There were mixed fortunes for Kent sides as the Road to Wembley started in the FA Cup on Saturday.
The day’s highest scorers in the extra preliminary round were FA Vase winners Whitstable Town, who ran out 7-2 winners at Lingfield thanks to a late hat-trick from substitute Dean Grant.
Jeff Duah-Kessie put the hosts ahead but Brad Schafer, Jake McIntyre and Javaun Splatt put Whitstable 3-1 ahead before Duah-Kessie pulled one back from the penalty spot before the break.
Schafer made it 4-2 on the hour mark and Grant then helped himself to a 15-minute hat-trick, the only blot on Whitstable’s day was a late red card for substitute Jack Peters.
On-loan Gills keeper Taite Holtam made a fine return for Ashford United, keeping a clean sheet in their 1-0 win at Haywards Heath Town.
The only goal of the game came early in the second half from Louis Collins.
Veteran forward Ian Draycott scored the winner as Hollands & Blair produced an upset to knock out higher-league Herne Bay 1-0 at Star Meadow.
It was a first game in charge for Liam Friend but Draycott scored early in the second half to give Blair a trip to Knaphill in the next round.
Blair had returning keeper Dan Ellis to thank for saving a first-half penalty by Bay’s Kane Haysman.
Faversham Strike Force’s first venture into the FA Cup didn’t end the way they wanted as they lost their first home game at The Belmont, 4-0 to Chislehurst Glebe.
Jamie Philpot’s first-half penalty separated the sides at the break before goals from Khavarn Williams, Philpot and Mo Cham in an 11-minute spell midway through the second half settled the contest. Glebe had substitute Thibault Boud Abie sent off for two late bookings.
Punjab United face a midweek replay at Crowborough after letting a two-goal lead slip in their 2-2 draw.
Jack Barry and Will Johnson-Cole put Punjab 2-0 ahead inside 24 minutes but second-half efforts from Steve Smith and Marcus Goldsmith levelled the scores, Crowborough holding on for a draw despite being reduced to 10 men for the last 11 minutes when Harry London was red-carded.
It was a similar story for Phoenix Sports, who led 2-0 at Leatherhead but had to settle for a replay from a 2-2 draw.
Jerson Dos Santos and Jake Goodman put Phoenix in charge after just 14 minutes but Jacob Breckon’s penalty early in the second half and Nathan Hogan’s leveller means the sides will meet again on Tuesday night.
New Sheppey United manager Kevin Watson got off to a great start, winning 3-1 at home to Met Police.
Skipper Danny Leonard cancelled out Joshua Bassey’s fourth-minute opener before a brace either side of the break by Eitel Mourni Goueth ensure the Ites progressed.
A bumper crowd of 310 saw Snodland Town run out 4-0 winners at home to Broadfields United.
Asanti Amoah and Harry Hudson scored in the first half with late goals by substitute Steve Karkari and Matt Self sealing their progress.
Fisher proved too strong for Camberley Town, as Chibueze Echem, Michael Sarpong and a Kesna Clarke penalty secured a 3-1 win. Their reward is a trip to Jersey Bulls, who themselves won 5-0 at home to Erith & Belvedere.
The Road to Wembley ended for Bearsted, beaten 2-1 at home by Hackney Wick despite Sam Flisher putting them ahead in the first half. Larkfield & New Hythe went out 3-0 at home to Epsom & Ewell while Sutton Athletic were beaten 1-0 at Seaford.
There will be a midweek replay as Tunbridge Wells drew 1-1 at home to Holmesdale. Lucas Murrain put Wells ahead but Malachi Hudson levelled five minutes before the break from the penalty spot.
Ira Jackson suffered his first defeat as Hythe boss, going down 5-2 at home to Littlehampton Town. The visitors led 4-0 at the break with late goals from Jason Kaate and Tyler Sterling ensuring Hythe got on the scoresheet.
10-man VCD set up a home tie with Sittingbourne after winning 3-2 at Wick thanks to Charlie Heatley’s first-half brace and an 88th-minute winner by Nathaniel Olawole.
Kennington lost 4-0 at home to Soul Tower Hamlets, promoted from Southern Counties East Division 1 via the play-offs last season, while Rusthall went down 5-2 at home to Westfield. Goals from Charlie Clover and Jack Kirby had given Rusthall a 2-1 lead inside the first 13 minutes.
Sevenoaks ensured a winning start to their season with a 3-1 victory at Athletic Newham as second-half goals from Tom Hanfrey (2) and Warren Mfula did the damage.
Faversham Town drew 1-1 at Balham thanks to Eniye Amgbaduba’s first-half equaliser, the teams will meet again at Salters Lane on Tuesday. Corinthian also earned themselves a replay after a goalless draw at Horley Town.
Stansfeld host Harrow on Sunday while Deal make the trip to Hilltop.
Updated FA Cup Preliminary Round draw (August 16):
Ascot United v Chislehurst Glebe
Ashford United v Tunbridge Wells or Holmesdale
Cobham v Margate
Corinthian Casuals v Sevenoaks Town
Eastbourne Town or Ashford Town (Middx) v Snodland Town
Edgware & Kingsbury v Whitstable Town
Erith Town or Sporting Bengal United v Little Common or Southall
Hassocks v Beckenham Town
Hastings United v Stansfeld or Harrow Borough
Horley Town or Corinthian v Egham Town
Jersey Bulls v Fisher
Knaphill v Hollands & Blair
Leatherhead or Phoenix Sports v Westfield
Merstham v Balham or Faversham Town
Punjab United or Crowborough Athletic v Hilltop or Deal Town
Sheppey United v Eastbourne United
VCD Athletic v Sittingbourne
