No North Cup wins- but the hopes of four remain alive

Emirates FA Cup

Brentwood Town hoped to pull off a giant killing, as Pitching In Southern Premier Leiston headed to the Arena, the visitors hoping to defeat a second North Division side in a row after knocking Waltham Abbey out in the last round. Leiston went ahead on six minutes, an own goal doing the damage, but the scorer of that own goal, Toby Stevenson, scored in the correct net on the half hour to bring his side level. Leiston regained their lead just before the hour, but a minute from time Lee Noble levelled for the Blues, who have a replay in Suffolk to look forward to. Noble picked up Man of the Match- and he's pictured above. 

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. 

Gorleston had seen their fine start to the season come to an end over the last week, with two defeats following their initial six wins, and hoped to get back to winning ways as Barking travelled to the seaside. It was the Essex Senior League side who went ahead, however, on eleven minutes, and they added a second just after the half hour. The Greens got a goal back eight minutes into the second half, Harry Black the scorer, and they drew level eleven minutes from time, Adam Tann equalising. There will be a replay in midweek. 

Haringey Borough had been magnificent in the Cups but terrible in the League, whilst their opponents, Witham Town, had just been superb since the season started. The two sides met at Coles Park, and Witham looked to have won when Josh Osude's goal two minutes from time put them ahead- but ELEVEN minutes into added time Alaa Outdo equalised for the hosts, and they’ll have to meet again. Image from Nigel Hakes- more here.

Our North Division champions Lowestoft Town, these days in Pitching In Southern Premier Central, were the hosts for North Division newcomers Newmarket Town. Lowestoft went ahead on sixteen minutes, and doubled their lead eleven minutes into the second half- and soon there was a third, and a fourth, before the Jockeys got one back, Jose Santa De La Paz with the consolation. It wasn’t much of a consolation as the Trawler Boys added a fifth just before the end, but they did pull it back to five-two, Stan Leech scoring from the spot.

We had an Essex derby as Tilbury looked to overcome the challenge of National League South side Chelmsford City. It was the visitors who went ahead nine minutes before half time, and within four minutes they’d added a second to make it a long way back for the Dockers. They couldn’t find a goal, and the Clarets go through. 

Pitching In Isthmian North

We had a top two battle as our one hundred percenters Basildon United welcomed Bury Town- and the Bees faithful hoped their side was on the way to their sixth win from six when Darren Esuka put them ahead on seven minutes. They’d have been even more thrilled when the visitors went down to ten men seven minutes later, Ryan Horne seeing red for the second time this season, but it was the visiting fans who were celebrating five minutes before half time, Ethan Mayhew equalising. Neither side could find a goal in the second half, so one-one was the final score. 

Brightlingsea Regent played host to Mildenhall Town, and the visitors went ahead on twenty minutes, Thomas Newman with the opening goal of the afternoon. It got worse for Regent, a red card for Charlie Durling ten minutes later, and Hall clinched the points when Jarid Robson scored their second from the spot twelve minutes from time. In the last minute Regent had another read card, Charlie Collis taking a slightly early shower, and there was still time for Robson to add a third. Hall are ninth. 

Concord Rangers and Walthamstow delivered a goalless first half, and- it seemed- a goalless second half. The first moment of excitement was a red card for the Beachboys Amine Sassi sixteen minutes from time, so it looked like advantage Stow, but the ten men broke the deadlock in the ninetieth minute, Anisius Lewis with the goal- and the points. 

Heybridge Swifts took only twelve minutes to take the lead against Waltham Abbey, Scott Sloots opening the scoring, but the Abbotts hit back just before the break, Prince Domafriyie getting the equaliser three minutes into added time. Twelve minutes from time the visitors got a penalty, and once again it was Domafriyie who found the net- and this time it was the winner. The Abbotts are seventh. 

Wroxham was the destination for Redbridge, the Yachtsmen welcoming the Motormen, and it was the mechanised half of that duo who took the lead on thirty two minutes, Tendi Quamina with the goal. The hosts levelled with ten minutes to go, Jordan King bringing them level, and that was how the match ended. Redbridge are fourth.