FA Trophy first qualifying round: Right-back Ethan Cole stars for Sheppey United, Louis Collins and Joe Taylor score hat-tricks, Faversham Town and Deal Town both progress

Stand-in keeper Ethan Cole was the hero for Sheppey United as they won a penalty shoot-out in the first qualifying round of the FA Trophy on Saturday.

The Ites drew 1-1 at Beaconsfield Town thanks to Danny Leonard’s last-gasp equaliser before going through 5-4 on spot-kicks. But that was only half of the story.

Right-back Cole took over between the sticks at half-time with Sheppey keeper Harley Earle injured in the opening 45 minutes, before coming to the fore in the shoot-out.

Louie Collins scored a 14-minute first-half hat-trick to put Ashford on their way to a 4-2 win at Crowborough. Ollie Bate added a fourth after the break.

Joe Taylor was another striker to bag a treble, although Herne Bay needed penalties to see off Kingstonian at Winch’s Field.

After the visitors took an early lead, Taylor’s close-range header and clinical left-foot strike put Bay ahead at the break.

Kingstonian levelled the scores before Taylor restored Bay’s lead from the penalty spot on the hour to complete his hat-trick.

The visitors made it 3-3 but two penalty saves from Bay keeper Tom Wray in the shoot-out saw his team through 4-2 on penalties.

Second-half goals from Nathan Wood, Josh Hare and Jack Steventon saw Faversham Town defeat hosts Flackwell Heath 3-0. It was another solid performance from Steve Watt’s men who could have had five or six.

Deal came from 2-1 down at the break to win 4-2 at Binfield.

The visitors took an early lead through Ash Miller’s penalty but trailed at the break. An own goal, Ben Chapman and substitute Tom Chapman saw Deal progress.

There was more stoppage-time heartache for Sevenoaks as they lost 3-2 at AFC Croydon Athletic.

Beaten by a last-gasp winner in the FA Cup, Brandon Pierrick scored in the fifth minute