A South East- and Cup- Saturday

We've matches in Pitching In Isthmian South East, and a number of South East clubs playing in the FA Cup. Here's our preview of the action, starting with the bread and butter.

With Beckenham Town in Cup action and Whitehawk not playing, Ramsgate will go top of the table if they can defeat Lancing. The Rams are unbeaten, with three wins out of four, but they did slip up against another Sussex side, Littlehampton Town, in the FA Trophy in midweek. The Lancers did win their last league match, against Chichester City, but were themselves dumped out of the Trophy on Tuesday night, experiencing a hammering at the hands of Cray Valley PM.

East Grinstead Town welcome Sheppey United knowing that a win will take them into the top five- fourth place Chatham Town away on cup duty. The Wasps saw an impressive four match unbeaten run come to an end when being knocked out of both FA Competitions by Beckenham Town and Wroxham in their last two matches, but had performed impressively prior to that, with Matt Daniel having scored in six consecutive matches- eight goals for the campaign. Life at Step Four hasn’t been particularly positive so far for the Ites, and they are yet to record a league win- yet they have also had their moments, and with nine goal Warren Mfula in good form surely that win will arrive soon. We’ll be covering this one, so see a report here by five PM.

Faversham Town have picked up two one-nil wins from their last two matches, performing impressively against Ashford United and Chichester City. They’ll hope to continue that run as VCD Athletic arrive, knowing that a win will take them above their visitors in the table. Vickers have lost their last three in all competitions, but those defeats did come against leaders Beckenham Town, premier Division Carshalton Athletic and North Division promotion hopefuls Grays Athletic.

Haywards Heath Town have absolutely not had the start they might have expected, without a win in any competition and having picked up just one solitary point so far. Heath welcome Littlehampton Town, the Golds form in contrast with their former SCFL rivals as they start the day in fifth place, a three match unbeaten run having seen them keep three clean sheets. Three points at Hanbury Park could see them climb as high as second.

Right, onto the road to Wembley!

Cray Valley PM play host to Hanwell Town, the Geordies having had a fine start to life in Pitching In Southern Premier South following their promotion from our ranks last season. That said, they saw a six match unbeaten run come to an end in midweek, whilst the Millers own six match unbeaten run remains intact- they haven’t lost since the opening day and walloped Premier side Hastings United in the last round.

Beckenham Town lost their unbeaten record in midweek, albeit only in a penalty shootout. Our Pitching In Isthmian South East leaders are on the road to take on National League South Dartford at Princes Park, home of the giant wooden man. The Darts haven’t yet found any consistency, winning four and losing four of their eight matches so far, and they’ll need to be very careful if they are to avoid slipping up, as Becks have been quite magnificent, particularly striker Louis Theophanous who is already on nine goals for the campaign.

Folkestone Invicta will hope to bounce back from their surprise midweek defeat to Cray Wanderers, as Chichester City arrive from West Sussex. Invicta were unbeaten prior to that match, whilst City have seen a very positive start to the campaign slow a little of late, with two narrow defeats from their last three matches.

Lewes scored eight goals against Pitching In Isthmian South East opposition in the last round, but Three Bridges will expect to put up a stronger fight as they arrive at the Dripping Pan for a Sussex derby. The Rooks lost for the first time this season in midweek, whilst Bridges fought off a Hullbridge Sports comeback to knock the Pitching In Isthmian North side out of the FA Trophy. Bridges have scored sixteen goals so far this season, and will hope to add to that this weekend.

Metropolitan Police are the hosts for Burgess Hill Town, and their boss Jay Lovett, who used to play at Imber Court. The boys in blue fought their way past Corinthian in the last round, and sit in fifth place in Pitching In Southern Premier South, but the Hillians, despite difficulties in the league, have been fabulous in cup competitions, beating Corinthian-Casuals and Felixstowe & Walton United on the road in their last two matches.

Phoenix Sports have lost only once since dropping into the SCEFL at the end of last season, and perhaps we’ll see them return soon. Sevenoaks Town are their visitors, Oaks having knocked out Premier side Kingstonian in the last round and with Ryan Gondoh already on six goals for the season. Last season’s meetings ended with six points for Town.

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.

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