Horsham slay another giant- whilst Dover hold onto their three point lead

Isuzu FA Trophy

Chichester City welcomed neighbours and National League South opponents in the shape of Worthing. City were in good form until their hammering at the hands of Hashtag United last weekend, and they went ahead on twenty three minutes, Ethan Pritchard with the opener- but a familiar face brought the visitors quickly level, Mo Faal with the equaliser for the Mackerel Men, and the same player put the visitors ahead seven minutes into the second half. Ten minutes from time City were level once more, Emmett Dunn the scorer, but with only three minutes left the visitors sadly found a winner. One thousand one hundred crammed into Oaklands Park. 

Folkestone Invicta took on a bunch of Geordies, Pitching In Southern Premier side Hanwell Town making the trip to the seaside. The Geordies currently sit in fourteenth place but had lost only one of their previous five matches- and had hit Hendon for five in the last round. That was their second cup tie against an Isthmian side this season, as they hammered Sheppey United six-nil in the FA Cup in early September, and they won this one, too, goals on fifty eight and ninety plus five minutes sending them through, two-nil.

Horsham had been magnificent in knockout competitions and pretty good on their own patch, whilst struggling away from home. On that note they’ll have been glad to be hosting Maidstone United, the National League South draw specialists, rather than travelling to Kent- and will have been confident as they’d won their last six home matches without conceding a goal. That confidence quickly shone through as Daniel Ajakaiye opened the scoring after just two minutes, and sixteen minutes from time Reece Myles-Meekums made it two. United got a late consolation, but the Hornets latest cup run continued with yet another giant departure! Image from John Lines- more here.

Lewes were unbeaten at home in League,Trophy and County Cup, their only defeat at the Pan coming on penalties in the FA Cup on September 3rd, but sadly they suffered a second home defeat against AFC Totton of Pitching In Southern Premier. The travelling Stags had only lost two games in all competitions all season, and they were a little too strong for the Rooks, making a breakthrough nine minutes into the second half and clinching victory with a second just before the end. One thousand, two hundred and fifty nine were in attendance. 

Chatham Town were on the road to Berkshire, where they took on Slough Town. The Chats took a nine match unbeaten record with them, but knew exactly the challenge they were up against as Slough knocked them out of the FA Cup in September, a comfortable three-nil win at the Bauvill. The hosts had lost only once at home this season, but they were behind on twenty minutes, Jordy Mongoy putting the Chats ahead. A red card for Jamie Yila on the hour made their task more difficult, but another for the hosts twelve minutes from time made it ten v ten. Right at the end, indeed in added time, the Chats had victory snatched from them as the hosts got an equaliser. Off we went to penalties, and Slough sadly triumphed, four-two. 

Hashtag United welcome Brackley Town on Sunday.

Premier

We had a reduced Premier fixture list because of the FA Trophy, but we still had four of the top five in action. 

Leaders Dover Athletic hosted a seaside derby, Canvey Island the visitors. Due to their superior goal difference and a three point lead, we knew that Athletic would be top on Saturday evening whatever happened, but after winning five of their previous six, drawing the latest of those in Chatham last weekend, the hosts were rather keen on getting back to winning ways. The travelling Gulls weren’t in bad form either, with four wins from their previous six, and they silenced the home faithful on ten minutes, Elliott Ronto giving them the lead. There was rather more noise just before half time as Ruben Soares Junior drew the hosts level with his tenth goal of the season, but on fifty seven minutes Ronto struck again to restored the Gulls advantage. On seventy two minutes Athletic were level once more, Alfie Matthews the scorer, and suddenly the turnaround was complete, George Nikaj making it three-two only two minutes later, with his fifteenth goal of the season. That was how it ended, Athletic remaining three points clear. 

Second place Cray Valley PM travelled to Hastings United. The Millers were six unbeaten in the League, with four wins, and have had a magnificent start to their first season at Step Three. United had won only two of their last ten league matches, but had won three in a row at home in League and Cups so will have been hopeful of making that four- however the breakthrough, when it arrived, went to the Millers, Michael Ademiluyi scoring twenty minutes from time. One goal was all it took, and Cray Valley stay second- and keep Dover in their sights. 

Wingate and Finchley, in third, were also on the Sussex coast, as they travelled to Whitehawk. The Blues surprisingly lost against North Division Tilbury in the Velocity Cup in midweek, but had won five of six prior to that, whilst their hosts were in terrible shape, second from bottom and without a League win since mid September- the last seven matches had brought them two points and seen them score only one goal. Wingate gave the Hawks the Blues on fifty minutes, Zack Newton, who used to play along the road in Worthing, opening the scoring- and they added a second fifteen minutes later, Ogo Obi’s sixteenth of the campaign. The goals stopped there, and the Blues stayed third- the Hawks slipping to the bottom. 

Billericay Town saw their unbeaten record depart at Carshalton last weekend, a result which also saw them drop down the table, and they headed into their home match against Bowers and Pitsea five points behind the leaders and in fifth place. The Blues problem this season hadn’t been defeats but draws, fifty percent of their matches ending level, but that had been less of a problem at New Lodge so they will have expected to get back to winning ways, particularly given that Bowers have only won one league match on the road. Billericay took the lead just before the hour, Moses Emmanuel scoring from the spot, and doubled that lead with twenty one minutes left, Ashley Nzala taking his tally for the season up to seven. With six minutes remaining Jacob Bland halved the arrears for Bowers, but that was as good as it got for the visitors, who slip to twentieth. Billericay are fourth. 

Potters Bar Town, who started the weekend in eighth, hoped to get back to winning ways as they entertained third bottom Cray Wanderers. The Scholars were on their worst run of the campaign, having gone four without a win in the league, and they fell behind in this one in first half added time, Nyren Clunis opening the scoring for Wands. The visitors had picked up more points away from home than at their own Flamingo Park this season, and they showed why by doubling their advantage six minutes into the second half, Josh Williams scoring from the spot. Clunis made it three with eleven minutes left to end the hopes of the home fans, and it was a rout when Wands added a fourth in added time, Kenny Coker rounding off a fine afternoon. They climb to sixteenth. 

Carshalton Athletic looked to be on the up. The Robins came from behind to inflict a first League defeat of the season on Billericay Town last weekend, and on Monday came from behind again to inflict a Cup defeat on Croydon Athletic, ending another long unbeaten run in the process. They travelled to a side who would love an unbeaten run, Bognor Regis Town. The Rocks, bottom of the table, had lost six of their previous seven in the League, but they made the breakthrough six minutes before half time as Tommy-Lee Higgs, undoubtedly the success story of their campaign so far, scored his eleventh goal of the season- this one from the spot. The Robins were level just before the hour, the familiar name of Tommy Bradford appearing on the scoresheet, and that was that. Bognor climb off the bottom, Athletic are up to seventh.