A South Central- and Cup- Saturday

Our Pitching In Isthmian South Central sides are in league and cup action this afternoon- and here's our preview of both, starting with the bread and butter stuff!

First takes on third as Chertsey Town arrive at Northwood- and the Curfews could replace Woods at the top of the table if they pick up three points. The hosts have a perfect league record so far, four matches and four wins, but fell to defeat in the FA Trophy in midweek; whilst the Curfews have gone three matches without a win and have similar cup form to their hosts, knocked out of Trophy and FA Cup.

Basingstoke Town welcome an Ashford Town (Middx) side who will be confident after winning three of their last four and who could move up into second place- although more likely third- were they to win again. Stoke haven’t yet found their form, picking up only one league win and out of Cup and Trophy, but they have scored fifteen goals in their last five matches so once they get things right at the other end should be a force.

Guernsey play hosts to Leatherhead in an all-green clash in the Channel Islands. The Tanners have lost three of their four league matches so far and have also departed Cup and Trophy this month, whilst the Green Lions picked up their first win last time out, and aren’t in the cup competitions.

Hanworth Villa, big winners in the FA Trophy at Northwood in midweek, are still looking for their first league win after drawing three of their four league matches. Thatcham Town have also failed to pick up three points in any of their league matches this season, but like their hosts progressed in the FA Trophy on Tuesday night, the Kingfishers winning at Cinderford Town.

Marlow will look to bounce back after three successive defeats when they host Chipstead. Prior to those three matches- against Uxbridge, Binfield and Sutton Common Rovers- Marlow were unbeaten, so they’ll hope their defensive solidity returns against the Chips, who were impressive in their four-two win over Waltham Abbey in midweek. Another win for the visitors will take them level on points with their hosts.

Southall will climb into the top five if they can defeat Tooting & Mitcham United. The hosts won a penalty shootout at Haywards Heath in midweek, and have had a steady start to the season; whilst the Terrors haven’t delivered a great deal of Terror so far, with only league win. They also took part in a midweek shootout, but in their case the outcome wasn’t so positive.

Now, onto the glory of the Cup!

Binfield are in magnificent form. Unbeaten, five consecutive wins, six wins out of seven, five clean sheets in a row, AB1 Goalkeeping Golden Gloves Award- it’s been rather close to a perfect start to the season for the Moles. They welcome National League South side Tonbridge Angels, who are also in decent form. The visitors are undoubtedly the favourites, but you never know, they might just trip over a Molehill!

Eastbourne Borough of National League South is the destination for Uxbridge. The travelling Red Army will be on the road to Sussex once more, having already defeated Hassocks in this competition, but they may find the Sports a tougher prospect- depending on which Borough side turns up, they’ve been rather inconsistent. Uxbridge will try to channel the memories of last season’s FA Trophy win against Chippenham Town and spring another surprise.

Walton & Hersham v Chatham Town will be broadcast live by the BBC. The Swans are on a magnificent run which has seen them lose only one of ten matches this season, and have already defeated Kennington, Littlehampton Town and Beaconsfield Town to reach this stage. The Pitching In Isthmian South East Chats are also in superb form, and travel to the Xcel Sports Hub on the back of six successive wins. The Cup has seen them score ten goals in defeating Little Common, Colliers Wood United and Midhurst & Easebourne.

Westfield host Carshalton Athletic. Both are struggling for consistency, but both have been magnificent on occasions; Field when scoring four goals against Leatherhead, Basingstoke Town and Ashford United, Athletic in a win at Horsham and a five-one thrashing of VCD Athletic in the last round. The visitors will be the favourites, but the hosts are not short of style, should they remember to bring it with them.

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