FA Cup preliminary round: Larkfield & New Hythe strike twice in added time; Joe Taylor scores four in Ramsgate romp; Ben Greenhalgh and Mitchell May with hat-tricks as Margate and Sittingbourne advance
Published: 21:06, 17 August 2024
Updated: 21:07, 17 August 2024
FA Cup new boys Larkfield & New Hythe march on after scoring twice in injury time to reach the first qualifying round.
The Southern Counties East Premier Division outfit beat Lingfield 3-1 in Saturday’s preliminary round tie thanks to last-gasp goals from Chibueze Innocent and Bryan Zepo.
Danny Lye’s side, new to the competition this season, took an early lead through Jack Clark but the tie looked set to go to a replay after Ousmane Dansoko’s equaliser.
But the Larks kept going and got their rewards to build on their extra preliminary round win of a fortnight ago.
Mitchell May scored twice in injury time to complete his hat-trick and send Isthmian South East Sittingbourne through to the next round.
Boss Ryan Maxwell made his side underdogs against a Farnham team who won their league last season without losing a game.
The Brickies led inside three minutes through Liam Smith and while Jack Dean levelled, May made it 2-1 from the penalty spot in the second half.
Back came the hosts, with Kai Tanner equalising, but May’s late double settled an entertaining tie.
There was also late drama at Martyn Grove where Lordswood beat Shoreham 3-1.
Elliott Daly’s own goal and a 90th-minute Elliott Duncan strike gave the SCEFL side a 2-0 lead.
The visitors replied in the second minute of added time to set up a tense finish but Harry Fleming made sure for the hosts.
Joe Taylor scored four times as Ramsgate, who reached the second round last season, beat Southall 5-0 at home.
The striker’s first-half double put Rams in charge and he completed his hat-trick in the 84th minute.
Summer signing Tushaun Walters extended the lead before Taylor struck again deep into added time.
Player-boss Ben Greenhalgh scored a hat-trick as Margate beat 10-man Loxwood 4-0 at Hartsdown Park.
Lukas Franzen-Jones gave the Gate an early lead, with Greenhalgh scoring his first from the penalty spot before half-time.
He struck again midway through the second half and completed his treble in added time.
Sheppey returned to FA Cup action after last season’s run to the first round with a 3-0 win at North Greenford.
All the goals came in the second half, with Dan Bradshaw, Jacob Lambert and Hanson Itauma the scorers.
Punjab United came from a goal down to win 2-1 at Rusthall in an all-SCEFL tie.
Charlie Clover put the hosts in front but Cruis Nyadzayo and Hudson Scudders turned the tie on its head.
Corinthian also went through from the SCEFL, with Frederick Aikon, Mefose Esumobi and Oscar Housego’s penalty earning a 3-1 success over Camberley.
Herne Bay battled back from 2-0 down to force a replay at Rayners Lane.
Michael Salako launched the fightback early in the second half and Monty Saunders scored an 89th-minute equaliser.
Gary Lockyer levelled in the 79th-minute equaliser as Ashford United earned a 1-1 draw at Harrow Borough.
Deal Town lost 2-0 at Haywards Heath with the hosts’ goals coming in a five-minute spell midway through the second half.
Sevenoaks are also out after a 2-0 home defeat by a Leatherhead side who struck twice in three minutes during the first half.
Harry Taylor scored again but Erith Town lost 2-1 at Merstham.
VCD conceded three times in the first half of their 4-0 defeat at AFC Croydon.
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Craig Tucker