Yellow Terror at the Seaside!

We had giant killing, we had new leaders in two of our four divisions, and we had rain of biblical proportions for the third Saturday in a row. We’ll start our round up in the FA Trophy, and we’ll head to Hartsdown Park.

In our preview on Friday we wrote that Margate were still searching for consistency, and that visitors Tooting and Mitcham United were struggling to recapture their early season form. Well the Terrors certainly hit the heights once more, the South Central side thrashing their Premier Division hosts by four goals to nil. Danny Bassett got their opener five minutes before half time, his thirteenth goal of the season certainly proving unlucky for the Blues- but the Hartsdown Park faithful were more than cursing lady luck in the second half, as Connor French, David Castanho and Razzaq Coleman each found a way past Craig Holloway and his defence to make the margin of victory both emphatic and rather embarrassing.

Staying on the coast but heading from Kent to Sussex, Worthing, unbeaten in seven matches in all competitions, welcomed AFC Sudbury to Woodside Road. The Yellows had also been on a good run of form, with only one defeat in their previous six matches- a run which included victory over Step Three Harrow Borough in the last round- and they were giantkillers once more, walloping four goals in the pouring rain. They were two up by half time, Reece Harris and Baris Altintop finding the Mackerel Men’s net, and when Callum Harrison got a third shortly after the restart it was as good as game over. Joel Colbran did manage to get a consolation for Worthing eleven minutes from time, but Liam Bennett restored Sudbury’s three goal advantage just before the end.

Just along the Sussex coast the story was rather different, as a battle of the Rocks saw Bognor Regis Town continue their fabulous recent form with a three-one win over East Thurrock United. Brad Lethbridge gave the hosts a ninth minute lead, and although United equalised just after the half hour through Alex Clark they were level for only one minute before Doug Tuck put the ball in the back of their net. Lethbridge made sure of victory for Bognor nine minutes after the break.

Basildon United put out the ‘Under New Management’ signs before entertaining Hornchurch, but the Urchins showed no mercy and scored six goals, including a Charlie Stimson hat trick. Marvin Morgan, Daniel Uchechi and Lewwis Spence got the others, whilst Ernest Okoh got a consolation for the Bees.

We had another hat trick at Enfield Town, and this one went to Billy Bricknell, who scored the first three goals of the game against Thatcham Town. In the last thirteen minutes Muhammadu Faal then got his usual goal- his fourteenth of the season- and he got his fifteenth shortly afterwards as the Towners rounded off an emphatic five-nil win.

Haringey Borough defeated Canvey Island in a replay of our North Division Playoff Final from 2017-18, Anthos Solomou and Dmitri Froxylias scoring for the hosts whilst Kane Gilbert got a goal back for the Gulls; whilst Leatherhead recorded a similar victory at Needham Market, Ibrahim Olutade and Travis Gregory keeping their excellent recent run going. That was the Tanners seventh consecutive win in all competitions.

Hastings United and Whitehawk will have to do it all again at the Enclosed Ground in midweek after a 2-2 draw at Pilot Field. Jake Eliott and Daniel Ajakaiye scored for the hosts, Connor Tighe and Kacper Lopata for the Hawks.

Three other sides will also need replays. Aveley travelled all the way to Somerset to take on Taunton Town, twice took the lead, but saw a late goal draw the hosts level in a pulsating three-three draw. Alex Akrofi, Jason Raad and George Sykes found the net for the Millers.

Tinashe Nkoma gave Westfield the lead over Hartley Wintney, only for an equaliser to arrive just two minutes from time; whilst Bedfont Sports, a round behind the rest, will have even more fixture congestion to contend with after a draw at Hitchin Town. It was so nearly a victory as Sports took the lead in the first half through Darryl Sanders and held it until eighteen minutes before the end.

Potters Bar Town fell to a one-nil defeat at Cinderford Town, whilst Haywards Heath had an afternoon to forget, going down seven-nil at Royston Town.

Into the FA Cup, and in our one First Round match yesterday Carshalton Athletic couldn’t manage a repeat of their giant killing from the last round, going down four-one at home to Boston United. Christie Pattisson got the goal for the Robins.

Maldon & Tiptree travel to Leyton Orient today, whilst Kingstonian head to Macclesfield. Then tomorrow evening the draw for the Second Round will be on BBC2 at 7PM, live from Chichester City.

Premier Division

Horsham took advantage of Folkestone Invicta’s day off- they travel to Maldon in the Trophy in midweek- to replace them at the top of the Premier Division; and they did it in style, walloping Bowers & Pitsea by four goals to nil. Chris Smith got a hat trick, Dylan Merchant the other, a result which means that the Hornets maintain a record that has seen them lose only two matches since promotion, whereas their visitors have only won two and sit second from bottom.

The only side worse off than Bowers are Corinthian-Casuals, but perhaps they are on the up, as a Nathaniel Pinney double and a third from Jack Strange saw them record their first victory of the season at Bishop’s Stortford. Olly Miles got the last goal of the game for the Blues, in the very last minute, but it did them little good.

Another set of Blues were far happier, however, Wingate & Finchley climbing out of the bottom three with victory at Lewes. Charlie Ruff gave them a third minute lead, Henry Ochieng made it two just after the half hour, and although Charlie Coppola got one back for the Rooks around the hour mark that was the end of the scoring.

The biggest victory of the day came at Cray Wanderers, where the hosts slammed six goals past those other Ambers, Cheshunt. Joseph Taylor got three of them, continuing a remarkable goalscoring record which has seen the Wands striker get nineteen goals in his last sixteen matches. Taylor’s goals all came in an eight minute spell midway through the second half, and his side already had three by then, Joel Rollinson- in the first minute- and a double from Lee Lewis leaving Cheshunt shellshocked. Ryan Moss had earlier got their equaliser, from the spot, but it was all downhill from there for the visitors.

North Division

Neither Bury Town nor Maldon and Tiptree had a fixture, so Heybridge Swifts were able to close the gap on them at the top with an emphatic five-one win over Romford. Alex Teniola got a hat trick in the first half, and Evans Kouassi also found the back of the net as Swifts went into the break four goals to the good. Odei Martin-Sorondo made it five eighteen minutes from time, and Romford got a last minute goal from Warren Kayembe to show for their efforts.

Coggeshall Town, in fourth, are level on points with Swifts courtesy of a last minute equaliser at home to Tilbury. Sadly it was an own goal, and the Dockers will be disappointed as they’d held a one-nil lead- given to them by Brian Moses- for a full hour before crumbling right at the end.

Jake Gordon scored the only goal of the game as Great Wakering Rovers climbed to fifth at Soham Town Rangers, whilst a late Danny Gould strike saw Histon win by the same margin as they defeated Felixstowe and Walton United at the Glassworld Stadium.

Cambridge City are a place behind their landlords in ninth, and goals from Mikey Davis and Jarid Robson saw them earn a 2-1 win at Witham Town, for whom Marcus Bowers got a goal back in the second half.

South Central

It took until the very last minute, but Hanwell Town went to the top of the table yesterday; and ruined Ware’s unbeaten league record too. There was only one goal in the game, and it went to Joel Jacobs of the Geordies.

Chertsey Town also had the chance to go top, but the Curfews fell to defeat at Chalfont St Peter. Alex Yearwood gave the Saints the lead in the twenty fifth minute, but they held it for only five minutes before Jonathan Hippolyte equalised. Nine minutes after the restart Dan Williams got what was to prove the last goal of the match for the hosts, who end the day in seventh.

Uxbridge climbed to fifth, and they did it in emphatic style, walloping Hertford Town by five goals to one. A Callum Bunting hat trick did most of the damage, Alex Paine and Mahlondo Martin getting the other goals, whilst Ben Herd got one back for the hosts.

FC Romania got back to winning ways when walloping South Park. Adrian Hurdubei, Lawrence Neuruba, Cosmin Sandu and Vladut Sighiartau scored four for the Wolves, before Andrew Herring got a late goal for Sparks to slightly narrow the deficit.

Chipstead travelled to Northwood and Sam Bell, Tom Collins and Kyen Nicholas gave the visitors an emphatic three-nil victory; whilst our other two matches ended in one-one draws. Bracknell Town got a late, late equaliser at Larges Lane through Sean McCormack- Nathan Twum-Koranteng having given visitors Waltham Abbey a first half lead; whilst Daniel Brown gave Ashford Town an early lead at Marlow only for Curtis Ujah to equalise just before the break.

South East

Cray Valley PM took advantage of Hastings United’s Trophy absence to go four points clear at the top, courtesy of a two-nil win at Ramsgate. Both goals came midway through the first half, Matthew A-Warren and Warren Mfula silencing the crowd at Southwood Stadium.

It was a tale of two doubles as Frankie Sawyer for Sevenoaks Town and Kaleem Haitham for Chichester City saw the match at Greatness Park end in a 2-2 draw; Oaks are third, City eleventh but with three matches in hand due to their cup heroics. VCD Athletic are fourth, and were the days big winners, goals from Henry Ikeije, Charlie MacDonald, Dominic Odusanya and Courtney Barrington earning them three points at Ashford United, for whom Tom O’Connor got a goal eighteen minutes from time. The Nuts and Bolts fall to seventh after losing their third consecutive match.

Herne Bay are fifth, but fell to a two goal defeat at Sittingbourne. Both goals came after the break, Joshua Oliver and Ben Fitchett scoring a minute after the restart and a minute before the end as the Brickies climb to fourteenth. Our image comes from Jace Parkes.

Faversham Town got themselves a new manager- read more about that later- and three points, Luke Griffiths getting the only goal of the game at East Grinstead Town, whilst Burgess Hill Town saw their new manager Jay Lovett celebrate his first league match in charge with three points and three goals, the Hillians defeating Guernsey three-nil. Pat Harding scored the first just after the half hour, and two late strikes from Aaron Smith-Joseph sealed victory.

Finally, Whyteleafe will be kicking themselves after getting only a point a Hythe Town. Emmanuel Mensah and Bentley Graham put the visitors two goals up after only ten minutes, and by that point their hosts were down to ten men, too- Callum Adonis-Taylor getting his marching orders. The ten remaining Cannons didn’t give up, however, and two goals in four second half minutes through Alex Flisher and Jamie Coyle earned them a point.