Urchins, Oaks and Invicta slay giants!

Sevenoaks Town described their trip to face National League South Bath City as the biggest in their history. Well the history books are not yet ready to be written, as Oaks vanquished the side in sixth place in National League South. City had gone five matches unbeaten, but were undone in the thirty eighth minute, Dan Hector’s shot blocked, Jordy Ndozid there to finish- and despite home pressure Oaks held out to record a famous victory. Image -Matt White.

Folkestone Invicta also have a famous victory to celebrate. Invicta travelled to face familiar opponents, Dulwich Hamlet, Isthmians for many years before their National League South promotion, and despite going down to ten men after thirty four minutes- Nathan Green seeing red- Adam Yusuff got the opening goal shortly after the break. The ten men then held out brilliantly, and got their reward.

The “biggest game in history” line was used by Beckenham Town, too. Becks have made a magnificent start to Step Four life, unbeaten in the league and knocking out National League South Dartford in the last round; whilst their opponents, Binfield, were also in fine form, also unbeaten, and having won their last nine matches whilst conceding only one goal. They also defeated National League South opposition in the last round, demolishing Tonbridge Angels. We predicted a cracker, and goodness, weren’t we right?! Becks went ahead early on, Louis Theophanous after just seven minutes, but ten minutes later Liam Tack equalised for the Moles. Theophanous made it two-one just after the half hour, and just before the break Freddie Nyhus made it three- but there was time for Sean Moore to pull one back for the visitors before the whistle went.

Ten minutes after the restart George Goodwin made it four-two to Becks, but again Tack got the Moles back into the game, reducing the arrears from the spot. The match hung in the balance until two minutes from the end, when Tyler Anderson stepped up to make it five-three to the hosts.

Our league leaders Hornchurch hosted an Essex derby as Braintree Town arrived at Bridge Avenue. The National League South Iron struggled to overcome Heybridge Swifts in the last round, requiring a replay to earn a narrow victory, but had only one defeat in eight matches. That run is now two defeats in nine, as the Urchins took their higher level opponents to the cleaners, Ola Ogunwamide and two from Liam Nash confirming a three-nil victory. That’s seven wins in a row for Hornchurch, twenty four goals scored, and only three conceded.

Billericay Town had won four of their last five matches and drawn the other, and they looked certain to have recorded another victory, three-one up against Biggleswade Town of Pitching In Southern Division One Central with only ten minutes to go. John Ufuah and Toby Stevenson put the Blues two-one up at the break, and when Bradley Stevenson made it three-one nine minutes after the restart it seemed that was that- but the visitors struck twice in the last ten minutes, the equaliser just before full time, to earn a replay.

That’s the end of the positive news.

Carshalton Athletic welcomed National League South opposition, as Havant & Waterlooville arrived at Colston Avenue. A goal in each half saw the Hawks progress.

AFC Sudbury took their magnificent form on the road once more, travelling to take on Coalville Town. The Yellows dismissed National League South St Albans City in the last round, but three second half goals saw them depart the competition on this occasion.

Herne Bay travelled to London, to face Hendon. Bay were quickly two goals up and coasting, Mason Saunders-Henry and Rory Smith making it two-nil after just twelve minutes, but sadly the greens got one back just before the break and added two more in the second half.

Walton & Hersham had scored in every one of their fourteen matches so far this season as they headed to Taunton Town. Unbeaten in eleven, they travelled with confidence that they could cause an upset, but the only goal of the game went the way of the hosts.

Three Bridges welcomed Hereford to West Sussex. Bridges were brilliant in the last round, dumping Lewes out of the competition and onto their backsides in a four-nil win, but they couldn’t create another upset and the National League North side departed with a three-nil win.

On Friday night Brightlingsea Regent departed the competition, losing two-nil at Needham Market.

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