Chipstead manager Nicky English believes his Ryman League underdogs can push Torquay United all the way when the clubs meet in the FA Cup at Plainmoor on Saturday week.

And English warned the Gulls that they must stop his star striker Danny Oakins if they are to avoid a major upset.

Local boy Oakins scored a hat-trick as the Surrey side completed a 3-0 replay victory over favourites Atherstone Town at their High Road ground on Tuesday night.

It's the first time that Chipstead, who were only promoted to the Ryman League in 2007, have ever reached this stage of the competition.

When they and United meet at Plainmoor on October 25 — the Gulls are likely to cut admission prices to boost the gate — it will be Chipstead's fifth tie in a run which has already netted them £16,000 in prizemoney.

Former AFC Wimbledon manager English says of scaffolder Oakins, 28: "He was amazing the other night.

"When I see him play, part of me is delighted, but part of me is sad, as he could have played at the very top.

"In talent, he is up there with any player I have ever coached.
"Torquay will be fitter than us, tactically more aware and more organised, but I don't believe they are all better in terms of natural talent than our players.

"We'll go there and give it everything we can.

"Before we got through, I just wanted to play them.

"Now we'll do all we can to beat them. Then bring on Leeds at Elland Road!"

Despite languishing in the league — they lie 18th in Division One (South) — Chipstead have beaten Herne Bay, Chatham Town, Dunstable Town and now Atherstone in the Cup.

United boss Paul Buckle was at Tuesday's replay, and he said: "Chipstead have some good players. They are no idiots at all.

Bob Langford looks set to be offered the vacant manager’s role at Leatherhead.

The former Banstead Athletic, Tooting & Mitcham and Redhill and boss has left Croydon Athletic, where he was assistant manager to Dave Garland, today, with the Rams saying he has been offered the job at the Tanners.

Leatherhead are yet to make a formal announcement but are expected to name Langford as boss within the next 24 hours, replacing Ian Hazel who resigned from the job last week.

The Tanners currently sit tenth in Ryman Division One South and Langford’s first game in charge could be away at Godalming Town on October 25.

Metropolitan Police boss Jimmy Cooper is tipping striker Craig Carley to go on a scoring spree after the frontman ended a barren run in front of goal Monday night.

Carley climbed off the bench to grab a deserved equaliser in a top-of-the-table clash at Kingstonian, just his third goal of the campaign.

And Cooper is expecting big things now Carley, the Ryman Division One South’s top scorer last season, is back in the goals.

Cooper said: “I really think this will be the turning point for Craig.

“For me to bench him at the weekend and Monday was a big decision.

“But he had not been playing well and was not scoring goals.

“His attitude in training though was fantastic, and he is working very hard.”

The creditable draw at Kingsmeadow came on the heels of a comfortable 4-1 win over strugglers Whitstable Town on Saturday.

Tommy Moorhouse, Stephen Goddard and Scott Forrester (2) were on the scoresheet as the Blues nestled back into the play-off places.

Cooper added: “We are back on track.

“What was most impressive is that for both games we were missing the spine of our side.

“We have more strength in depth now than before, and that puts us in good stead.

“We will be looking for the play-off spots again this season, and I think we will be in the best shape we have been in terms of winning them.”

The Met are back in FA Trophy action this weekend, entertaining fellow Ryman South side Dulwich Hamlet at Imber Court.

Walton Casuals boss John Morris admits the Stags are suffering a crisis of confidence as the club slide down the Ryman Division One South table.

After a promising start to the season, the campaign hit it’s lowest point Monday night with a 3-1 home defeat to bottom side Corinthian Casuals.

And after a fifth loss in the last six league games, Morris is still searching for the answer.

Morris said: “We are going through a terrible spell at the moment.

“We have no confidence, and at the moment it is very demoralising.

“But there is no magic remedy.

“It is about working hard, being together and staying as a team, not individuals.

“I will be the one taking the flak and I accept that.

“There are a lot of young boys here who have never been under pressure before and they’re feeling it.”

The Stags dominated the first half-hour against the amateurs before sloppy defending saw the visiting Casuals strike twice before the break.

Pushing forward in numbers in the second period, Walton conceded a goal on the break before Ben Stack grabbed a late consolation.

Morris added: “We have become a side leaking goals.

“They were sharper, brighter and faster than us.

“We were chasing the game and just were not good enough in front of goal.”

Walton get a breather from the rigours of the league this weekend when they entertain Ryman Premier side Heybridge Swifts in the FA Trophy.

And Morris is looking forward to the prospect.

He added: “We just need a spark at the moment.

“We need everyone fit, and players are slowly coming back.

“I think Heybridge may be exactly the sort of game that we need - higher opposition and a chance to prove ourselves.

“We have to put games like Corinthian Casuals behind us and move on.”

In Division One South, Sittingbourne threw away a 2-0 lead to go down 3-2 at home to Dulwich Hamlet.

Richard Brady and Colin Richmond got the Brickies off to a flying start, with the home side 2-0 in front after 33 minutes.

However, Daryl Plummer got the visitors' revival going just after the hour mark, before Laurent Hamici grabbed two in the last ten minutes to complete the comeback.

The first a penalty on 82 minutes, after Plummer was felled in the area and then a solo effort, to hammer the final nail into Sittingbourne's coffin.

Late goals from Jimmy Jackson and Jimmy Dryden weren’t enough to prevent Folkestone Invicta suffering their first away league defeat of the season, as Neil Cugley’s side went down 3-2 away to Leatherhead.

The home side were 3-0 in front with just 12 minutes to go, thanks to two goals from Tommy Hutchings and another from Will Jenkins.

However, Jackson’s free kick was arguably the pick of the afternoon’s goals, as his effort went in off the cross bar.

Whitstable Town couldn’t arrest their poor league form as the Metropolitan Police ran out 4-0 winners over Marc Seager’s side.

Finally, Cray Wanderers and Ashford Town shared the spoils with a goalless draw at Hayes Lane.

In a game of few chances, Cray keeper Glen Knight was forced into making three good saves late on.

In Division One North, Chatham Town handed out a 6-1 thrashing away to bottom of the table Witham Town.

A first half brace from David Botterill gave the Chats a 2-0 lead at the break. Tyran James then came off the bench to score two of his own, with Simon Austin and Lee Maskell finishing off the scoring.

Thamesmead came away from their trip to Waltham Abbey pointless, the home side running out 3-0 winners.

Chuck Martini  labelled his players “cowards” after watching them take an FA Trophy Preliminary Round battering.

Beaten-up Godalming Town crashed 5-1 after caving in to Enfield Town on Saturday – just seven days before they take on Blue Square South side Havant & Waterlooville in the FA Cup.

Bewildered boss Martini had spent the tie, as usual, patrolling his technical area.

But after the Ryman Division One North visitors had swept in three goals in the last seven minutes, Martini slunk back onto the dugout bench with his head in his hands.

“I called them a bunch of cowards afterwards,” he revealed. “If it means going to war to win a game you have to do that and we should have been able to do it but we didn’t and that disappointed me.

“I measure my teams not when things are going well but when they are going badly and by who stands up to be counted when the chips are down – I only had two or three players who did that.

“I’ve said it before – we are too nice and it has to stop.”

The two-time FA Trophy winner went on: “I felt half of my team had their eye on the FA Cup. I don’t know why because it’s not like we stand a chance of winning the FA Cup.

"It’s a big game for us but I felt we had more of a chance of upsetting a few teams in the Trophy and having a bit of a run in that.”

Godalming's FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round opponents this weekend were twice in front at Anfield in last season's fifth round before ultimately succumbing to a 5-2 defeat at Liverpool.

Leatherhead are looking for a new manager for the second time in a year following the departure of Ian Hazel.

He left Fetcham Grove on Tuesday having failed to make an impact at the club after joining at the end of October last year.

Hazel's assistant Mickey Stephens will act as caretaker until a new boss is found.

Defeat at the first stages of both the FA Cup and FA Trophy plus a mediocre start to the Ryman League Division One South campaign (Leatherhead are currently 12th) left Hazel's position looking fragile.

He took over from David Harlow a year ago and almost immediately had to reconstruct the team after a mass exodus of players.

But rebuilding efforts in the second half of last season and through the summer have so far yet to bear fruit and the Tanners have already used 26 players this season.

Leatherhead skipper Iain Hendry is facing a race against time to prove his fitness ahead of the Tanners’ crucial Ryman League South double-header this week.

The Fetcham Grove side welcome the Metropolitan Police on Saturday before travelling to Kingstonian on Monday as they look to climb the table.

And Hendry, who has been forced to sit out the last five games with a knee injury, is itching to get back into action.

Hendry said: “I trained for the first time on Tuesday night and I am still hopeful that I can make it for Saturday.

“I feel strong but the knee locked up about half-way through the session so it’s touch and go.

“The problem is the injury I suffered has made it difficult to work on my fitness.

“I went to do a block tackle against Worthing and my studs got caught in the ground and my knee got pushed outwards.

“So it isn’t really something that can be rushed.”

Boss Ian Hazel’s misery was compounded when fellow central-defender John Cartledge was injured in the very next game.

And after a recent 5-0 drubbing at Ashford Town, Hendry admits the pair cannot get back quick enough.

He added: “We’ve gone from being strong at the back to missing our two centre-halfs.

“We were pretty solid in pre-season and now we are both out - it is hard to start from scratch during the season.

“So we just have to get back as soon as possible and then regroup.”

The Tanners have also looked to shore things up defensively with the loan signing of Fulham keeper Neil Etheredge.

And Hendry has welcomed the arrival of the young stopper.

Hendry added: “Our keeper Stuart Robinson has had a few slip-ups lately and his confidence has suffered a bit.

“I think bringing in competition will help him.

“He needs to realise that if he does not play well Ian can do something about it.”

In division one south, Burgess Hill bounced back from Sunday’s 3-1 defeat against Kingstonian in style with a resounding 3-0 victory against fifth-placed Walton Casuals.

The visitors had to forgo their warm-up after a delay on the M25 but looked sharpest in the opening ten minutes as they twice went close.

Impressive But Hillians imposed themselves with a shot by their impressive new striker Dan Beck, who was making his debut after being signed from Bognor, which forced a good block by Liam Grier.

The deadlock was broken on 23 minutes when Richard Greenfield fired home from the edge of the area and the Hillians could have added a second just before half-time when a cross by the pacy Greenfield found Ben Johnson but he was unable to control the ball.

The second half saw Burgess Hill continue their dominance as Lloyd Cotton showed superb technique in unleashing a terrific shot which resulted in a superb save from the busy Craig Bradshaw.

Nick Fogden seized upon a loose ball dropped by Bradshaw to head home Hill’s second goal on 53 minutes.

The hosts sealed a comfortable win in the 58th minute when Cotton scored with an excellent finish.

It was an impressive all-round display by Hillians with skipper Danny Gainsford in commanding form in central defence.

Eastbourne Town came from going a goal down to win by 4-2 at Chipstead.

Josh Smith put the home side ahead on eight minutes but Town drew level in the 13th minute when a long throw by Luke Denton was touched home by Shaun Loft.

Danny Leach put them ahead four minutes later, reacting first to a blocked shot to slot home, and Leach made it 3-1 on 29 minutes when he tucked home a Loft header.

Six minutes into the second half Simon Catt extended the lead after good work by Danny Simmonds. Chipstead pulled a goal back from the penalty spot on 85 minutes but by then Town had all three points in the bag.

Worthing suffered a miserable night as they went down 4-1 at home to Godalming Town. Paul Elliott hit a second-half consolation for the Rebels who trailed 4-0 at the interval.

Joint manager Danny Bloor said: “It was a very bad day at the office. It didn’t help that our game was called off on Saturday and we couldn’t train last Thursday. We looked rusty.”

A brace from Danny Leach helped Eastbourne Town to a 4-2 victory at Chipstead on Tuesday night.

Town went a goal behind when Josh Smith gave the home side the lead on eight minutes. Shaun Loft levelled when he flicked home a long throw from Luke Denton.

Leach put his side ahead four minutes later with a sharp finish and then made it 3-1 when he fired home a Loft flick on.

Simon Catt added a fourth early in the second half following good work from Danny Simmonds.

Chipstead pulled a goal back through a penalty but Town held firm and claimed their second victory of the season.

Leatherhead striker Tommy Hutchings has warned his side they must cut out the mistakes if they are to progress this season.

The Tanners suffered more late heartache at the weekend as they crashed out of the FA Cup 3-2 at Ashford Town, despite Hutchings’ brace.

And the teenage forward admitted frustration was sweeping Fetcham Grove.

Hutchings said: “We keep conceding late goals and it is costing us big-time.

“Our first half performance was poor.

“In the second half we passed the ball more but it is one of those things I suppose.

“We are all very disappointed.”

Tanners boss Ian Hazel agreed, adding that he would be looking to boost his squad options as Leatherhead look to get back on track.

Hazel said: “I am looking to bring players in but it would not be fair on the players I have to say in which areas.

“We certainly need to improve in one or two areas and I aim to do something about it.

“Saturday was never going to be an easy task but I am still annoyed that we went out.

“The next two league games for us now are very important and I will be looking for improvement.”

http://www.surreycomet.co.uk/

Northwood's match programme advised the supporters that the last time the two sides met at their ground was in a league match in December 1999, with the home side winning 2-1, writes Cliff Travis.

Interestingly, the Police starting line-up for this FA Challenge Cup clash included current Blues manager Jim Cooper and his assistant Gavin MacPherson, also an ex-Northwood striker.

Arriving this time for an FA Cup preliminary round tie, the Police gained revengeobviously, coming away with a 2-0 comfortable win with goals from Rob George on 44 minutes and Jo Arrabeli on 88 minutes.

On 44 minutes striker Saheed Sankoh had a shot deflected by Mitch Swain the Northwood goal keeper back beyond the goal area.

George seized on the loose ball, rounded a defender and with the goal keeper charging him down, deftly side footed the ball just inside the far post.

Both sides had created scoring chances earlier in the half.

Sean Sommer for the home side saw his 18 yards drive well saved by Police goal keeper Mo Maan after only nine minutes.

A minutes later Terry Davies had a right footed drive from 15 yards also saved by Maan. The Police then began to take control.

A long cross from Steve Sargent resulted in a header from Sankoh hitting the cross bar. Another good cross this time from George was struck on the volley by Sargent and bounced once before being saved by the keeper.

Within minutes of the start of the second half Central Police defender Tommy Moorhouse limped off following a sliding tackle.

Striker Dwain Williams for the home side then hit the cross bar with a spectacular 30 yard shot. The Police regained their composure with some good attacking moves.

Michael Cobden with a 25-yard drive tested Swain who only managed to grab the ball on the goal line at the second attempt.

With just two minutes remaining Police substitute Arrabeli picked up a Sargent cross just outside the Northwood goal area.

He swivelled and turned flat footing two defenders and drove home the ball into the back of the net to put the result beyond question.

www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/sport/