Snodland Town 4-2 Guernsey - I was blown away, I couldn't ask for it to be any better - it's probably the best it's ever been, I think for everyone at Snodland, says buzzing joint-manager Luke Jessup

Snodland Town 4 – 2 Guernsey
Location	Potyn's Sports Field, Snodland Community Centre, Paddlesworth Road, Snodland, Kent ME6 5DP
Kickoff	08/11/2025 13:30

SNODLAND TOWN  4-2 GUERNSEY
The Isuzu FA Vase Second Round
Saturday 8 November 2025
Stephen McCartney reports from Paddlesworth Road

SNODLAND TOWN joint-manager Luke Jessup says he was blown away by his side’s emphatic victory over Guernsey to reach The FA Vase Third Round for the very first time in the clubs nine-year history in the competition.

Jessup and Fred Dillon’s side created 20 chances (12 of them on target) against Tony Vance’s visitors’, where goalkeeper Joshua Addison was called into making seven saves, in an impressive Snodland Town performance at Paddlesworth Road.

Snodland Town went into this Second Round tie sitting in eighth-place in the Presence & Co Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table, having picked up 24 points (seven wins, three draws and six defeats) from their 16 league outings.

The Kent side have beaten Horsham YMCA (1-0) and Cove (2-0) both away from home and pulled off a Second Round scalp against Guernsey, who reached the Semi-Finals in 2013, losing 4-1 on aggregate to Spennymoor Town, who beat Tunbridge Wells at Wembley Stadium.

Guernsey, meanwhile, were in the top eight in the weaker Southern Combination League Premier Division table, having picked up 24 points (eight wins and five defeats) and were 18 points adrift of the leaders Haywards Heath Town, who thrashed Guernsey 6-1 last weekend.

Vance’s side have beaten Bexhill United (4-1) and two SCEFL First Division sides in Croydon (3-2) and Staplehurst Monarchs (3-0) both on the Channel Islands but they were outclassed here today.

Attacking midfielder, Emmanuel Shoderu, opened the scoring with a special 30-yard half-volley, to give Snodland Town the lead after only 235 seconds.

Guernsey talisman, Ross Allen, 38, levelled from the penalty spot, before Snodland Town regained the lead with a clinical finish from holding midfielder Harry Hudson.

Central midfielder Allen levelled for a second time with his second penalty of the game to take his tally for the season to eight goals, before Guernsey’s travelling caught up with them and they ran out of steam.

A dominant Snodland Town drilled in a third from left-back James Teodorescu, before winger Nathaniel Olawole headed in his sixth goal of the season following a corner.

There were tears of pride in the eyes of Jessup’s mother, who hugged her son, ahead of the post-match press conference, as Snodland Town delivered in style.

“Good value, dressing room was unbelievable before the kick-off.  The warm-up was on point. The new lads that have stepped in, stepped up,” said Jessup, the former Hollands & Blair manager.

“I couldn’t be happier, not just for me but also for Fred (Dillon), for the backroom staff, for the players but mainly and importantly, for the club.

“It means everything to me. It’s the reason why we do it. It’s for them. We’re (the management team) not paid to be here. We do it for the love and for the success.

“We sort of said after last week’s performance against Stansfeld where we were so far off it, that was disappointing, very disappointing but you saw that reaction today, where you can make a number of candidates’ for man-of-the-match. I think that sort of tells you where you are, it was good to watch.”

Jessup and Dillon made three changes that suffered a shock 3-1 home defeat to Stansfeld last weekend, that gave the bottom side only their third league win of the season.

Goalkeeper Archie Burford, Jamie Thuillier (cup-tied) and Charlie Heatley (returned to previous club VCD Athletic), did not feature today.

Jessup revealed that Tyler Jackson-Hunt (knee), Robbie Roberts (knee) and Siji Akinlusi (calf) were ruled out for today’s game.

With Snodland Town kicking up the slope during the first half, they broke the deadlock with only three minutes and 55 seconds on the clock.

Striker Charlie Sheringham knocked a half-volley back towards centre-half Connor Dymond, who rolled the ball back to returning goalkeeper Joshua Fowler, who launched a right-footed clearance straight down the heart of the pitch.

Sheringham did much better with his knock down in the final third and Shoderu produced another special moment, controlling the ball and cracking a left-footed half-volley screaming into the top left-hand corner from 30-yards in a central position.

“I’m gutted I wasn’t behind it, hopefully I can see it on the veo, but from where I was it looked like a worldy,” said Jessup, reflecting on yet another special Shoderu strike.

“The link-up play again from Charlie, Manny looks alive and to be fair actually in the moment, I think there was a moment of calmness because we know what he’s going to do at that point – what a finish!”

Snodland Town then decided to sit on their lead, instead of hitting Guernsey hard and fast and Jessup was asked why this was the case.

“Yes, you’ve also seen it as well because we were highlighting it. It’s almost if there’s ever a saying ‘you can score too early, maybe that was it’?

“Because we were just feeling our way into the game, we’ve had a good moment of quality there and then arguably I think everybody was assessing what we should be doing at that point. Are we going again? Are we going to look after that 1-0 lead for a little bit? I don’t know but we all saw it.

“I can’t really explain it in any other version, maybe we just scored that little bit too early, I suppose.”

Guernsey were then allowed to control the game and following a throw-in from winger Brandon Wallace (who wasn’t a threat at all), the ball was worked to Jacob Fallaize, who played a 20-yard pass into Allen, who lashed his right-footed volley high over the crossbar from outside the penalty area.

Guernsey grabbed an equaliser, with 19 minutes and 45 seconds on the clock, following the first of two long throws into the box from centre-half Ben Solway.

Snodland Town failed to clear their lines (Kaylam Burgess and Matthew Self) and central midfielder Charlton Gauvain cut along the by-line and was brought down by a bad challenge from weak-link centre-half Liam Parle and referee Charlie Roberts pointed to the spot.

Allan drilled his right-footed penalty into the bottom right-hand corner, sending Fowler the wrong way, with a clinical penalty.

“Disappointing on how it got to that point,” admitted Jessup.

“Yes, look, Liam was significantly late on a challenge and you can’t argue with the penalty decision but there were two chances just before that where we’ve had chances to clear it and we haven’t.

“I’m pretty sure there’s one or two opportunities to clear the ball and we haven’t. We’ve then dived in, I think it might’ve been Matty Self as well, he’s air-shot the ball and missed it and then Liam’s dived in.”

When asked the reasons behind hooking Parle at the interval, Jessup replied: “He’s just come back from a knee injury. That’s his first game in a while (a 2-2 draw at Hollands & Blair on Sunday 5 October, where Shoderu scored goal of the season).  

"We had a plan for Liam to see how long we could get out of him and no other reason. It’s just we have got to look after these players.  We had a look at him and we’re over the moon with him.”

Guernsey centre-half Finley Du Port played the ball out of defence before Solway released right-wing-back Callum Le Lacheur, who easily cut inside Parle, whose left-footed drive from 14-tards was comfortably gathered by Fowler down on his knees (24:13).

Sheringham missed a glorious chance to double Snodland Town’s lead with two bites of the cherry (25:48).

Central midfielder Matthew Self’s long through ball wasn’t cut out by a slipping Guernsey centre-half Fallaize and this put Sheringham through on goal.

It appears that father time is catching up on the 37-year-old Sheringham as he should have buried this chance, as goalkeeper Addison smothered the initial shot, low to his right, before Sheringham poked his second bite shot just past the foot of the left-hand post from inside the six-yard box.

“Maybe I love Charlie too much but I had my mortgage on him because he had no pressure, admitted Jessup.

“Do you know what? I back him 85-90 per cent of the time there to score. You know, it’s football. I said it, his contributions most week, week-in-week-out are high and that wasn’t his greatest moment but he’s not judged on that alone, is he?”

Guernsey also missed a gilt-edged chance just 48 seconds later when nine-goal striker Samuel Murray threaded a 20-yard diagonal pass (into a crowded Snodland Town penalty area) to Allen, who drilled his low right-footed shot across Fowler and just past the foot of the far post.

Visiting goalkeeper Addison went down for treatment for a tactical injury in the 32^nd minute, allowing both management teams to call their players over for tactical instructions. 

Snodland Town were clinical through an unlikely source, taking the lead with 36 minutes and 54 seconds on the clock.

Shoderu stabbed the ball out to right-winger Olawole, who cut inside and his attempt was blocked and came out to Hudson, who took a touch before drilling a low right-footed drive across the keeper to find the bottom far corner from 16-yards to score his sixth goal of the season.

“Oh yes, YES, YES! From that far away, what a great finish from Harry there to tuck it in the corner,” said Jessup.

“I was right behind that one. The link-up play again, there’s some serious chemistry there and you can’t fault the amount of chances that we’ve created and fair play to Harry to have the presence of mind just to drill it in that bottom right corner.  We were right behind it, great goal.”

Snodland Town received a slice of luck when Guernsey headed against the crossbar (38:53).

Murray floated the ball into the box from the left and Solway knocked his towering header crashing against the crossbar, as Guernsey’s better football came during the first half.

“It was a bit scrappy that, it was a little bit scrappy, done well there, to get a header on,” added Jessup’s swift response.

Fowler’s right-footed free-kick skimmed off the head of Solway and Shoderu fed Olawole, who turned and stroked a left-footed drive towards goal from 25-yards, which was comfortably caught at head height by Addison, as Snodland Town went into the interval with a deserved lead, knowing they were kicking down the hill after the break to finish off the job.

“Buzzing, buzzing, we were buzzing,” said Jessup.

“We always knew going up the hill first half, you could see some of their players were struggling.  We highlighted the left-back (45-year-old David Merris).

“We asked for more of the same, more of the same. We knew we were going to get more chances. We didn’t think we’d get as many as we did but we certainly counted on the fact that we would get at least three or four more gilt-edged chances and I think we had that twice over, I would say.

“Look, disappointed that we haven’t taken more but we’ve still scored four today.

“How would I reflect (on our first half performance)?  Frustration from a personal perspective, frustration but geed up as well because I knew if we could do that going up the hill first half and we’re slightly younger and slightly fitter team, I knew we’d come into our own and that was basically the half-time team-talk.

“We didn’t really want to make too many substitutions because we felt we were on top but needs must and we got some lads on.”

Guernsey goalkeeper Addison performed heroics during the second half, making his first save with 4:32 on the clock,.

Self and Shoderu played a part in the move before Naiwo put the ball in from the left and Olawole had two bites of the cherry to score, as Addison got down low to his left to parry.

“I think we had two or three attempts there. It was a header off the line but either way they’ve done well. They’ve defended for their lives today, I think and maybe got off a little bit light,” admitted Jessup.

Powell’s hooked forward pass was flicked on by Olawole and Shoderu cut inside Fallaize before curling his left-footed shot around the far post from 22-yards.

Guernsey were lacking quality while kicking up the hill but they accepted a lifeline to grab an equaliser with 19 minutes and 12 seconds on the clock.

Gauvain threw the ball in, ineffective left-winger Wallace had a attempt blocked and Allen’s shot was handballed inside the box, rather harshly, by Powell and referee Charlie Roberts pointed to the spot for the second time.

Allen stroked his right-footed penalty into the bottom right-hand corner.  Fowler dived to his left and came close to making the save with his left-hand, as Guernsey scored a flattering second.

Jessup said: “Gutted really, I’m not, look, if you’ve ever been a defender and you get the ball whacked at you from so close, I’m not sure what you’re meant to do?

“Arguably, maybe the ref saw his hand was away from his body but still think it’s a tough call.”

Snodland Town were the team that took the game by the scruff of the neck to produce a Second Round scalp.

The home side showed plenty of character and just 94 seconds after going behind, Dymond’s quality first-time diagonal pass found Olawole, who put in a low cross from the right and Sheringham took a touch and his right-footed shot was saved by Addison, diving to his left, as another chance went begging.

“It was sort of a reoccurring chat that we had sort of throughout the game and at half-time is the game was there to put away on numerous occasions and we’ve left them off the hook essentially and there were another two or three.

“I’m not sure how many chances we’ve got there, there were plenty. I would say we’re close to double fingers on chances, I would imagine.”

However, Snodland Town raced into a deserving 3-1 lead, timed at 21 minutes and 11 seconds on the clock, courtesy of a clinical finish from left-back Teodorescu, not known for finding the ball of the net and scoring only his second goal of the season.

Naiwo was put through on goal and skipped past the advancing Addison but didn’t panic as he found himself within the left-channel.  He cut the ball back to Sheringham, who slipped in an overlapping Teodorescu, who drilled his first-time right-footed drive clinically into the bottom far corner.

“Off his right foot, I think it was. I was behind that one. Left footer but he’s played that off his right-foot and just bent it in the corner,” said Jessup.

“A little bit of class, a little bit of quality. I wrote in my programme notes and what I sent to the chairman, he’s very, very dependable sort of guy Jamie, a good lad and stayed calm in the moment.  It would’ve been very easy to blaze it or do something a little bit silly but he’s tucked it away but from where I was, it was a lovely finish.”

Before the re-start, Fowler walked out of his penalty area and went down for treatment about 15 yards from the centre-circle, as both sets of players went over to the benches for more instructions.  It’s about time referee’s show every goalkeeper yellow cards for unsporting behaviour instead of believing they are injured and really needing treatment – when they’re clearly not!

Sheringham dropped deep into the Snodland half and released Olawole, who cut inside 45-year-old left-back Merris, but impressive goalkeeper Addison rushed off his line to thwart Naiwo, just before he was substituted, and kept the score down.

“That would be a fair assessment. I thought he was their man-of-the-match. Like I said, we could pick them all out. We were wasteful, we weren’t ruthless,” admitted Jessup.

Snodland Town’s fourth goal arrived following their seven of nine corners, timed at 25 minutes and 9 seconds on the clock.

Dymond swung the ball in from the left with his right-foot towards the near post and Olawole easily knocked the ball into the top left-hand corner with his head from a couple of yards out.

“Look, god knows how many headers he won today, Nath – and he should do. He's the best part of six foot two, six foot three but he can leap and he’s got good quality in the air and he’s tucked away a decent finish there, fair play to him, fair play to him,” added Jessup.

Guernsey were picked off – as they threw four men in attack – and should have scored a flattering third in the 75^th minute.

Right-wing-back Le Lacheur delivered a deep cross from the right, the ball was poorly punched away by Fowler and striker William Fazakerley steered his header past the near post from a tight angle from inside the six-yard box.

Fowler’s right-footed free-kick released Olawole down the right but he lacked composure some 25-yards out, hitting a right-footed half-volley bouncing past the right-hand post of an open goal (35:38).

Wallace sprung to life for Guernsey, cracking a right-footed half-volley towards goal from 20-yards, which was tipped over the bar by Fowler’s outstretched right-hand (47:48).

Jessup said: “We had Josh here (on loan from Chatham Town) last season. Very assured and he conceded two penalties today, so it’s hard to really blame him for that. He’s not at fault for the penalties.  The second one, he got very close to.

“Distribution was on point. I felt actually he was nearly up for an assist in the second half when he’s cleared it up so far and the right-wingers run through, so I’m buzzing for Josh.

“It was like a reflex shot and he’s just tipped it over. I think he was fairly comfortable for that one.”

There was still time for Snodland Town to create four more chances during stoppage time, as substitute defenders Sebastian Vance and Jacques Cauvin kept opening the gate.

Snodland Town threw on right-winger Alex Dawes, 18, for his debut (39:15-50:46).

Dawes has played for his home-town club since the age of five and made his first-team debut, putting in a cross into the box against a tiring Guernsey defence and shooting over from distance.

“We’ve (Dillon and I) watched him at least twice this season for the 23s. He’s a livewire and he’s got a good little bit of quality about him and it’s a nice little story as well and fair play. A good lad. I don’t know what’s in store for his future but I’d say he’s got an opportunity to be in and around it going forward,” revealed Jessup.

Olawole released substitute winger Alvin Turyatemba on the counter-attack but he lacked composure and dinked his right-footed shot over the crossbar.

Sheringham then dropped deep inside the Snodland half and released Dawes for his big moment but he lacked composure from 25-yards, sending his left-footed chip over the crossbar (48:57).

Fowler’s big kick released Turyatemba down the left channel and his left-footed drilled shot clipped the outside of the top of the near-post – before Sheringham sent his right-footed chip sailing over the crossbar from 30-yards, with the last kick of the game.

“I think at some point, it will be easy to point out one person in particular but I think from my perspective it looked like arguably our front three or four have all missed good chances in different areas, so yes, back to the training ground for that one,” said Jessup.

“Scalp? We know that and that wasn’t lost before the game. The information we gave the players was to take Guernsey seriously. They’re capable of scoring goals.

“Personally, my outlook on Guernsey, they gassed a little, they ran out of a bit of steam and I sort of knew we’d come good late.  That’s not being big-headed. We sort of knew that’s the way it would pan out.”

Four goals but none from Sheringham, who has scored seven goals for the Kent club this season.

“I think he’ll be the first to say, he’s a realistic down to earth guy. It wasn’t his best days he’s ever had but he’s still contributed. He’s still on the winning side and he will still be part of a team that scored four goals and on another day he could’ve bagged himself  three or four,” said Jessup, who was asked how he was feeling guiding the club into the Last 64 for the very first time.

“Honestly, I was blown away. My mum and dad were here. When I see them, it always brings something back to me because they used to come to my games when I was like four or five and it all sort of comes flooding back.

“You see the opportunities we’ve had for the lads today. How confident they are. They’re just on cloud nine. They’re unbelievable in the dressing room there at the end.

“Yes, almost a perfect day. Almost? Almost! Yes, clean sheet and could we have scored a few more.

“It’s like a party atmosphere in (the dressing room after the game). Yes, I couldn’t ask for it to be any better. It’s probably the best it’s every been, I think, for everyone.  You see some players in there that have played different levels, a lot higher than this level. They’re part of it. They’re jumping around, dancing and singing. It’s just a good place to be.

“I won’t always take the credit for that. That’s down to Fred. Fred gets a great dressing room and that’s why I love him so much.”

Snodland Town are without a League game next weekend but they face Fisher in back-to-back home fixtures on Saturday 22 November (Kent Senior Trophy) and a League fixture seven days later.

Ajay Ashanike’s side beat Balham 2-1 at home in The FA Vase today and currently sit in 12^th place in the table with 19 points (five wins, four draws and four defeats) on the board but they play two home games against Chislehurst Glebe and Bearsted before coming here.

“I think a much-needed rest. I will say in a sense that it’s good to maybe get a bit of rest and recuperation, re-valuate things with a clean head and work out how we’re going to strengthen this squad, work out what we’ll do with certain players with injuries and when they’ll be coming back and to plan what we’ll be doing up until Christmas.

“Tyler Jackson-Hunt will be another week.  Robbie Roberts has just had surgery, we’re gagging to get him back amongst us but he was here supporting the lads.  Siji Akinlusi, our captain, we named him on the bench today. He did the warm-up and he’s looking more at it, so he’s only a week or so away.

“Charlie Heatley’s gone back to VCD. I don’t think the door’s closed. It’s just they made him an offer that he couldn’t refuse.”

Jamie Coyle’s Whitstable Town – who needed an injury-time Dean Grant winner to start their defence of the FA Vase with a 2-1 win over Infinity – are at the summit of this strong ninth-tier League with 31 points from 13 league games.

Tony Reid’s Larkfield & New Hythe – who thrashed second-from-bottom side Hollands & Blair 7-0 at New Hythe Lane in the League today – are in second-place with 30 points from 15 games.

Andy Constable’s Holmesdale – 4-2 home League winners over Phoenix Sports – are in third-place with 29 points from 17 games.

Jimmy Anderson’s Rusthall – 3-1 winners at Stansfeld – are in fourth with 28 points from 13 games, while Kevin Stevens’ recent leaders Bearsted have slipped down to fifth with 28 points from 14 games.

The top 10 teams include Sutton Athletic (24 points from 15 games), Sam Groombridge’s Erith & Belvedere (24 points from 17 games), Snodland Town, Kennington (23 points from 14 games) and Steve Ives’ Tunbridge Wells (23 points from 16 games).

When asked about Snodland Town’s current league position, Jessup said: “Nicely placed, I would say. Would I think it would be brilliant to be top? Yes. It’s also good to be the underdog and just floating in the shadows.

“I don’t mind that position and just staying in touch but yes, we are nicely placed, I would say, comfortably placed.”

Jessup was asked where he wants to be in the Third Round, which takes place on Saturday 6 December.

“Well, looking at that today, I think we need to be here. I hope so. If we’re away, we’ll be buzzing to be away as well but if we’re at home, I’d be buzzing for that as well.

“We’re in such a confident and good place at the minute. We’ll take all commers, home or away. If I had a choice, home to someone good, hopefully the stronger, the better.”

Snodland Town: Joshua Fowler, Kaylam Burgess, James Teodorescu, Matthew Self, Connor Dymond, Liam Parle (Alfie Powell 46), Samuel Naiwo (Nkori-Venceslas Bola 72), Harry Hudson, Charlie Sheringham, Emmanuel Shoderu (Alvin Turyatemba 80), Nathaniel Olawole (Alex Dawes 85).
Sub: Siji Akinlusi

Goals: Emmanuel Shoderu 4, Harry Hudson 37, James Teodorescu 67, Nathaniel Olawole 71

Booked: Liam Parle 19, Connor Dymond 82

Guernsey: Joshua Addison, Callum Le Lacheur, David Merris (Sebastian  Vance 77), Jacob Fallaize, Finley Du Port (Jacques Cauvin 80), Benjamin Solway, Brandon Wallace, Charlton Gauvain (Thomas Dodds 88), Samuel Murray (Frazer Maginnis 82), William Fazakerley, Ross Allen (Finlay Patterson 80).

Goals: Ross Allen 30 (penalty, 65 (penalty)

Booked: Callum Le Lacheur 63

Attendance: 286
Referee: Mr Charlie Roberts
Assistants: Mr Richard Myers & Mr Michael Donnelly