FA Trophy- First Qualifying Round Draw- and preview

The draw for the First Qualifying Round of the FA Trophy was made earlier, and it produced a number of intriguing ties for our clubs- as well as a large number of inter-Bostik matchups.

Chipstead’s reward for victory over Welwyn Garden City is a home draw with Berkhampstead, 5-1 winners over South Park, whilst Brentwood Town and Whitstable Town, both 4-1 winners at the weekend, face each other. Hythe Town, 2-0 winners over FC Romania, entertain Jamie Cureton and Bishop’s Stortford, whilst Molesey celebrate their first victory of the season by becoming reacquainted with Walton Casuals. Last season in the South Division Casuals defeated them 2-1 on two occasions, so a modicum of revenge is in order.

Kingstonian entertain Bedford Town, a side who walloped Tilbury 4-1 on Saturday, whilst we have four all-Premier Division clashes, as Margate entertain the Scholars, The Hillians host Worthing, Folkestone entertain Leatherhead- and we’ve a battle of the Hawks, as Whitehawk host Harlow Town.

Horsham’s reward for victory over Ware is the arrival of Corinthian-casuals, whilst Bostik new boys Sevenoaks Town celebrate a crushing victory over Grays Athletic by taking a trip to Meadowbank, where Dorking Wanderers lie in wait.

Hayes & Yeading United head for Hitchin Town, who sit third from bottom of Southern Premier Central but knocked Hastings United out of the FA Cup recently and face Leatherhead in the same competition on Saturday, whilst Maldon & Tiptree will entertain Hitchin’s rivals Royston Town.

Haringey Borough, who reached the First Round Proper of the competition last year before falling to Leyton Orient, start their campaign against Chesham United, bottom of the Southern Premier South, whilst whichever of Ashford Town and Westfield emerge victorious tomorrow night will host Lewes.

Enfield Town will renew acquaintances with Lowestoft Town. Both of last season’s fixtures between the side ended 3-0, with one win each, so this looks to guarantee goals (so put your money on a 0-0). Which ever of Ramsgate and Phoenix Sports emerges victorious from their replay will head to AFC Hornchurch, whilst East Grinstead Town won’t have to travel anywhere near as far as they did on Saturday, as Merstham is much closer than Great Wakering.

Tonbridge Angels won’t want to underestimate Whyteleafe, who scored four goals as Hastings at the weekend, whilst VCD Athletic will host last year’s Bostik Premier Playoff Semi-Finalists Leiston, currently fourth in Southern Premier Central. Mildenhall Town’s reward for victory yesterday is a home match with Greenwich Borough, 4-1 winners over Egham Town, whilst Carshalton Athletic travel to Bostik old boys Metropolitan Police.

Canvey Island’s reward for victory over Cray Wanderers will be the arrival of Brightlingsea Regent, whilst there is a mouth-watering tie in prospect between Bracknell Town and Bognor Regis Town.

Finally, Aveley will host Dunstable Town, who defeated Northwood at the weekend, whilst James Beardwell will be delighted with the train journey in prospect as the Witham Town superfan will be following his side to Herne Bay.

Ties will be played on or around Saturday 27th October, and winners will receive £3,500. The draw- as it impacts on our clubs- is below:

29 Chipstead v Berkhamsted
30 Sittingbourne v Wingate & Finchley
31 Brentwood Town v Whitstable Town
32 Hythe Town v Bishop’s Stortford
33 Molesey v Walton Casuals
34 Kingstonian v Bedford Town
35 Margate v Potters Bar Town
36 Horsham v Corinthian Casuals
37 Burgess Hill Town v Worthing
38 Dorking Wanderers v Sevenoaks Town
40 Hitchin Town v Hayes & Yeading United
41 Maldon & Tiptree v Royston Town
42 Haringey Borough v Chesham United
43 Ashford Town (Middx) or Westfield v Lewes
44 Lowestoft Town v Enfield Town
45 AFC Hornchurch v Phoenix Sports or Ramsgate
47 Folkestone Invicta v Leatherhead
48 Merstham v East Grinstead Town
49 Tonbridge Angels v Whyteleafe
51 VCD Athletic v Leiston
52 Mildenhall Town v Greenwich Borough
53 Metropolitan Police v Carshalton Athletic
54 Canvey Island v Brightlingsea Regent
55 Bracknell Town v Bognor Regis Town
56 Whitehawk v Harlow Town
57 Aveley v Dunstable Town
59 Herne Bay v Witham Town