We had hat tricks, drama, giants slayed and giants slain!

AFC Sudbury travelled to face Potton United. The yellows, unbeaten so far this season, travelled on the back of a three game winning streak- but it took them a long time to make that four, the winning goal coming in the very last minute through Tyrese Osbourne.

Tilbury hit seven in the last round, and they travelled to face an Ashford Town side who got through after a replay and extra time- but who won five-nil on Bank Holiday Monday. It took the Dockers only one minute to take the lead, Phil Roberts with the first goal of all of our three o’clock kick offs, but there was another seventy five minutes before we had another, and that went to the Tangerines, Jack French scoring for the hosts. The turnaround seemed complete when Dylan Ive gave the hosts the lead ten minutes from time, and so it proved as Town marched on.

Barking hosted Ilford in a Preliminary Round tie played again because of an illegible player for the initially-victorious visitors, and it was the visitors who struck first once more, after twelve minutes. Barking equalised six minutes before the break, George Purcell with his fourth of the campaign, and then went ahead as Purcell added another to that tally. Ilford equalised with thirteen minutes remaining, but Kieran Jones broke their hearts with a blues winner on eighty nine minutes.

Basingstoke Town had a fine start to the season; indeed the finest possible start, with a one hundred percent record. They hosted Bridgewater United, and took the lead just before the breakthrough Conor Lynch. The same player got his fifth of the season just after the break, but they were forced to hold on after the visitors got one back with twelve minutes to go- although they did more than that, Dandre Brown making things more comfortable when putting them three-one up with three minutes left. Lynch then got his hat trick- and his sixth goal of the campaign- just before the end to clinch victory.

Image courtesy of the club- taken from their Twitter feed, which you will find here.

Late goal specialists Bedfont Sports were off to Spelthorne Sports. Undefeated Bedfont, who defeated Herne Bay in the last round, faced a side who are in tenth place in the Combined Counties Premier, and the hosts made their own life difficult when they went down to ten men midway through the second half. Sports took advantage soon afterwards, Jonathan Tadafe with the goal, but then themselves went down to ten men, Kevin Diomade seeing red, and were made to pay when the equaliser arrived. No late Sports goals today, and a midweek replay will have to decide the victors.

Bishop’s Stortford welcomed one of our former clubs, Lowestoft Town. The Trawlerboys had gone out of the competition to Isthmian sides for the last four years, and it must have been déjà vu all over again as Jake Cass gave the hosts the lead on twenty four minutes, and again when the same player made it two just after half time. Cass got his hat trick on the hour, and that was that, as the visitors were left all at sea.

Bognor Regis Town, fresh from that morale-boosting win at Worthing on Monday, travelled to face Hayes and Yeading United. The Pitching In Southern Premier South leaders had won all five of their matches so far, scoring sixteen goals in the process- and, of course, defeated Bognor five-nil in the Second Qualifying Round last year. The Rocks were out of the blocks like Usain Bolt, scoring in the first minute through Jordy Mongoy, but were pegged back twelve minutes later and were two one down inside twenty minutes. The Rocks weren’t rolling away, however, and equalised just before the break through Ashton Leigh, but the next goal, fourteen minutes from time, went to the hosts, who went three-two up. Hayes made it four just before the end, and the Rocks cup hopes were extinguished. Gavin McCallum got one back, but it wasn’t enough.

Bowers and Pitsea were on the road, to Arlesey Town of the Spartan South Midlands League. Unbeaten in their League campaign, Town went behind in this one when Lewis Manor scored from the spot- his third goal this week- and it was two on the half hour through Daniel Trendall. When Manor bagged yet another spot kick ten minutes before the break to make it three it seemed that all Bowers had to do was close out the match, but they continued to pour forward and Manor had his hat trick- and his sides fourth- just before the break. Danny Norton made it five, six minutes from time.

Cheshunt lost their unbeaten record as they fell to narrow defeat at Enfield Town on Monday, and faced a tough challenge as they travelled to Brentwood Town. The Ambers made the breakthrough with only eighteen minutes left, Joe Re with the goal, and a few minutes later Mo Camara made it two. That was that, and the Ambers advance.

Brightlingsea Regent travelled to another of our former clubs, Leiston, and went ahead after nine minutes through Lewis Byrne-Hewitt. The gap was two when Max Booth scored after twenty four, but they weren’t secure and Leiston pulled one back before the break and then equalised soon after it. The turnaround was complete fourteen minutes from time when Leiston got number three, and Regent are out.

Bracknell Town travelled to Burgess Hill Town. The Hillians had yet to really get started, losing all three league matches, whilst the Robins were rather ominously beginning to confirm why they are title favourites- but it was the Hillians who made the breakthrough just after half time, Trey Masikini with the opener. The same player doubled the advantage just after the hour, and when Temi Eweka saw red for the Robins it seemed a long way back. It was, and the Hillians advance.

Bury Town really hadn’t started the campaign the way we might have expected, but they had won their only home match so far- and would have expected to win another when Norwich United came to call. It was the visitors who made the breakthrough, however, after sixteen minutes, and then doubled that advantage on twenty four. Just after the break United got a third, but Jake Chambers-Shaw immediately hit back- was the comeback on? No. Norwich made it four on fifty eight minutes, and Bury crash out.

Canvey Island were on the road, travelling to Bedford Town. The Gulls, still unbeaten at the start, were still unbeaten at the end, too, but will need to do it all again after a goalless draw.

Carshalton Athletic headed to Homelands, home of Ashford United- but they weren’t taking on the Nuts and Bolts, instead they faced SCEFL side Kennington (no, not the one on the Northern Line). The hosts were undefeated in seven matches, but it was our Robins who made the breakthrough in this one, Lewis White opening the scoring on twenty four minutes. The lead was doubled on sixty three, Dan Hector with this one, and when an own goal made it three with nineteen minutes remaining it was all over.

Folkestone Invicta headed to South East side Corinthian, and put their unbeaten record to the test. It didn’t seem likely to be properly tested when David Smith gave them an early lead- his fourth of the season- but they were pegged back when Oscar Housego got the equaliser from the spot just before the half hour. Ronnie Dolan restored the lead just before the break, but again the hosts hit back through Jack Mahoney in the fifty first minute. Corinthian then saw Ryan Sawyer dismissed, and that was the cue for Invicta to score again, Alfie Paxman restoring their lead. The Premier Division side held on for victory.

Cray Wanderers hosted Sutton Common Rovers, and the South Central Division side took an early lead, Brendan Murphy-Mcvey opening the scoring. The underdogs laughed at that label as they doubled the lead before the break, Danny Fernandez with this one, but Wands got one back just before the break, Anthony Cook scoring from the spot. The next goal was all-important, and it came to Rovers, Adam Allen making it three and sealing a famous win for the visitors.

East Thurrock United, three games unbeaten, hoped to make it four as they headed to Cambridge City, but didn’t have the best of starts, falling behind after nine minutes. Alex Hernandez equalised from the spot on eighteen minutes, and the Rocks were ahead two minutes after the break, Johnny Ashman with their second. Shortly afterwards Hernandez got his second of the game to create some daylight between the sides, and that was that so far as goals were concerned.

Enfield Town hosted Dereham Town, as our North Division side travelled to Donkey Lane. The Towners started unbeaten and had won three matches from four so far, and they went ahead in this one just before the break, Andre Coker with the opener. Coker got their second and his second on sixty one minutes, but the Magpies made a fight of it, Toby Hilliard halving the deficit on seventy two minutes. The equaliser didn’t arrive, and the Towners march on.

We had an all-North Division tie as Felixstowe and Walton United hosted Great Wakering Rovers. The Seasiders were impressive in defeating Dereham Town on Monday, and they went ahead early in this one, Billy Holland striking after only ten minutes. Rovers drew level in the fifty seventh minute, Martin Tuohy with his fourth of the campaign, and the same player struck next, too, as Rovers went ahead. It was three-one, or one-three, on seventy two minutes, Adam Vyse putting daylight between the sides, and that was the last goal action of the game.

Hanwell Town travelled to Fleet Town. The Geordies won five-nil in the last round, and were on the scoresheet early once more, Dwayne Duncan opening the scoring. It was two just after the hour, Ogo Obi doing what Ogo Obi does best, and the Geordies advance.

Haringey Borough couldn’t give a debut to new signing from Heybridge Swifts Adeyinka Cole, as he played in the last round- but he may not have got a start anyway given how good they’ve been of late. Borough, with three straight victories under their belts, faced Southern Premier Central leaders Peterborough Sports, who had won all five of their games so far and scored seventeen goals in the process. After a goalless first half Borough made the breakthrough shortly after the break, Sami Bessadi scoring the first goal, but were pegged back with twenty three minutes remaining and fell behind right at the end- a killer blow, and one that couldn’t be recovered.

Hastings United haven’t had the start to the campaign they might have expected, but were soon ahead at Harefield United, who defeated Binfield in the last round. Ben Pope opened the scoring from the spot just after the quarter hour, and after thirty three minutes Sam Hasler made it two. Hasler made it three only three minutes later, before Pope got the fourth with twenty five minutes left to clinch victory.

Horsham travelled not too far to face South East leaders Haywards Heath Town in their second Sussex derby of the week! The Hornets took four points from six over the Bank Holiday weekend, Heath six from six, and given the hosts also defeated Lancing in the Cup to reach this stage they went into this match with a one hundred percent record in all competitions. The visitors took the lead just before the break, an own goal breaking the deadlock, but Heath struck back through Byron Napper eight minutes after the restart and they’ll both have to do it all again in midweek.

Image- Kyle Hemsley- see the rest of his shots here, tomorrow.

Hornchurch got back to winning ways on Monday, and welcomed Barton Rovers to Bridge Avenue. It took sixty nine minutes for a goal, and it came to Charlie Ruff, but it was cancelled out two minutes later as Rovers equalised and the match will need to be replayed.

Hythe Town followed their mammoth win over Westfeld by welcoming Ascot United to Reachfields, and took the lead on sixty four minutes through Nathan Gordon. That was that, a far less frantic victory for the Cannons this time.

Our league leaders, Kingstonian, had won every match so far. They travelled to face Oxhey Jets of the SSML Premier Division, who were unbeaten since the opening day. The K’s went ahead just after the break, Rhys Murrell-Williamson opening the scoring, but were soon pegged back. Murrell-Williamson restored the lead on sixty five minutes but again Jets got themselves level with eleven minutes remaining and that was that- replay required.

Lewes, unbeaten in three matches, hosted another of our former sides, Metropolitan Police. Met are in the Pitching In Southern Premier South these days, and were unbeaten in five- and showed why when they took a nineteenth minute lead. It was nil-two on twenty eight minutes, but Joe Taylor set up a rip-roaring finale by halving the arrears from the spot with eighteen minutes left. Sadly the thin blue line remained unbroken, and the Rooks are out.

Margate, unbeaten so far, hosted Thame United, third from bottom in Southern Division One Central- but it was the visitors who struck first, after only eight minutes, silencing most of the four hundred and fifty seven present. They’d have been much louder when Daniel Thompson equalised just before the hour, but silenced once more when the underdogs took the lead again soon afterwards. The equaliser took forever to arrive, but arrive it did, Jake Embery with it right at the end, and the two will have to do it all again.

Marlow travelled to Sheppey United. Their hosts, top of the SCEFL and undefeated, kept the tie goalless at half time, but Marlow went ahead seven minutes after the restart through Junaid Bell, and that turned out to be the only goal of the game.

Northwood hosted Chichester City, who were super in defeating Lancing four-nil in midweek, but not-so-super when the went behind on five minutes, Ismael Ehui with his third of the season. City equalised twenty eight minutes later through Gicu Iordache, but parity didn’t last long, Gradi Milenge restoring home advantage. Another equaliser arrived just after the hour, this one going to Florjet Vucaj, and the fifth goal also came to City, Lewis Hyde making it three with seven minutes left and sealing victory.

Two sides in good form, Phoenix Sport and Chipstead, met at the Mayplace Ground. Sports won their last tie seven-nil, and followed that up by taking four points from six over the Bank Holiday weekend, whilst the Chips scored three late goals to defeat Faversham Town in the last round and followed that by putting five past Chalfont St Peter and four past South Park in the subsequent two league matches. We expected this to be tight. Lekan Osideko put Sports ahead on sixteen minutes, and the same player doubled the lead from the spot five minutes before half time, but the Chips weren’t down and Andy Kabuikusomo got one back with seven minutes left to set up a tense finale. It may have been tense, but the scoreline wasn’t further troubled.

Potters Bar Town, who had lost their last three matches, travelled to face in-form North Division Stowmarket Town, who showed why they are described as in-form with a goal after only seven minutes, George Bugg with his second of the campaign. The doubled that advantage on eighteen, Chris Casement with the second, and although the visitors got one back just before the break through Ben Ward-Cochrane, that was the end of the goal action- Stowmarket march on.

Ramsgate followed wins over Hastings and Hythe with a trip to Harrow Borough, these days of the Pitching In Southern Premier South. Borough hadn’t had the best of starts to their campaign, but they had the best of starts to this match, taking the lead in the fourth minute. They were behind for only two minutes, however, Jordan Chiedozie with his fifth goal in his last four matches, and then they were ahead just after half an hour through Danny Lear- but couldn’t hold the advantage until the break, Borough finding an equaliser. The next goal was critical, and it went to the hosts, who finished them off with number four just before the end.

Romford travelled to Kings Langley, having defeated Harpenden Town and Kensington Borough to get to this stage. Their hosts are a step higher, but hadn’t managed to win a match yet this season, and it was perhaps not a surprise when Romford went ahead in this one, Christian Adu Gyamfi on thirty one minutes. It was two six minutes later, L’heureux Menga doubling the lead, but Langley had one back before the break and then must have smelled blood when Usoman Tunkara saw red for Boro. The equaliser came six minutes from time, and the winner for the hosts right at the end.

Sevenoaks Town travelled to Combined Counties Premier side Redhill, who were unbeaten in five, although they did draw three of those. Oaks took the lead on the half hour due to an own goal, but the hosts struck back just before the hour and a replay was the result.

South Park’s reward for their exhausting cup battle with Three Bridges was a trip to Broadfields United of the Spartan South Midlands League. The hosts went ahead just before half time, but the Sparks equalised on fifty two minutes through Adam Aziz and then the same player put them ahead fifteen minutes from time. They couldn’t hold on, sadly, and will have to do it all again in a few days time.

Uxbridge have had a fine start to the season, undefeated so far. They had won each one of their three home matches, and showed how as they went ahead against Chesham United in the twenty second minute, Ezra Ndukuba with the opening goal. Chesham almost immediately equalised, however, and were ahead nine minutes before the break- but the hosts equalised right at the end to force a replay, Alex Witham with the goal.

VCD Athletic were off to Jersey, to take on Jersey Bulls. Vickers had lost only one match so far this season, but knew that the Bulls would pose a stern test, as in their two Cup matches so far they’d scored a staggering fourteen goals and conceded only one. By full time it was nineteen-two, that sole Athletic goal coming from Charles Etumnu as their hosts got five.

Leatherhead had lost three in a row, but hosts Whitstable Town hadn’t fared any better of late and it was the Tanners who got their noses in front after nineteen minutes, Cameron Black with the opener. The Oysterboys equalised from the spot five minutes before half time, Aaron Millbank with the goal, but the next goal again came from the Tanners, Alex Sami restoring their advantage with twenty two minutes left. Again Millbank dragged his side level, and we’ll do it again at Fetcham Grove in midweek.

Wingate and Finchley hosted Basildon United, wondering which Basildon would turn up! The Bees lost seven-nil last Saturday as they hosted Grays Athletic, but bounced right back to score four at Great Wakering Rovers on Monday- and were soon ahead in this one, Luke Hirst striking after fourteen minutes. The equaliser came only four minutes later, Alieu Njie for the Blues, but the hosts made things difficult for themselves when J’Ardell Stirling saw red. No more goals blessed this encounter, and off to a replay we go.

Corinthian-Casuals travelled to face Worthing with both looking to bounce back from defeat on Monday- and the visitors started quickly, Benjamin Cheklit giving them a third minute lead. The Mackerel Men hit back soon afterwards, delighting most of the eight hundred and sixty nine in attendance with Mo Diallo equalising on the quarter hour, but with no more goals we’ll be off to Tolworth to do it all again.

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