Sparks slay giants!

On Friday evening Hanworth Villa welcomed Walton & Hersham in a Replay of our 22-23 South Central Play Off Final. The Villains had been in fine form, scoring thirteen goals in five matches across League and Cup, and perhaps had revenge on their minds, whilst the Swans are in second place in Pitching In Southern Premier South, and had won four in a row. After a goalless first half we had an action packed second. The visitors went ahead on fifty three minutes and added a second nine minutes later, but then the Villains awoke and within six minutes were level, Finlay Mcnab and Sam Merson with the goals, and then six minutes after their equaliser went ahead, Macnab once more. With eight minutes to go a famous victory was snatched from their grasp, Walton with an equaliser- and they’ll need to replay in midweek. Five hundred and fifty four watched on. 

Ashford Town welcomed Herne Bay to the edge of the airport. The Tangerines hadn’t managed to pick up a league point so far, but had been much more successful in the Cup having defeated Northwood and Uxbridge to reach this stage- but that success came to an end. Bay had defeated South Central opposition in the last round, Rayners Lane departing the competition after a replay, and they did the same again- only this time without a replay. Both of their goals arrived in the first half, Frankie Smith opening the scoring on ten minutes, Michael Salako’s fourth of the season making it two nine minutes before the break. 

Badshot Lea were the hosts to high-flying Premier Division side Cray Valley PM. The Millers had won four in a row, so were hot favourites, and they came through this latest challenge by three goals to one, but they had to work hard. Adam Coombes put them ahead on ten minutes, and when Arthur Lee doubled their advantage with twenty five minutes to go it looked as if that was that, but right at the end the Baggies got a goal back, Derek Luzinda the scorer. There was still time for the visitors to reestablish that two goal advantage, however, Hassan Ibrahiym making it three-one. 

Bracknell Town, in eighth place in Pitching In Southern Premier South, played host to South Park Reigate- and our Sparks delivered a giant killing! The only goal of the game arrived on twenty five minutes, and it went to Tom Smith, the Sparks holding on for victory. 

Raynes Park Vale were making a familiar trip, as they took on our South Central champions from last season, Chertsey Town. The Curfews went two up within the first ten minutes, but Vale hit back, Olly Sotoyinbo and Jake Gallagher ensuring that they were level at the break. Sadly fourteen minutes from time the hosts got a third, and this time there was no way back.

Dulwich Hamlet took on Leatherhead at Champion Hill, and continued their unbeaten home record- but will have to travel to Fetcham Grove in midweek as the Tanners gave them an almighty scare. Hamlet went ahead ten minutes before half time, Jerome Binnom-Williams with the opener, but a second half double for Sebastian Karczewski put the visitors in control with twenty two minutes remaining. Six minutes from time the majority of the one thousand, two hundred and seventy in attendance breathed a sigh of relief, Anthony Jeffrey with the equaliser. 

Kingstonian welcomed Chichester City to Raynes Park. It still seemed rather surreal to think that a home win would have actually been a giantkilling, which perhaps exemplified the change in fortunes for both clubs of late, but the K’s lost this match in the first half, and conceded four goals for the second match in a row. Joe Clarke, Jimmy Wild and Rob Hutchins made it three-nil within twenty three minutes, Wild added another just before the break, and an Alex Kelly goal seventeen minutes from time was as good as it got for the hosts.

Lordswood of the SCEFL have had a fine start to the season, winning six of their seven matches in all competitions, so we thought that visitors Binfield might have to work hard for victory. The Moles had scored twelve FA Cup goals so far this season- nine in the last round- but departed the competition despite taking a fourteenth minute lead through Mitchell Parker, as they hosts got three in the second half. 

Margate welcomed Hayes & Yeading United in a South East v South Central clash. Gate had started their South East tenure with three draws, and they’d also had three clean sheets in four matches - and now they have four in five, but they’ll have to travel to West London in midweek as there were no goals at the other end, either! United had scored twelve goals in their previous four matches- perhaps they’d used up their ration for August.

South Central side Westfield welcomed Premier promotion hopefuls Chatham Town. The Woking side have had a fine start to the campaign, unbeaten and having scored ten goals as they’ve won their last three, so were confident- but two second half goals saw the Chats through, Bailey Akehurst and Freddie Sears on fifty and sixty minutes winning the game for the visitors, 

South Central

Harrow Borough have had a fine start to the season, and they made it four wins from four by hammering Met Police at Imber Court. The scoreline may be a little misleading, however, as despite their four-one victory two of the goals arrived in added time. It looked positive for the boys in blue when Sidney Gbla gave them an eighth minute lead, but Borough were level five minutes later, Mack Miskin with the equaliser, and finally got themselves in front when Leo Sery scored from the spot with twenty three minutes left. At two-one Met still had hope, but Borough had sub Jordan Hamilton-Olise, and in added time he added two more to seal victory and take the summit. 

Rayners Lane were playing their first league match since opening day, having played three FA Cup and one FA Trophy matches as well as their draw at Westfield. They were hosting Southall, The All looking for a first win of the season. The visitors went ahead on five minutes, Brendan Matthew with the goal, but Lane levelled eight minutes before half time, Makael Scott with the equaliser- and that turned out to be that. 

Moneyfields had also only played one league match, and their second posed a big test, Farnham Town making the trip to Portsmouth. The Moneys started the day still looking for a first League point, and they ended the day the same way, as irresistible Town hit them for five- the same number they scored in their opening day win over Badshot Lea. Darryl Sanders and Adam Liddle made it two-nil at the break, and within four minutes of the restart Owen Dean had added a third. Just after the hour mark Jordan Stepney made it four, and it was five goals and five different scorers when Shay Brennan added the final goal of the match eighteen minutes from time. 

Ascot United hosted Sutton Common Rovers, a mid table battle, both sides having taken four points from their first three matches. One of them has now taken that total to seven, and it was the hosts, who took the lead midway through the first half through Anas Igozouln and got the winner fourteen minutes from time, Liam Tack with the goal, after Tyrese Osbourne had earlier levelled for Rovers. That’s the Yellas first win over these opponents, after Rovers took four points from their meetings last season.