The FA Cup, from A to…W

By Ian Townsend

Saturday is FA Cup First Qualifying Round day, and- of course- the day when most of our Bostik Premier Division sides enter the competition for the first time. Here’s our preview.


AFC Hornchurch will put their unbeaten start to the season to the test, whilst hoping not to have another draw (they’ve drawn the last five) as they host former rivals Harrow Borough. Borough sit in eleventh place in Evo-Stik Southern Premier South, having won two, drawn two and lost two. They were held by Steve Claridge’s Salisbury last weekend.

AFC Sudbury host Royston Town, who are eleventh in Evo-Stik Southern Premier South Central, and last weekend came from behind to win at Barwell, whilst Marlow travel to Aylesbury United of Southern Division One Central. The Ducks play at Chesham United, so this match has been moved to SUNDAY to avoid a fixture clash with their hosts.

Basildon United are at home to Peterborough Sports, who currently sit top of Southern Division One Central, whilst Bowers & Pitsea are playing at Aveley for what they hope is the last time, as they host Takeley of the Essex Senior League. Takeley have won every match so far this season so will provide a stern test.

Brentwood Town face Haringey Borough, whilst we’ve another all Bostik tie at the Green Elephants Stadium as Burgess Hill Town, who won for the first time this season in midweek, take on Neil Cugley’s Folkestone Invicta.

Bury Town have yet to find any consistency this season, and have quite a long trip to Burnham, of Hellenic League Division One East, whilst Brightlingsea Regent have a far shorter journey, their trip being to Cambridge City, who these days are in mid table in Southern Division One Central and have won only once this season. City lost to Leiston in the League Cup in midweek.

Chalfont St Peter also entertain Southern Division One Central competition in Kempston Rovers, whilst Cheshunt say hello to Bostik League old boys- and Premier Division Playoff Semi-Finalists- Leiston. Glen Driver’s side sit third in their new division. Coggeshall Town’s reward for defeating local rivals Witham in this week’s replay is the visit of Berkhampstead, who sit one place below Cambridge City in their league.

Horsham travel to Corinthian of the SCEFL, who of course defeated Chipstead in the last round, whilst the other Corinthian-Casuals- renew their acquaintance with Whyteleafe; whilst Dorking Wanderers have what looks a tricky tie as they host Hartley Wintney, who currently sit in seventh place in the Southern Premier South.

Egham Town have a new manager and a Thames derby as they face our former Bostik Premier side Staines Town. The Swans have had a mixed start to their first season in the Southern League, but won 2-0 at Poole Town last time out. Enfield Town have, of course, had an unbeaten start to the campaign, and they entertain Bedford Town, seventh in Southern Division One Central, whilst FC Romania host Soham Town Rangers- but not at their usual home of Cheshunt, this match has been moved to Bedfont Sports.

The reward for Lewes’ 8-1 victory over Molesey in midweek is a trip to Farnborough, ninth in Southern South Premier but who defeated league leaders Weymouth last time out, whilst Worthing put their unbeaten start to the test with a trip to Faversham Town. Fleet Town, who were almost a Bostik League club this season, host East Grinstead Town with neither side having started the campaign all that well, indeed they have only one point between them. As Fleet have that, perhaps they start as favourites?

Great Wakering Rovers entertain Wisbech Town, who occupy thirteenth spot in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier Division One East and who most recently lost 5-2 at Morpeth Town, whilst Hanwell Town will be looking to dent the Scholars good start to the season as Potters Bar head around the M25. High flying Hastings United, with a one hundred per cent record and scoring for fun, host stuttering Kingstonian at the Pilot Field; whilst another side with shooting boots permanently at the ready, Hayes & Yeading United, entertain AFC Rushden and Diamonds, these days a fan-owned club in Southern League Premier Central.

Two familiar names face-off at Silver Jubilee Park, as Hendon host Harlow Town- and remember that if you’re off to the England match on Saturday evening you can get into this game at a reduced rate- whilst Heybridge Swifts are looking to have another magnificent cup run and dispatch Newmarket Town.
Tooting & Mitcham United will need to take care not to slip up as they travel to Southern Combination side Horsham YMCA, who defeated Ashford United at Homelands in the last round, whilst we have a rip-roaring Kentish derby at Hythe Town, where Bostik Premier Division leaders Tonbridge Angels will put their unbeaten record to the test. Will Hythe have the Ansah to Angels mean defence (sorry, couldn’t resist)?

Leatherhead take on a Herne Bay side still looking for their first victory, but the Tanners are still misfiring so that could be closer than it looks, whilst Merstham will be letting NHS staff in for free as they entertain Cray Valley PM, conquerors of Ashford Town in the last round. Margate host Horndean in the presence of their shirt sponsors The Libertines-whilst Cray Wanderers reward for their penalty shootout victory over Rusthall on Wednesday is a trip to Imber Court to take on Met Police, who now sit in twelfth place in Evo-Stik Southern Premier South, whilst Thamesmead Town, 5-4 winners over Sittingbourne last weekend, head to Portsmouth to take on Moneyfields.

Northwood host Kings Langley of the Southern Premier South, their opponents having managed only one league victory so far this season, whilst Whitehawk, who used to sing about never ever going back to Bognor, are almost there as they face the Rocks Sussex coast neighbours Pagham, third in the SCFL Premier and unbeaten so far this season. Phoenix Sports entertain Lancing, also of the SCFL, and who as you will no doubt recall put seven past Greenwich Borough in the last round after knocking Haywards Heath Town out in the previous one, whilst we have an all South East Division tie between Ramsgate and Sevenoaks Town.

Romford play on SUNDAY, and they have a real test as they take on Kettering Town. Kettering are leaders of South Premier Division One Central, have won every match so far, and have scored 14 goals- conceding only three- in the process. Boro have had a good start to the campaign, however, and shouldn’t be overawed.

Sittingbourne face Gosport Borough, tenth in the Southern Premier South, whilst Bishop’s Stortford travel to St Neots Town of Southern Premier Central. Ware entertain our former Bostik Premier side Lowestoft Town, currently seventh in the Southern Premier Central, whilst the Rocks of Bognor put their unbeaten record to the test as they travel to Whitstable Town.

Finally, Wingate & Finchley take on Didcot Town, mid table in Southern Division One Central, and who defeated Cambridge City 2-1 in the League last weekend.

In the Velocity Trophy, Maldon & Tiptree, top of the North Division, take on Uxbridge.

Where next?

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