A Kentish Semi-Final showdown

The Velocity Cup Final, to be played at Parkside, home of Aveley FC, on Wednesday 17th April, already has one finalist- Pitching In Isthmian Premier side Hashtag United, who, coincidentally, will be playing at Parkside from next season. Tonight we find out who will take on the Tags, as Chatham Town, who rather thankfully given the weather have a 3G pitch, welcome Ashford United.

The Chats have had a fine Premier season so far. For much of the campaign they’ve been the chief- or, looking at the table today, only- side to challenge Hornchurch for the title, and they’ve been particularly good on their own patch, with more home wins than anyone else in the top flight. That is why they sit in second place, nine points behind the Urchins but eleven ahead of third place Wingate & Finchley. This is the first of two Semi-Finals they have scheduled for this month, as next Tuesday night they are off to Ebbsfleet United in the last four of the Kent Cup- but we’re sure they’ll be entirely focused on tonight’s match, to ensure they aren’t the victims of a giantkilling.

The visiting Nuts and Bolts will be rather familiar with the Bauvill Stadium as they played some of their early-season home fixtures there due to issues with the pitch at Homelands. United are having a rather mixed campaign, and in their last two fixtures have lost heavily to Pitching In Isthmian South East promotion candidates Ramsgate and Sittingbourne, but they will undoubtedly be focused on the task at hand this evening, as it is their best chance to salvage something from a rather average season. They have already disposed of a Premier side in the competition this season, defeating Hastings United in the last round.

The sides met three times last season when both were in the South East Division, and the Chats won all three, triumphing one-nil and four-one in the league and progressing on penalties in the Kent Cup after a two-all draw.

Kick off is at 7.45 PM.

Image from Max English.

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