A South East and Cup Saturday

It's FA Cup time again, as eight of our South East sides tackle the First Qualifying Round. 

Leatherhead welcome Croydon Athletic to Fetcham Grove. The Tanners started the campaign strongly but have lost two of their last three, whilst Athletic started their campaign slowly but have bounced back to win four in a row.

AFC Whyteleafe hit the road to Crowborough Athletic. The Crows have lost three in a row in League and Trophy, whilst Leafe are still without a win after six matches. Leafe defeated Athletic twice last season, by an aggregate score of eleven-nil.

Faversham Town welcome Welling United in a Kentish derby. The Lilywhites have had a fine start to their season, unbeaten in seven matches- and have won each of their four home fixtures so far. Wings fly in hoping to bounce back from defeat at Cray wanderers last time out, but were in good form prior to that and will be determined not to lose to their South East hosts.

Margate are at home to SCEFL Premier side Snodland Town. Gate are unbeaten in the League although this will only be their second home fixture of the campaign; whilst their visitors are flying high in the League, have won three in a row in all competitions, and already have an Isthmian scalp, defeating Harrow Borough in the last round.

Redhill of Combined Counties Premier are hosts for Sheppey United. Redhill are third and unbeaten in the League; indeed their only defeat in any competition came in the FA Vase, and they are particularly strong on their own patch. The Ites are having a bit of an inconsistent campaign but have been best on the road, only Faversham Town getting the better of them on their travels, and even then only just.

SE Dons of SCEFL Premier are at home to our very own Erith Town, the visitors flying- but their hosts are doing the same. Dons are unbeaten in all competitions with five wins and two draws, and scoring goals for fun; whilst our Dockers have a open hundred percent start in the League, FA Cup and FA Trophy- indeed they’ve only lost in the County Cup, and even that defeat came on penalties. This one looks a cracker!

Sittingbourne face the challenge of AFC Greenwich Borough, their visitors currently top of SCEFL Premier, unbeaten in all competitions and with six wins from seven competitive matches so far; including a Cup win over Cray Valley PM. The Brickies have taken ten points from twelve in the League, and their only defeat so far came last weekend in the FA Trophy, so they won’t be short on confidence. 

Whitstable Town hit the road to take on Pitching In Southern Premier side Hanworth Villa. The Villains have had a super start to their first Step Three campaign and sit third in the table. They’ve also won each of their home matches. The Oysterboys have only won one of four in the League but have been flying in cup competitions, with three wins from three so far. 

We also have five fixtures in Pitching In Isthmian South East.

Leaders Hastings United take their one hundred percent record along the A27 and up the A23 (other routes are available) as they take on Horley Town, United in fine form, Horley having picked up their first ever Step four win last time out- and indeed having won two matches in a row. Broadbridge Heath could climb as high as second of they could defeat ninth place Merstham, but both sides are unbeaten- and the Moatsiders could climb above their hosts with victory. 

Ashford United are at home to Eastbourne Town, fourteenth versus tenth with only a point between them, whilst twelfth place Peacehaven & Telscombe are back at their own seaside as visitors Deal Town try a different variety of sea air- and hope for a first point, or more, of the campaign. 

Cray Valley PM have only one defeat from their first four matches but only three points nonetheless, and will hope for a first win as they host Sevenoaks Town, Oaks also looking for a first win after two draws from four.