Hornets and City lead the way on a Premier Trophy Saturday

Isuzu FA Trophy First Round

Folkestone Invicta hit the road to Barton Rovers of Pitching In Southern Division One Central. Rovers sit in mid table but were unbeaten in three matches, and had already defeated two Pitching In Isthmian sides this season, Waltham Abbey in the FA Cup and Littlehampton Town in the last round of the Trophy- but Invicta were soon ahead, Tom Derry opening the scoring on twenty minutes. They doubled their advantage with twenty two minutes left, Derry at the double, and in added time got a third, Eze Ebuzoeme making quite sure of victory. 

Potters Bar Town were also on the road, and indeed they are were along the road from Invicta as they took on Biggleswade Town. The Scholars hosts are currently bottom of Pitching In Southern Premier Central, and had won only once in the League so far this season, but they went ahead on sixteen minutes, added a second just before half time, and held on to ensure that Potters Bar departed the competition. 

Bowers and Pitsea welcomed Chatham Town for the second time this season, having already lost two-nil to the Chats at the Len Salmon back in August. Since then neither side had been particularly positive, but the Chats were three unbeaten and went ahead in first half added time, Jack Evans converting from the spot- a red card for the hosts Dexter Peter rubbing salt firmly into the wound. There were no further goals, and the Chats march on. 

Brentwood Town, who knocked out Pitching In Isthmian Premier Cray Wanderers in the last round, were hope to repeat the feat as Cray Valley PM came to call- and complete a Cray ‘double!’ The Blues were six unbeaten, including five wins- and they started superbly, going ahead after just two minutes, Matt Cripps the scorer. It was soon two-nil, Jonathan Nzengo scoring the second four minutes later, but the Millers quickly halved the arrears, Danny Waldren pulling a goal back in the seventh minute. Brentwood added a third five minutes before half time, Jesse Olukolu scoring his fourth of the campaign, but the Millers again quickly struck back, Freddie Parker bringing it back to three-two, and there was still time for an equaliser, scored by Fumnaya Shomotun in first half added time. The second half looked like being goalless, but it wasn’t, as four minutes into added time the Blues claimed that Cray double and defeated a second giant, Romel Aarons Royal with the winner. 

We had an all-Premier clash as Canvey Island welcomed Horsham. The Gulls were victorious on their own patch against Carshalton Athletic in midweek, and had lost only one of their previous five, whilst the Hornets were in fine form, having won six in a row whilst conceding only one goal. The visitors went ahead just before half time, Chris Dickson with the goal, and they were two-nil up eight minutes after the restart, Lucas Rodrigues with that one. That turned out to be that, the Hornets with another knockout success- and a fifth win in a row over the Gulls. 

Dover Athletic and Sittingbourne had already met twice this season, and our Premier leaders were looking for a little revenge having been knocked out of the FA Cup by the South East promotion chasers back in September. Athletic had won their last four and looked consistently impressive of late, but they made their lives difficult, going down to ten men on the quarter hour, Roman Charles-Cook sent off, and the Brickies took advantage, Mitchell May putting them ahead with his seventeenth goal of the season seven minutes before half time. Twelve minutes from time Codey Cosgrave made sure that lightning struck for the second time this season, making it two-nil, and the Brickies magnificent campaign continued with another victory. Athletic must be delighted they won’t have to play the Brickies again this season. 

Another all-Premier clash saw Dulwich Hamlet welcome Hashtag United. Hamlet had lost their last two matches at Champion Hill, and their chances of avoiding another home loss weren’t helped when Toby Aromolaran put the Tags ahead with twenty two minutes remaining. Thaty seemed to be that, but it wasn’t, as six minutes into added time Kreshnic Krasniqi levelled for the hosts, to the relief of most of the one thousand, eight hundred and forty seven in attendance. They weren’t relieved after the resultant shootout, however, as the Tags triumphed five-four. 

Hastings United were on the road to Hadley. The hosts are top of Pitching In Southern Division One Central, had lost only once at home all season, and defeated United’s Premier rivals Carshalton Athletic in the last round, and they went ahead just before the hour- but United were quickly level, Jack Dixon the scorer, and then went ahead, Tommie Fagg making it two-one. The hosts weren’t prepared to put up with that, and quickly scored two of their own to regain the lead, but an own goal with eleven minutes to go drew United level once more and set up a thrilling finale. Three minutes from time Hadley were awarded a penalty, and converted for four-three- and finally, the scoring stopped. 

Hendon had a one hundred percent home record until Tuesday night, when it vanished under a hail of Wingate and Finchley goals, so the Greens were perhaps be glad to be on the road, taking on Hanwell Town. Hendon were three unbeaten on the road, but they went behind on thirteen minutes against the Geordies and fell two behind just before half time. It was three-nil on sixty four minutes, four on seventy one, and there was still time for a fifth as the Geordies marched on. A week to forget for the Greens, who have seen it disappear under a hail of goals. 

Former Pitching In Isthmian Premier leaders Lewes played host to South East opponents, Ashford United making the trip to the Dripping Pan. The Rooks were unbeaten at home, whilst the Nuts and Bolts seemed to have found form, and were looking for a fourth win in a row- and a fourth win in a row against Sussex opposition! United broke the deadlock just before the half hour, an own goal doing the damage, and six minutes into the second half they scored one for themselves, Gary Lockyer taking his tally to fourteen for the season. Giant killing confirmed? Not just yet, as ten minutes from time Shae Hutchinson got one back, and in added time at the end Alfie Allen equalised for the hosts. Off we went to a shootout, and the Rooks triumphed eight-seven. 

Chichester City had perhaps the longest journey of the weekend, as they travelled to Plymouth Parkway. City had lost their last three in League and County Cup but were in good form prior to that, whilst their Pitching In Southern Premier hosts are second from bottom with only one league win all season. City opened the scoring just before half time, Emmett Dunn with the opener, and just after the hour made it two, Isaac Bello with his fourth of the season. On seventy two minutes Curtis Da Costa made it three-nil, and seven minutes from time Jimmy Wild’s twelfth of the season (pictured, Neil Holmes) made it four and confirmed a fine victory for our visitors. 

Pitching In Isthmian Premier

Cheshunt, under new management, had won three in a row as Cray Wanderers came to call, whilst the visitors were without a league win since the opening day of the season, so the odds favoured the Ambers- but as it turned out, the odds were wrong. The only goal of the game arrived thirteen minutes from time, and it went to Charlie Edwards, a result which lifts Wands off the bottom and to within two points of safety.