Huge FA Cup weekend for Isthmian League trio

 

Last weekend will go down as the biggest in Step 4 ‘Kent’ history when 3 Isthmian South East sides took their place in the FA Cup First Round.

All 3 had much higher level opposition,  2 of them had a TV date to look forward to, and we got the full set of results with the trio  gaining a win, loss and draw between them.

Sheppey United kicked off proceedings on Friday night when hosting League Two Walsall. Incredibly the Ites took the lead thanks to a peach of a strike by James Bessey Saldanha before Walsall showed their extra strengths and ran our 4-1 winners. Aidan Prall put on a Man of the Match performance in goal for Sheppey United who did their fans proud with their efforts on and off the field.

On Saturday Ramsgate played National League Woking and pulled off an amazing result – despite going behind. The Cardinals had taken the lead in the 13th minute through Dennon Lewis after he was played in by midfielder Morgan Williams.

Ramsgate, though, slowly grew into the game and were back on level terms five minutes before the interval. A long ball sent TJ Jadama behind the Woking defence and the midfielder stabbed the ball past Woking goalkeeper Will Jaaskelainen.

After seeing a goal ruled out just before the hour for offside, the Rams put themselves in front with 18 minutes left through former Manchester United player Lee Martin from a well-worked corner.

Woking, who sit mid-table in the National League, pressed for an equaliser late on, forcing a couple of corners, but the Rams held out for a memorable win.

On Sunday Cray Valley PM earned a replay after a 1-1 draw with Charlton in front of 2,000 of their fans at The Valley. Scott Fraser put the home side in front after just nine minutes, but the visitors drew level when a cross by Kyrell Lisbie – whose father Kevin used to play for The Addicks – was turned into the home net by Lucas Ness early in the second half.