Brickies slay yet another giant!

We’ve reached the Fourth Round of the FA Trophy, and our only remaining side, South East leaders Sittingbourne, were looking to slay another giant as Salisbury made the trip to Kent. The Brickies had already defeated one National League South side, demolishing Enfield Town in the last round, and were hoping to add their visitors to a giant killing list that already included Dover Athletic (twice), Bognor Regis Town and Winchester City. They also had a twenty three match unbeaten run in all competitions to defend. 

It took forty nine minutes for the opening goal to arrive, and it went to the Brickies, Richie Hamill making the breakthrough. That left them a rather long time to hold on- but they did more than hold on, they scored again, two minutes into added time, Henry Sinai making it two-nil. Seven minutes into added time the visitors scored from the spot- but the Brickies held on, another giant removed from the competition, and are now in the last sixteen! 

Back in Pitching In Isthmian South East, Ramsgate headed to Three Bridges knowing that victory would take them back to the top- and given this was their game in hand over the Brickies it was rather important that they won it! They had a fine start, and it was only five minutes before Josh Ajax’s fifth of the season gave them the lead. An own goal made it two-nil twelve minutes later, and on the stroke of half time the visitors had a third. You don’t really need us to tell you who scored it, but we have to, it’s the law, so that was Joe Taylor’s thirty fifth of the season! 

Twelve minutes from time Aaron Barnes made it four-nil, and in added time Jay Leader added a fifth, the Rams back to the summit. 

Margate, with only one league defeat all season, started the day eight points behind the leaders but protecting a fourteen match unbeaten run, Merstham the latest side to travel to Hartsdown Park intent on ending their hosts unbeaten home record. The first half was goalless, but Gate went ahead ten minutes into the second, Kai Garande, who scored their winner at Herne Bay on New Years Day, hoping that his second goal of the season brought a similar outcome. On this occasion, however, it didn’t- the Moatsiders levelled three minutes from time, Aaron Jenkins earning them a point. 

Burgess Hill Town, in fifth, headed to Deal Town. The Hillians had opened up a three point lead over sixth place Sheppey United, with Deal another place- and five points- further back- and it seemed that gap might become even bigger as Ben Pope put the visitors ahead with only eleven minutes on the clock. On twenty four minutes Bobby Price made it two, and that was the score at half time, but the hosts quickly got a goal back in the early stages of the second half, Alfie Foster the scorer. Hill weren’t happy with that and soon added a third, Stefan Vukojie restoring their two goal lead, and just before the hour it was four-one, Pope with his second of the afternoon. On sixty eight minutes Vukojie joined his team mate on a brace, and made it five-one, but the hosts got another eight minutes from time, Archie Hatcher the scorer. A minute from time Deal brought it back to three-five, Morgan Page with that one, but that was as good as it got for the hosts. Hill go fourth- six points clear of the chasing pack. 

Image of travelling Hill fans from Colin Bowman.

Bottom side Steyning Town Community, eight points from safety, were the hosts for eighth place Ashford United. The travelling Nuts and Bolts found themselves five points away from the top five but very much on the up after only two defeats from ten, but they had a rather poor first half and the Barrowmen, or particularly Harvey Killick, took advantage- scoring on thirty seven and forty five minutes to give his side a two-nil lead at the break. Whatever was said in the United changing room at half time, it worked, as Preston Kedwell came out firing, and scored two goals in two minutes- the forty eight and forty ninth minutes of the match- to draw the visitors level. The hosts weren’t too downhearted, however, and five minutes from time Lucas Murrain restored their lead- and this time they held it, a first win since September 28th for Town. They stay bottom, but the gap between the, and safety reduces to a more manageable five points. 

Eastbourne Town, in twelfth, welcomed Lancing for a Sussex seaside derby. Town were four without a win, although they had drawn their previous two; whilst the Lancers climbed out of the bottom four in midweek after hammering Littlehampton Town, and with two defeats from seven looked to be on the up. After a goalless first half the hosts made the breakthrough in the early stages of the second, Nathan Hover’s who scored two last Saturday- getting to practice his celebration once more. Twenty one minutes from time Hover’s celebration got yet another airing, two-nil, and although the Lancers got an added time goal, Charlie Gibson with it, that was as good as it got for the visitors. 

Sevenoaks Town, who started the weekend in thirteenth place, hosted third from bottom Phoenix Sports. Sports were four points from safety at kick off but had two wins from their previous three so will have travelled with increased hopes of survival, but they went behind on sixty four minutes, Josh Wisson giving the home fans something to sing about. They were singing once more three minutes later, Warren Mfula making it two-nil, and that was that for goals.