Bowers & Pitsea 2-2 Dereham Town
(T. Stokes 49’, 90’: Logan 61’, Ebbage 71’)
From the Len Salmon Stadium
FA Trophy preliminary round
BOWERS & Pitsea scored an injury-time equaliser to take Dereham Town to a replay in the FA Trophy.
Rob Small’s team had Tony Stokes to thank for both goals, in a fiercly competitive cup tie.
Looking for a cup run after an early FA Cup exit, Bowers made the early running against their fellow Isthmian North opponents.
Fahad Nyanja almost got on the end of a Ryan Mallett centre as the hosts pushed forward.
But Dereham are likely to be a contender come the end of the league season and they came the closest in the opening 20 minutes.
Ryan Crisp’s strike took a touch off Mallett and cannoned onto Callum Chafer’s crossbar, before Bowers created a chance of their own.
Tony Stokes was inches away from a Jamie Dicks effort, with the same man only stopped from scoring the first goal of the afternoon by Elliot Pride.
It was end-to-end, but there was still no breakthrough. Martyn Stokes hit the crossbar for the hosts but it was his namesake that got the opening goal of the afternoon.
Five minutes after the break, Nyanja linked up with David Knight, with the latter’s cross well finished by Tony Stokes.
But 12 minutes later Dereham hit back, and it came via route one. Rhys Logan picked up the long ball and powered beyond Chafer.
Dereham were on top, Logan hitting the crossbar before they did take the lead for the first time.
Daniel Beaumont’s free-kick was perfect for Ollie Ebbage and he turned home from close range.
Sartain missed a golden chance to equalise when he shot over having been played through.
But Bowers were to get their salvation.
Sartain’s superb volley crashed off the frame of the goal and Stokes was on hand to net his second of the afternoon from in front of the goal.
Bowers & Pitsea: Chafer, Nyanja, Thomas (Cockman 80’), M Stokes, Dicks, Sartain, Mallett, Salmon, Salmon, Knight, Ashman (Yuill 80’), T Stokes
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