Margate and Bay slay giants!

Emirates FA Cup

Ashford United welcomed Corinthian to Homelands, the Nuts and Bolts hoping to bounce back after midweek defeat. They got the opening goal two minutes before the break, Mikey Berry making it one-nil, and when Louis Collins made it two with twenty six minutes left the home fans were able to relax a little. They were certainly able to chill when Gary Lockyer made it three, his eighth of the season- seven in the Cup- and that was that, United easing through. 

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. 

Burgess Hill Town were back at Leylands Park, the Hillians with Combined Counties North opposition, Amersham Town heading down the Metropolitan Line. The visitors have had a good start to the season, winning four of their five league matches and progressing through three rounds to reach this stage, but Hill had five wins in a row so would have been confident- although that confidence may have taken a hit when Amersham went ahead on fifteen minutes. Hill were soon level, Hamish Morrison with the equaliser six minutes later, but the visitors quickly restored their lead. Seven minutes from time Dan Hitman Perry equalised for Hill, and it looked as if a replay was calling, but no- seven minutes into added time the visitors struck again to take victory. 

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. 

Stars of the BBC iPlayer, Sittingbourne travelled to SCEFL side Lordswood to play in front of a potential tv audience of millions. The Brickies made the breakthrough just after the hour mark, Henry Sinai heading home the opening goal. That turned out to be that, and the Brickies are through to the Third Qualifying Round for the first time in ten years. 

We had an all South East tie as Ramsgate played host to Broadbridge Heath. The Rams had won eight matches in a row coming into this one, whilst the Bears travelled on the back of a five match unbeaten run which included four victories. There were only fourteen minutes left when the match got its first goal, Tushaun Walters the scorer for the hosts, and that turned out to be its only goal. 

Merstham had National League South opposition, travelling to take on Tonbridge Angels at Longmead. The last time the two sides met was in the Premier Play Off Final of 2018-19, the hosts victorious- but of course having to win yet another Play Off Final to actually gain promotion that year. Merstham had actually defeated Angels at Longmead earlier that season, but knew it would be something of a shock if they did it again, these days with two Divisions between the sides. Angels went ahead in nine minutes, and added a second four minutes into the second half, but the Moatsiders had hope when Harry Ponting got a goal back fourteen minutes from time. Sadly the equaliser didn’t arrive, and Angels progress. 

Pitching In Isthmian South East

With leaders Ramsgate in cup action, second place Beckenham Town knew that a win would take them top- but they had difficult game in prospect, fifth place Deal Town their hosts- and the opening stages made their challenge even larger, Macca Murray putting Deal ahead from the spot on seven minutes. Ten minutes into the second half Becks levelled, Jack Holland with the equaliser, and with twenty minutes left the visitors completed the turnaround, Tyler Anderson putting them ahead. That was that, Becks go first. 

Erith Town hoped to leap into the top five with victory over AFC Croydon Athletic, and they had a good start, Ollie Milton scoring after just seven minutes. The Dockers quickly added a second, Harry Taylor eight minutes later, and a third from James Dyer just before the hour left them home and dry. Town are fourth. 

Hythe Town ended a four match losing streak with victory over Herne Bay in midweek, and the Cannons looked to build on that as they travelled to Sevenoaks Town. Oaks, on the wrong end of a seven goal thriller in midweek, were looking for a first league win since opening day, and they got it, but they left it late. The winner arrived five minutes from time, Ayo Majekodunmi with the only goal of the game- which sent the Oaks up to ninth. 

Three Bridges and Littlehampton Town both found themselves in the bottom four at kick off, and they were playing their Sussex derby in Kent, at the home of Chatham Town. The Golds made the breakthrough on seven minutes, Scott Faber with the opening goal, but Archie Burnett levelled from the spot eleven minutes before the break. Within six minutes Bridges were ahead, Nodirbek Bobomurodov with their second, but the visitors levelled from the spot with twenty one minutes left, Jordan Layton keeping his cool, and then turned the game on its head by scoring a third, Scott Faber leaving Bridges with twenty three minutes to find an equaliser. They couldn’t get one, and are twentieth, whilst Town climb to seventeenth. 

Phoenix Sports, still looking for a first win in any competition this season, were at home to East Grinstead Town- and they took the lead just before the hour, Ross Obazee scoring on his debut. The Wasps hit back with twenty three minutes left, Matt Daniel with the equaliser, and eleven minutes later it got even worse for the hosts, Matthew Weaire putting the visitors in front. The Wasps held on for three points, and are seventh.