Chats and Hornets slay giants

Margate travelled from one seaside to another to take on Bognor Regis Town in an early kick off. Gate, of course these days a South East club, have had a fine start to their season, and travelled to Sussex on the back of three successive wins and unbeaten all season- and they had a fine start, Lewis Knight putting them ahead after just four minutes. On nineteen minutes the visitors had another, Ibrahim Olutade doubling their advantage, and Olutade added a third seven minutes from half time leaving the home faithful rather shellshocked. Four minutes from time Bognor’s humiliation was complete, as Gate player-boss Ben Greenhalgh added a fourth. 

Bowers and Pitsea saw Biggleswade Town travel to the Len Salmon, both teams having had a stuttering start to their campaigns. Bowers had a stuttering start to this match, too, falling behind on two minutes, but they levelled six minutes from time, Jacob Bland the scorer, but there was still time for a sting in the tail, Town scoring a winner a minute from time. 

Canvey Island and Felixstowe and Walton United contested an Essex derby, and initially neither side could find a goal- until the seventy fourth minute, Finlay Dorrell scoring for the Gulls. The same player quickly added a second, and the Gulls progress. Credit to Gulls keeper Bobby Mason, who saved a first half penalty. 

Carshalton Athletic were the hosts for South Park Reigate. The Sparks defeated a giant in the last round- and indeed another set of Robins, Bracknell Town- and are unbeaten in the league, so we thought they’d be a test for Athletic, but the new set of Robins went ahead on seventeen minutes, Tommy Bradford with the opening goal. That turned out to be the only goal, the Robins through to the next round. 

Chichester City were at home to National League South promotion chasers Slough Town, and Jimmy Wild sent the home fans…crazy on thirty six minutes, putting City ahead with his eighth goal of the season, a goal which took his scoring streak to six consecutive matches. Town levelled eleven minutes into the second half, and there was heartbreak just before the end when the visitors got what looked to be a winner- but as it turned out, it wasn’t! Two minutes into added time Ethan Pritchard found an equaliser, and they’ll need to do it all again in midweek. Image from Neil Holmes. 

Cray Valley PM saw a five match winning streak come to an end at Whitehawk last weekend, and had a big test as they looked to get back to winning ways, Chesham United of National League South their visitors. After a goalless first half the Millers went down to ten men early in the second half, Hassan Ibrahiym picking up a second yellow, and within three minutes United were ahead. The visitors added a second fourteen minutes from time, and there will be no FA Cup adventure for the Millers this season. 

An all-Premier- and another early kick off- tie saw Cray Wanderers host Wingate and Finchley, and it took seventy five minutes for a goal to arrive. When it arrived it went to the hosts, David Ijaha scoring it- and it looked like it was a winner, however three minutes into added time an Ogo Obi spot kick earned the visitors a replay. 

Dartford looked to get back to winning ways as South Central side Leatherhead came to call. The Tanners knocked Premier opposition out in the last round- Dulwich Hamlet- so were confident of doing the same again, but the Darts struck early, Callum Jones putting them ahead on six minutes. Darts striker Eddie Dsane used to play for Leatherhead, but he made the Tanners fans miserable when doubling the lead three minutes before half time, and that was how it ended. 

Hastings United were at Pilot Field, with Harefield United, Combined Counties North victors over Lewes in the last round, trying to slay a second Sussex Isthmian giant. The match looked as if it was going to a replay, but United decided otherwise, and five minutes into added time Davide Rodari finally broke the deadlock to send them through. 

South East Herne Bay welcomed Premier Hendon to the seaside- but the Greens weren’t allowed to enjoy themselves, Artem Kuchkov putting Bay ahead on twenty nine minutes. Eight minutes into the second half the hosts had another, Scott Heard doubling their advantage, and when Michael Salako scored a third ten minutes from time we knew the green giants weren’t all that jolly. 

Hashtag United had familiar hosts, our reigning champions Hornchurch their destination. The Urchins went ahead midway through the second half, and just before the break added a second. The Tags pulled a goal back twenty minutes from time, Quba Gordon the scorer, but they couldn’t find an equaliser. 

On their way to the FA Cup Second Round last season, Horsham defeated National League Premier side Dorking Wanderers, and Wanderers, these days of National League South, stood in their way once more. The opening goal arrived with only six minutes remaining, and it came to the Hornets, Chris Dickson ensuring that Wanderers wandered back up the A24 miserable for a second year in a row. 

Cheshunt were off to Kings Lynn Town, their hosts currently in ninth place in National League North. The Ambers gave a good account of themselves but fell behind with twenty two minutes left, and that turned out to be that. 

National League South side Welling United were the hosts for a Kent derby, Chatham Town making the trip. The Chats went ahead on twenty three minutes, Freddie Sears the scorer, and they held on to slay that giant.