Back Of The Net: Sussex and Surrey football round-up

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Here is a round-up of this week's football matches across Sussex and Surrey.

AFC Uckfield Town 4-2 Crawley Down Gatwick

A local Sussex derby occurred on National Non-League Day as Crawley Down Gatwick made the short trip to Uckfield Town. The hero of the day came from an unlikely source – Uckers’ debutant Stefan Joseph.

The player, who only signed a few days before the match, scored in the first four minutes as he tapped home after Alex Saunders’ shot was saved. Crawley Down were quick to grab an equaliser through Ben Brooker, but two goals from Andrew Dalhouse and Joseph in the last few minutes before half time, saw Uckfield go into the break with a two goal lead.

The second half continued in the same vein as the first, and it wasn’t long before Joseph had completed his hat trick. Richie Welch darted through and squared the ball for Joseph who beat the keeper and gave Uckfield their fourth. Crawley didn’t give up and had a consolation second goal through Kerran Boylan, but it wasn’t enough to see them push for a comeback as the match finished 4-2 to the home side.

AFC Wimbledon 2-1 Chesterfield

AFC Wimbledon left it late to claim their first-ever victory in League One against Chesterfield. The first half saw few chances for either end, but it was Chesterfield who took the lead after a headed corner deflected off Darius Charles and was labelled as an own goal.

Against the run of play in the second half, the home side found an equaliser when Paul Robinson latched onto the end of a corner and knocked it into the net. The game looked destined to finish level until the 91st minute when Poleon, a substitute, turned and guided the ball home.

Neal Ardley: “We’ve had a lot of games this season when we have played really well and been unfortunate, but we cannot keep saying we are unlucky… We brought on substitutes and they made a difference. It is a squad game.”

Burgess Hill 2-1 Ashford United (FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round)

The FA Cup second qualifying round awaits Burgess Hill Town as they grabbed two quick goals to beat Ashford United. Ashford dominated the early proceedings but a few late chances for the Hillians saw the half time level scores a fair result.

Much like the first, Ashford started stronger, but a combination of Cheick Toure and Josh James saw Burgess Hill still in the game. And when the chance came, they took it. Tyrell Richardson-Brown rose highest at the back post to knock them into a one-goal lead. Confidence swept through the side as substitute Dan Thompson’s solo run just four minutes later saw the Hillians double their lead.

A late goal for Ashford made the closing minutes a nervy affair, yet they didn’t do enough to earn themselves a replay.

Dorking 2-1 Frimley Green

Dorking FC won their second game of the season in a 2-1 win over Frimley Green. After a 3-1 loss at Cobham on Monday night, in which their goalkeeper Tom Day broke his wrist, the Chicks did well to bounce back at Westhumble.

The side started strongly and took the lead on 19 minutes when centre back Brandon Watts headed in from a corner. Kieran Lunn and teenager James Herouvin were causing lots of problems for the Frimley defence, but once again struggled with their final touch as Dorking went into half time with only a one-goal lead.

The missed opportunities were punished when Frimley Green found the equaliser in the 60th minute. Chicks manager Danny Fox responded by making a straight swap upfront as George Knight came on, who immediately had an impact. The striker, put through by Lunn, calmly lifted the ball over the on rushing keeper to regain the lead and win the game for Dorking FC.

In a week where Dorking FC, along with Dorking Wanderers, announced the start of rebuilding works of their old home Meadowbank, it seems like the side are finally getting settled back into their home town.

East Preston 1-4 Merstham (FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round)

Bank holiday Monday saw Merstham take on their Surrey rivals, Leatherhead, in the Ryman Premier League. Hayden Bird made five changes to his team, Michael Abnett and Kristian Campbell starting as full-backs, Chris Haigh making his debut as a goalkeeper and Tashan Francis-Adeyinka replacing Calum Willock as a striker.