhaps resembling Sunderland rather than Newcastle. Without a win in four matches they travelled to Chipstead, their hosts undefeated in three and having scored three goals in both of their last two matches- and it was the home fans who were first given something to shout about, Jensen Grant putting them ahead after seventeen minutes. The Geordies equalised just after the restart, Trevan Robinson levelling, and then the usual Ogo Obi goal and a penalty from Gareth Chendlik saw them take victory and climb to seventh.

Finally rock bottom Harlow Town hosted Chalfont St Peter desperate for a result which might kick start their season. The Hawks had lost eight consecutive games in all competitions- and now it’s eight, as the Saints got the only goal of the game eleven minutes from time. Alexander Cathline got it, and the visitors climb to fourteenth.

Pitching In Isthmian South East

Long time leaders VCD Athletic had fallen to fourth place and had three consecutive defeats in league and trophy, but knew they would be back up to second place if they took three points this weekend- and took the lead against Whitstable Town after thirty two minutes, Marcus Elliott breaking the Oysterboys net. Elliott got his second thirty minutes later, and Vickers held on for victory.

Sevenoaks Town, in sixth place, travelled to face a Haywards Heath Town who looked back to their own selves in victory over Hythe Town last weekend- but Oaks struck first, Jason Thompson opening the scoring after only seven minutes. Heath got level when Kieran Rowe scored from the spot six minutes after half time, and then went ahead through Luca Cocorracchio with only nineteen minutes left- but the hosts couldn’t hold on for all three points, Joseph Taylor equalising a minute from the end.

Where next?

Saturday through a lens- 31st October 2020 Many of our photographers spent Saturday afternoon in the rain, perhaps with their camera wrapped in a plastic bag, but they delivered some fine shots
Bracknell bring in Hippolyte Chertsey forward moves to Larges Lane

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