Another South Central Trophy Weekend

It's an international weekend, and we suspect that most of our clubs will be showing the England match in the clubhouse on Saturday afternoon just after their own match ends- so you've all the more reason to head along. 

AFC Portchester saw their FA Cup hopes come to an end against Gloucester City in midweek, but will hope to put that quickly behind them as they return to the On-Site Group Stadium to take on Flackwell Heath. They’ve played some good football this season, but they may need to be at their best. Heath are flying high in Pitching In Southern Division One Central, yet to lose, and last weekend knocked Pitching In Isthmian Premier side Lewes out of the FA Cup.

Ascot United welcome Three Bridges in a South Central v South East knockout on FRIDAY. The Yellas have had a mixed start to their campaign, wing each of their home matches and losing every match on the road, so will be delighted to be back at their Racecourse Ground. Bridges started the season superbly, winning their first five matches in league and cups, but have since lost their last two, so will be hoping for a reaction.

Bedfont Sports have been superb since their return to Step Four, and are looking for a fourth win in a row- and indeed a fourth home win in a row- as they welcome South Central rivals Horndean. The Deans have gone five without a win and will most definitely travel as underdogs- perhaps they might find that inspiring?

Bognor Regis Town picked up our Performance of the Month Award earlier this week, in recognition of their opening day win at AFC Portchester, but the Rocks haven’t delivered a similar performance since then, and indeed are without a victory from their subsequent five matches. The Rocks welcome Sevenoaks Town to Chichester City on SUNDAY, Oaks looking to bounce back from their Cup defeat against Folkestone Invicta last weekend but otherwise in good form. They were four unbeaten before they met the Stripes, and that was their only defeat in five matches on the road, so they travel well.

East Grinstead Town have had a dreadful start to the season, the Wasps having lost six in a row. They welcome Pitching In Isthmian South Central side Binfield, the Moles in seventh place after taking seven points from their last three matches.

Fareham Town take a five match unbeaten run- which includes four wins and five clean sheets- into their match with Beaconsfield Town. Their visitors sit in fifth spot in Pitching In Southern Division One Central, and have a one hundred percent record on the road, so this one may be rather close!

Harrow Borough welcome Eastbourne Town, South Central v South East. Borough have started their League campaign positively, winning three of their four matches so far, so much so that even their match reporter Brian Walter seems cheerful- although it may just be wind. They are looking for a third win in a row, and indeed a second home win in a row against Sussex opposition, after defeating Bognor the last time they were on their own patch. Town have had a mixed start to the campaign but recorded their first win of the season when defeating East Grinstead Town last Saturday.

Hayes and Yeading United entertain Met Police in another all South Central clash. United are one of the sides most fancied for promotion this season but haven’t had the best of starts, with only one win from four so far, whilst Met are three points better off, and four unbeaten in League and Trophy. Both meetings between the sides last season ended in home wins.

Kingstonian host Merstham in a South Central v South East battle. The K’s haven’t had the most positive start to the campaign but have climbed into the top five by winning two of their last three, whilst the Moatsiders are fourth in the South East Division but have played only one of their six matches in all competitions away from home, victory in Deal a fortnight ago. Victory would take the visitors unbeaten run up to four.

Leatherhead, who picked up our Manager of the Month and Golden Gloves Awards this week after as perfect start to their South Central campaign, meet their former manager and a collection of their former players as Raynes Park Vale come to call. Vale are only one place behind them in the table and will be looking to bounce back from Cup defeat last weekend- and indeed to avoid a third defeat in a row. 

Littlehampton Town play host to Hendon in another all South Central clash. The Golds started the season well but have lost their last three- conceding ten goals in the process; whilst Hendon are still looking for a first League win of the campaign and indeed a first win of any kind, after two draws and three defeats in League and Cup. 

Moneyfields are the hosts for Thame United. The Moneys are without a win since August 9th but have somehow earned two four-four draws from their last three matches, the other one a four-nil defeat. Their visitors, however, have lost each of their three league matches so far, and indeed have one win and four defeats from five in all competitions. 

Southall will look to kick start their season as they welcome AFC Whyteleafe on Sunday. The All have played seven times this season in League and Cup and won once, way back on August 6th in an Extra-Preliminary Round Replay. Leafe had a fine start to the campaign winning their opening five fixtures, but have since lost two in a row and will hope to stop that sequence. 

South Park Reigate is the destination for the Bears of Broadbridge Heath. The Sparks have won only one of their last five in all competitions, whilst their visitors won in the Velocity Cup at Hassocks last weekend and have been generally impressive, unbeaten in the league and having last lost on August 2nd. 

Westfield welcome Margate to Woking Park. Gate are, perhaps surprisingly, still looking for their first league win of the season, although that doesn’t tell the entire story as their only league defeat came against Sittingbourne on our second matchday.  Field are looking for a third consecutive home win- and defeated Gate’s South East rivals Sheppey United in the Cup last time out.