Isthmian League weekend round-up as Folkestone Invicta win while Dover Athletic and Cray Valley PM draw in the Premier Division; Sheppey United and Erith Town victorious in Isthmian South East
21:30, 21 September 2024
A stoppage-time goal from Luke Baptiste snatched a point for second-placed Isthmian Premier side Dover at Carshalton on Saturday.
Having fallen behind soon after the restart, midfielder Baptiste’s 92nd-minute overhead kick ensured it ended 1-1 as Jake Leberl’s team returned to competitive action for the first time in two weeks.
Folkestone struck twice in three minutes during their 2-0 home win against Hendon.
Midfielder Amadou Kassarate broke the deadlock at Cheriton Road on 56 minutes before forward Dan Smith got his fifth goal of the campaign before the hour mark.
Invicta manager Andy Drury also handed Khale Da Costa his club debut, the former Tonbridge and Chatham winger having trained with their squad over the past fortnight while they hadn’t had a competitive game.
Cray Valley were pegged back by fellow Isthmian Premier promotion hopefuls Billericay in a 1-1 home draw.
Midfielder Danny Waldren made it 1-0 to Steve McKimm’s side on 35 minutes but ex-Chatham and Welling striker Ashley Nzala equalised shortly before the hour mark.
Two first-half goals from former Dartford Academy midfielder Alfie Evans consigned the Darts to a dramatic Isthmian Premier defeat to early strugglers Bowers & Pitsea.
Evans netted twice inside the first 30 minutes for Bowers & Pitsea, who claimed their first league victory of the season.
The Darts pulled one back through forward Callum Jones late on and the away team had defender Valckx Fernandes sent off in stoppage time but it finished 2-1 to Bowers & Pitsea, managed by former Cray Valley, Chatham and Faversham boss James Collins.
To make matters worse for Ady Pennock’s team, substitute Duane Ofori-Acheampong was sent off by referee Marcin Indyk after the full-time whistle. Read the full match report here.
That result means Cray Wanderers, defeated 3-1 at Bognor Regis, are now at the foot of the table on goal difference with four points from seven league fixtures.
Neil Smith’s side’s sole reward from their long trip to West Sussex was an 85th-minute goal from forward Kenny Coker.
Chatham - last term’s Isthmian Premier play-off finalists - remain on just two league wins this season as they lost 3-1 at home to Canvey Island.
Goals from Tom Stephen and Jaxon Brown in the first 10 minutes left Chats with an uphill task.
It got worse for Kevin Hake’s men in the latter stages as substitute Reece Butler was sent off and Ewan Sanchez put Canvey Island three goals to the good.
Young forward Sam Sene-Richardson pulled one back in stoppage time but that was scant consolation.
Sheppey, four points off early Isthmian South East frontrunners Beckenham but with three games in hand on them, left it late to earn a 2-0 home win against Steyning Town Community.
Playmaker Jacob Lambert drew first blood in the 84th minute and Ites captain Danny Leonard doubled their tally two minutes later.
James Dyer bagged a hat-trick as play-off occupants Erith Town piled more misery on Hythe.
Two of Dyer’s goals came in the first half - one a penalty - and he completed his treble in the early stages of the second period.
Defender Calum McGeehan and captain Harry Taylor also got on the scoresheet for the Dockers in their 5-0 triumph.
Early Isthmian South East basement boys Phoenix Sports remain on a single point, losing 2-0 at Lancing.
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