Only Wealdstone Are Definitely Through In Buildbase FA Trophy

By Steve Whitney

Monday`s Buildbase FA Trophy Semi-Final draw will still have seven teams in the hat after Saturday`s Quarter-Finals saw only Wealdstone progress and the three other ties require replays.

How Bostik League Premier promotion favourites Billericay Town must have wished that Bradley Bubb`s move to National League South side Wealdstone had come AFTER their tie at the AGP Arena!

Bubb (pictured) signed from National League outfit Ebbsfleet United in the week and his hat-trick helped dump Glenn Tamplin`s ambitious side out of the competition.

The Stones enjoyed a stunning opening 45 minutes, with a Bubb double helping them take a 4-1 lead at the break.

Bubb completed his treble after the interval to cap a fine afternoon for the 1985 winners.

However, it could have been different had Jake Robinson`s early 3rd minute shot gone in rather than clatter back off the crossbar.

But after Bubb`s opener had been cancelled out by a Rob Swaine header, Ricky Wellard, Matty Wichelow and Bubb again took the score to 4-1 at the break.

Bubb completed his hat-trick 5 minutes after the restart and Billericay pulled a second back through Ricky Modeste on 66 minutes, but it was the end of the road for the Essex side.

A dramatic second half saw Gateshead score three to send their tie at the Matchroom Stadium against National League rivals Leyton Orient back to the North-East for a replay as the game ended 3-3.

Josh Koroma's 36th minute strike followed by goals from Ebou Adams after 53 minutes and Josh Coulson 4 minutes later were not enough to see the O's through as a David Mooney own goal, Danny Johnson and Richard Peniket scored late in the second half to end the tie level.

The all-National League North tie between Stockport County and Brackley Town will also need a replay after it finished 1-1 at Edgeley Park.

A disappointing first half was followed by a much better second which saw the high-flying Northamptonshire visitors break the deadlock in the 69th minute when they forced another corner which Alex Gudger headed from beyond the far post, and Lee Ndlovu tapped in from close range.

But just 4 minutes later, County were back on level terms when Dan Cowan`s
cross from the right was met by Jason Oswell, whose header hit the bar before Jimmy Ball converted on the rebound.

National League Bromley were held to a 0-0 draw at the H2T Group Stadium by National League North visitors Spennymoor Town, who will now fancy their chances of causing an upset at the Brewery Field in the replay on Tuesday.

It was a very evenly-contested match, Bromley had their chances but a resolute Spennymoor defence forced the replay, although it took a remarkable save from the visitors` Dan Lowson to deny Bromley`s Brandon Hanlon a late 84th minute winner.

Where next?

Saturday`s Round-Up: Vanarama National League North With Salford City`s chances of returning to the top of the table frustrated by a patch of frozen turf at the Peninsula Stadium on Saturday, focus of attention fell on the play-off chasers and the relegation battle.
Saturday’s Round-Up: Vanarama National League Macclesfield Town maintained their five-point lead at the top of the table on Saturday after a hard-fought, late 1-0 win at Moss Rose against a determined Maidenhead United side.