A top two tussle- whilst the Crows and Ites look to slay giants in the Cup

We start our preview in the FA Cup, where Crowborough Athletic hope to slay another ‘giant,’ Wimborne Town of Pitching In Southern Premier South making the trip to Sussex. The Crows have not had the finest start to their League campaign but have been different gravy in knockout competitions, knocking Hampton & Richmond Borough of National League South and AFC Whyteleafe of our top flight out of the competition already. Their visitors are eleven unbeaten in all competitions- and knocked South Central side Moneyfields out of the FA Trophy last weekend.

Sheppey United take a break from the League to welcome Pitching In Southern Premier side Chertsey Town. The Ites have won four in a row in all competitions, whilst Chertsey have already beaten Isthmian opposition in knockout competitions, knocking out Welling United and Carshalton Athletic in Cup and Trophy. 

South East

Hastings United have had a fantastic start to the campaign, and put out a much changed side in the Velocity Cup in midweek as they attempted to keep their first choice XI fresh for their trip to second place South Park Reigate. The two sides start the weekend with a point between them in United’s favour, but the Sparks are five unbeaten and will fancy their chances. 

Broadbridge Heath are in fourth, five points behind the leaders, and the Bears will hope to reduce that margin- and climb to third- by defeating visitors Whitstable Town. The Bears have lost their last two League matches but were victorious in the Velocity Cup in midweek; whilst the Oysterboys were superb in their last League match, defeating Faversham Town, and walloped Deal Town four-nil on Tuesday in the Cup. They’ll hope to continue that run- but Heath are unbeaten on their own patch.

Faversham Town came from two-nil down to draw level at Steyning Town in midweek, and then quickly conceded a losing goal- which made it two three-two defeats in a row. The Lilywhites will hope to return to winning ways as Erith Town come to call, the Dockers three points further back- but having played two matches fewer. Erith took four points from Faversham last season, their last meeting a three-two win for the Dockers back in January.

Sittingbourne, in sixth, host Merstham, the Moatsiders down in the bottom four after only one League win all season. The Brickies have lost three in a row and will want to make sure that poor form stops, whilst their visitors are five without a win in the League, but did win a penalty shootout to progress in the Velocity Cup in midweek. 

The last time the Brickies lost to the Moatsiders on their own patch was way back in December 2014. 

Sevenoaks Town have climbed up to seventh after winning three in a row, and five unbeaten Oaks welcome Ashford United, the Nuts and Bolts with one League win in five. The last three meetings between the sides saw two two-two draws and, last time out, a win for United, two-one in November last year.

Herne Bay start the weekend in eighth, six points behind the leaders with a game in hand, and will welcome Steyning Town, the Barrowmen boosted by a fine win over Faversham Town in midweek. That was Steyning’s first home win of the season, but they have been better on the road, whilst Bay have a one hundred percent record on their own patch- but have only played their twice!

Margate have a trip to a different seaside, as they travel to Peacehaven and Telscombe. Gate are four without a win, including three defeats, whilst their hosts have one win from seven and find themselves in sixteenth, albeit only three points behind their ninth place visitors.

Deal Town, four unbeaten in the League, will hope to keep that run going as they host Eastbourne Town- fifteenth v eighteenth. The visitors have lost three of their last four, and rather bizarrely their last three results have seen four-nil and five-nil defeats and a seven-nil win, so who knows which Eastbourne Town will turn up. The four meetings between the sides since both returned to our level have each ended in a home win, and delivered goals galore- the aggregate score fifteen-twelve in Deal’s favour!

Punjab United picked up their first win of the campaign in midweek, and will want to build on that as they welcome a Horley Town side who are three points better off. Horley have won three of their last four League matches- the other one was somehow a seven-nil hammering- but they conceded seven in the Velocity Cup in midweek, whilst their hosts hope to go three unbeaten.