Leiston, Sudbury and Bury make FA Cup progress as Needham have to do it all again

First round qualifying Needham Market 1 Stanway Rovers 1

Two teams with difference confidence levels met at Bloomfields, with a draw the final outcome.

Underdogs Stanway put everything into the early stages of the game and they were rewarded on 16 minutes when Josh Neale made the most of Ben Newson’s free-kick to score.

Moments later, Needham got back on terms when good work down the right saw Ollie Brown cross for Sam Newson to control,spin to fire past Dan Heath.

The second half continued to be evenly split, and although Needham had more territorial advantage, Stanway, led by former Needham players, Angelo Harrap and skipper Pip Boyland, were not to be denied their share of the spoils.

Tomorrow night sees the replay at the Hawthorns (kick-off 7.45pm).

AFC Sudbury 3 Hendon 1

AFC Sudbury progressed to the next round of the FA Cup at the expense of their higher-league opponents helped by a brace of goals from Craig Parker, who has taken his goal tally to eight in the last five games.

The home side could not have wished for a better start, taking the lead inside three minutes when Luke Callander gained possession on half way and raced goalwards, shrugging off two defenders before rounding another to fire past Melvin Minter in the Hendon goal. Hendon equalised from the penalty spot after James Baker was adjudged to have tripped Leon Smith, with Aaron Morgan converting.

Sudbury regained the lead against the run of play after 39 minutes when Ben Robinson broke down the right and found Parker who produced a clinical finish.

Hendon were reduced to ten men after 53 minutes when half-time substitute Aryan Tajbakhsh was shown a straight red card when he clashed with Sam Clark.

Four minutes later, Sudbury increased their lead when Callander did well to find Parker who finished well with a side-footed angled shot for his second of the game.

From then on the ten men of Hendon had most of the play but they were unable to beat Ollie Bowles in the home goal who made numerous saves to see his side progress.

Leiston 1 AFC Dunstable 0

Leiston overcame a spirited AFC Dunstable at Victory Road to advance to the second qualifying round of this season’s FA Cup.

Joe Jefford’s header just before half-time was enough for the Ryman Premier League high flyers to see off their opponents from the Spartan South Midlands Premier Division.

The strong Suffolk breeze proved to be a leveller and AFC Dunstable started with real intent, left back Newman Carney delivering some dangerous set pieces into the box.

A first half lacking in too many clear-cut chances was brought to life when Gareth Heath delivered a pin-point free-kick which was met by the head of centre-half Jefford to give the home side the lead at the interval.

The second half proved just as tight as the first, AFC Dunstable having a goal disallowed for offside and Jefford once again going close with a header. Dunstable almost forced an equaliser with the last action of the game, as a low driven effort from outside the box had Jones scrambling low to his left, but the keeper produced a wonderful save.

Bury Town 2 Cockfosters FC 1

Justin Miller’s brace ensured Bury advanced into the FA Cup, against a very competent Cockfosters side.

The Blues got off to a poor start, conceding after just two minutes. A Miller error allowed Ben Spaul to break forward and set up Sivi Bao to open the scoring for the visitors.

Sam Reed had the Blues first real chance, getting to the by-line and curling in a speculative effort that went just over the bar.

Remi Garrett set up Ollie Hughes on 11 minutes, but the striker could only shoot straight at the keeper.

Miller then showed great determination in the box as he made up for his earlier error by heading Bury level on 30 minutes from a Bradley Barber free-kick.

The second half started slowly, but Ben Hart almost gave the visitors the lead on 66 minutes when he broke through the defence only to hit his fierce shot thundered against the post

Cockfosters were lucky not to go down to ten men after 70 minutes when Sam Reed was brought down by last-man Laurence Rispoli.

But the Blues took a deserved lead on 76 minutes, with Miller again on hand to put his shot low past Raven Constable in the Cockfosters goal.

An ill-tempered half at times saw Jacob Kalonda sent off for the visitors on 91 minutes, after an altercation in the box.

Brantham Athletic 1 Biggleswade Town 2

Brantham exited the FA Cup at the hands of Step 3 side Biggleswade Town.

But the brave Imps did not go out with a whimper as it took two late goals, from a side two steps above them, for them to be beaten.

Brantham had the better of the first half with Sean Barlett playing an inch perfect pass through for Ollie Mann to run onto, with his first-time strike stopped on the line by the Biggleswade keeper.

Minutes later, Biggleswade’s Hill hit a sharp shot just over the Brantham bar.

Brantham were giving as good as they got with both Mann and Sean Gunn causing their opponents whenever they had the ball and going forward.

Brantham deservedly took the lead in the 39th minute through Gunn, who latched onto Bartlett’s perfect pass following a neat turn.

Both teams started the second half going forward and Biggleswade seemed that bit quicker to the ball in the half.

Michael Brothers worked like a Trojan to urge his fellow Imps on, but Biggleswade equalised when Craig Daniel hit home from close-range leaving Brantham keeper Ryan Bedingfield no chance. Biggleswade rattled the Brantham bar twice, before they hit home the winning goal with just minutes left through Daniel again.

Thurrock 1 Witham Town 2

Witham Town turned in a brilliant performance to defeat Thurrock by two goals to one.

After taking a first-half two-goal lead, Witham had to be at their best to deny the Rocks, who fought back.

But excellent goalkeeping and defending saw the visitors hold on and progress into the next round.

Witham took the lead in the 21st minute when John Watson scored at the far post after good build up, with Lance Akins doubling the lead from a corner in the 33rd minute. Joe Christou scored the home team’s only goal, heading in after a scramble. Keke Orth missed a sitter and then hit the post with the last kick of the game.

National League South Wealdstone 0 Chelmsford City 0

Chelmsford City were held to a 0-0 stalemate when they visited Wealdstone on Saturday in a game of very few chances.

Matt Ball perhaps had the best opportunity of the half for the hosts, but he shot narrowly wide as the Clarets struggled to threaten up the other end.

Hugo Skepelhorn should have opened the Clarets’ account seconds after the half-time interval though following some indecisive defending from Joshua McLeod-Urquhart and Carl Martin, but the City striker scooped his shot wide of an upright.

Chelmsford substitute Tomi Adeloye was then teed-up by a sweeping pass from Billy Bricknell but his half-volley was deflected away from goal.

Both sides, in the end, were forced to settle for a point and the Clarets extended their unbeaten run to four games going in to tonight’s local derby with Concord Rangers at the Melbourne Stadium.