Up for the…County Cups!

By Ian Townsend

A number of our clubs are doing exceptionally well in their County Cup competitions this year. We thought we’d take a look at the runners and riders.

We don’t normally give too much coverage to County Cup competitions, not because they aren’t wonderful in their own way but because the day doesn’t have enough hours! But we thought we’d make an exception because so many of our clubs are doing incredibly well in them this season! To avoid accusations of favouritism, let’s have a quick round up in alphabetical order.

Marlow are first up. Our Bostik South Central high flyers have defeated Didcot, Ascot United and most recently the might of MK Dons to progress to the Semi-Final of the Berks and Bucks County Cup. They will entertain Slough Town, date to be confirmed, and the winners will take on either National League Maidenhead United or Championship strugglers Reading.

Sadly Soham Town Rangers lost to Histon in the Semi-Finals of the Cambridge County Cup, and the Essex County Cup saw a similar outcome for AFC Hornchurch at the hands of Chelmsford City, but Cheshunt are through to the Semi-Finals of the Hertfordshire County Cup after victory over Stevenage Borough. They’ll travel to either Boreham Wood or Hemel Hempstead Town, date to be confirmed.

The Kent Senior Cup Semi-Finals will see Tonbridge Angels, who have already defeated Ebbsfleet United, Whitstable Town and Sittingbourne, host another National League side in Bromley. The match will be played on 19th March, and should they triumph once more their opponents in the Final will be either Maidstone United or Gillingham.

We have no representatives in the Semi-Final of the London County Cup after Wingate & Finchley were narrowly defeated by Brentford in the Quarter Finals, and the Middlesex County Cup saw Hayes & Yeading United fall to Semi-Final defeat in a penalty shootout earlier this week, Harrow Borough the victors.

Dereham Town have flown the Bostik flag with style in the Norfolk County Cup, and will face Swaffham Town in the Semi-Finals having scored six goals in each of their last two ties, despatching Diss Town and Acle United. The Magpies last lifted the trophy in 2016, and should they triumph will take on either Thetford Town (the home of Dad’s Army, for those who like unrelated trivia!) or Mattishall in the Final. Just over the border, in Suffolk, the Premier Cup sees Felixstowe and Walton United face Stowmarket Town in the Semi-Final, and if they win they will take on either Leiston or Ipswich Town Under 18's in the Final- they defeated Hadleigh United, Woodbridge Town and Long Melford to get to this stage.

The Surrey County Cup seems to be progressing remarkably slowly! The Semi-Finals will certainly include Tooting & Mitcham United, who have defeated Colliers Wood United and Corinthian-Casuals so far, but holders Merstham still have to face Met Police in the Second Round, and if they win that we will see an all-Bostik match against Kingstonian to see who joins the Terrors in the last four.

Finally, three of the four Semi-Finalists in the Sussex Senior Cup are from the Bostik League. Haywards Heath Town and Burgess Hill Town will clash at Culver Road on 27th February, and the winners will face either Bognor Regis Town or Brighton Under 23’s in the final at the Amex, with their Semi-Final also at Culver Road on March 5th. Both of these games will kick off at 7.15 PM.

Congratulations to all of our successful teams, and hopefully we’ll get to cover a few finals this season!

Where next?

Carlton Cannon! Forward moves from Herne Bay to Hythe Town
Bowers go eleven clear as Romford's woes continue It was a good night for our North Division leaders...not so good for the team at the bottom

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