What a mixed night Tuesday was for our clubs….
Gillingham secured a vitally important 2-1 win at the Memorial Stadium in Bristol as they fight to get away from the wrong end of the League One table – but boy did Steve Lovell’s men do it the hard way.
Elliott List curled the Gills in front before Callum Reilly scored from 25 yards. Reilly then went from hero to villain as he was sent off for an ugly lunge. Bristol Rovers pulled a goal back late on, but the Gills weren’t to be denied even after eight minutes of stoppage time.
Dartford disappointed in bowing out of the FA Trophy losing the Princes Park replay 2-3. The Sussex side fully deserved their win and in truth it should have been by more as going into the 90th minute they lead 2-0 before goals from Andre Coker and Taylor Fisher miraculously looked to have given the Darts an unwarranted crack at extra time. But Eastbourne were not to be denied as there was time for the visitors to have one last corner from which they scored!
It was a busy night in the National League with only one win – but what a win is was as Dover Athletic won their first away League win of the season winning 1-0 at Boreham Wood. Andy Hessenthaler’s side are now just four points from safety after Inih Effiong’s second half goal.
Maidstone United sit just two points above Dover now in 19th after slipping to a 1-3 home defeat to Hessenthaler’s old side Eastleigh – incidentally Dover’s next opponents at the weekend. Eastleigh took the lead in first half stoppage time before adding two more in the second half. Michael Phillips did pull one back for the Stones in the closing stages, but it’s now just one win in ten for Maidstone – not the best preparation for the arrival of the Football Focus cameras and the FA Cup tie with Oldham on Saturday.
Away day draws for both Bromley and Ebbsfleet United. Bromley’s was probably predictable as they were away to the draw specialists Chesterfield. The 1-1 draw now means that Martin Allen’s side have drawn 11 of the 22 League game thus far. Bromley’s goal for the record came from George Porter.
Ebbsfleet United made it four points in four days as they drew 1-1 with Maidenhead United. Michael Cheek gave Gary Hill’s side a 15th minute lead before they were pegged back a quarter of an hour from time.
In the BOSTIK League, Folkestone Invicta travelled to Whitehawk in the Premier Division and drew 0-0 and stay 15th.
In the Velocity Trophy Hythe Town bowed out after losing 0-2 at home to Burgess Hill Town, whilst in SECFL League Cup, Beckenham Town won 5-1 at Stansfield and the Kent Senior Trophy tie between Elmstead and Tunbridge Wells was postponed.
Finally just the one game tonight (Wednesday), as Welling United go to Dulwich Hamlet for a Buildbase FA Trophy replay with the winners drawn away to either Chippenham Town or Wingate and Finchley.