Isthmian League round-up: Mixed fortunes for FA Cup stars as Ramsgate and Cray Valley win but Sheppey lose their unbeaten record | Chatham consolidate second spot in the Premier Division
Published: 18:37, 21 October 2023
Updated: 07:52, 23 October 2023
Two of Isthmian South East’s FA Cup headline-makers picked up away wins in the league.
Ramsgate won 2-0 at Broadbridge Heath thanks to a pair of Joe Taylor penalties, while Kyrell Lisbie’s double and goals from Freddie Parker and Calvin Ekpiteta led Cray Valley to a 4-0 success at East Grinstead.
But Sheppey, who joined Rams and the Millers in the FA Cup First Round with their midweek penalty shoot-out victory over Billericay, lost their unbeaten league record.
Jacob Lambert gave the Ites a half-time lead at home to Horndean but they found themselves 3-1 down before Richie Hamill’s penalty consolation at the death.
Herne Bay moved up to third place after coming from behind three times to draw at Beckenham.
Two goals from Michael Salako - including an 84th-minute effort to make it 3-3 - sandwiched Bola Dawodu’s strike.
Ashford made it back-to-back league wins with a 3-2 success against Merstham.
Danny Parish put the Nuts & Bolts in front in what’s expected to be the final game in their temporary home ground at Chatham.
They trailed by half-time but Vance Bola made it 2-2 and Parish grabbed the winner - his sixth goal of the season - with eight minutes remaining.
Hythe drew 2-2 at home to Burgess Hill.
Jake Embery and Ethan Smith scored three minutes apart as the Cannons came from a goal down to lead 2-1 but the Hillians took a point with 13 minutes left.
Michael Sarpong pulled a goal back as Phoenix Sports lost 2-1 at home to Lancing.
Sittingbourne’s top-of-the-table game at Chichester and Sevenoaks’ trip to Erith & Belvedere were postponed.
Chatham consolidated second place in the Isthmian Premier with a 3-1 victory at struggling Concord.
The Beachboys were two divisions above the Chats last season but how times change.
Tommie Fagg set the visitors on their way and while the hosts levelled, Jamie Yila’s penalty and a last-minute Ben Allen goal settled the match.
Steve Cawley’s 93rd-minute strike rescued a point for Margate at home to Hashtag United.
The visitors led at half-time but Cawley’s late effort meant it finished 1-1.
Folkestone lost 3-0 away to a Kingstonian side who started the day in the relegation zone.
Ellis Brown’s 79th-minute leveller saw Cray Wanderers draw 1-1 at Potters Bar.
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Craig Tucker