Saturday is FA Trophy Day!

Bedford Town currently sit in 6th place in the Southern League Division One Central, so should be the underdogs going into tomorrow’s match with our high-flying Worthing. But the Mackerel Men need to guard against over-confidence, as Bedford have already defeated SIX Bostik League clubs in cup competitions so far this season. Dereham Town, Enfield Town, Cheshunt, Tilbury, Kingstonian and Chipstead have come up short against the Eagles, and Adam Hinselwood will want to ensure that his side don’t become the third of our Premier Division top six to find themselves dumped on their backsides. Worthing are unbeaten in their last eight matches, and will be hopeful of getting through to a match against one of the bigger sides in the Non League game in the next round.

Carshalton Athletic take on Walton Casuals, and we shouldn’t have to introduce the visitors, promoted within our League before moving sideways in the summer. Anthony Gale’s men are exactly half way up the Southern South Premier, and if they could find some consistency would be higher still- but they’ve taken some notable scalps this season, including Bognor Regis Town in the last round, Salisbury, Staines Town and Harrow Borough.

Wingate & Finchley will look to put their mixed league form behind them and replicate the outcome of their last FA Trophy match, in which they came from two down to defeat Tiverton Town in Devon. They’re heading west once more, this time to Chippenham Town, a side who sit in eighth place in National League South and have lost only one of their last six games.

We have an all-Bostik tie as Hayes & Yeading United host Brightlingsea Regent. The home side come into this match in the unusual position of having lost two matches in a row- to Marlow last weekend and at Folkestone Invicta midweek. The last time United had such a run they scored six in their next game, so Regent beware! The Premier Division side have had an up-and-down sort of season, and have also lost their last two matches- but will be looking to striker Billy Hunt to break into double figures and secure them victory.

Horsham are in magnificent form of late. They’ve already dumped two higher division clubs out of this competition during the last month, and will be looking to add the scalp of Bath City to a list that already includes Potters Bar Town and Corinthian-Casuals. With seven wins and a draw from their last eight matches you certainly wouldn’t want to bet against the Hornets, but National League South side Bath City will be a stern test. You might recall that City were the side who ended Lewes’ interest in the FA Cup last month. This match will be played at Culver Road, Lancing, on Sunday.

Lewes also host National League South opposition, the Rooks taking on Hemel Hempstead Town. Ninth in their division, The Tudors defeated East Thurrock United last weekend, and earlier in the season knocked North Division leaders Bowers & Pitsea out of the FA Cup by beating them 6-1, then followed this by defeating Ramsgate 5-0. Incidentally, the Tudors are so called because Henry VIII gave the town a royal charter in 1539, and a five minute walk down the road from the Dripping Pan lies the home of one of his former wives, Anne of Cleeves (divorced, if you’re reciting that little rhyme in your head). Away fans might want to pop down there before the game- although they might find the burgers at the Chuck Wagon and the beer in the Rooks clubhouse more appealing, if less educational.

Our League leaders Dorking Wanderers travel to Poole Town. The Dolphins have had their share of Bostik League opposition this season, having beaten Horsham in the FA Cup after a replay, lost to Haringey Borough in the same competition, and more recently knocked Brentwood Town out of the Trophy after a replay. Hopefully they won’t need to face any more of our sides this season, as Dorking will knock them out! Marc White’s men won’t find it easy, however, as Poole have been in fine form since that Haringey loss.

Greenwich Borough fans will have to be very early risers tomorrow, as they head all the way to Plainmoor, the home of Torquay United, to take on Truro City. City, who are currently sharing with the Gulls as they await a move back to their home ground, are five matches unbeaten in the National League South and defeated Dulwich Hamlet and Chelmsford City most recently. Borough shouldn’t be overawed, as their form seems to be on the up, too- and of course they defeated higher level opposition, Bishop’s Stortford, in the last round. By the way, Borough fans, there’s a fabulous fish and chip shop on St Marychurch Road, about five minutes from the ground.

Finally, Folkestone Invicta will be heading to the noisy neighbours of South Central Division Westfield, as they face Woking at Kingfield. It’ll be a difficult task for Neil Cugley’s men with the Cards sitting pretty at the top of National League South and having lost only two home matches last season- but if Dulwich Hamlet can do it, then Invicta can do it! The last time the sides met in this competition, according to Invicta’s Mick Cork, Woking won 8-4- we don’t expect quite so many goals this weekend!

We’ve also got matches across each of our divisions. See the entire programme here.