Moles slay a giant- and Tangerines hit five

In the Velocity Cup Quarter Final Pitching In Isthmian Premier strugglers Hastings United welcomed South Central side Binfield. The Moles had been on the road in each of the previous three rounds, and defeated Badshot Lea, Dulwich Hamlet and Harrow Borough to reach this stage- and now they are through to the Semi-Final after inflicting even more misery on their hosts. United have been particularly poor at home- five defeats from their last six league matches at Pilot Field perhaps tells that story- and they ended the first half two goals behind, Richard Jones Jr on twenty four minutes and Rahzir Smith-Jones from the spot in added time giving the travelling faithful a boost. Try as they might, Hastings could find no way back, and although they got a consolation, Adam Lovatt’s goal arrived three minutes into added time, and there was little time left for another. 

Many congratulations to the Moles, who are pictured courtesy of the club.

Back to our Pitching In Isthmian South Central action, and Hartley Wintney climbed back into the top five with victory at Raynes Park Vale. The story of the opening stages was two own goals, one at each end, which put Vale ahead on eleven minutes and saw their visitors level a quarter of an hour later, and then, four minutes before half time, the Row scored one of their own, George Wallace putting them two-one up. It was three-one just after the hour, Calvin Camara giving them some comfort, but a goal six minutes from time, a penalty converted by Seanan McKillop, gave the hosts hope and set up a tense end to the game. Hartley Wintney weathered the storm, however, and picked up the points. 

We had a relegation battle as Ashford Town took on Guernsey, and it turned out to be a rather one sided massacre. Both sides were depleted- the Tangerines could only name four subs, the Green Lions just two-  but the hosts were dominant from the off. Town took only four minutes to go ahead, Sam Humphreys the scorer, and it was two-nil eight minutes later, Scott Day doubling the lead. Two minutes into the second half an own goal gave the Tangerines a third, and just after the hour George Vorster made it four. Jayden Porter Atkinson rounded things off with a fifth in added time. 

That result sees Guernsey drop back into the bottom four on goal difference, with Met Police climbing out despite not playing- but the Tangerines are level on points with both sides but behind them on goal difference/goals scored. Indeed, only three points separate seventeenth place South Park Reigate and twenty first place Sutton Common Rovers. 

Leatherhead had to come from behind to defeat Horndean at Fetcham Grove. The Deans broke the deadlock just before the hour courtesy of Adam Payce, but substitute Ruben Bartlett-Antwi became the Tanners match winner. He equalised thirteen minutes from time, and then in added time grabbed a winner. Leatherhead are eleventh, ten points away from the top five, whilst the Deans are sixteenth and without a win in six matches.