It’s a Premier and Cup Saturday!

Emirates FA Cup

Wingate and Finchley have already defeated one Bedford side in a knockout competition this season, and they’ll get the chance to do so again as they travel to National League North side Bedford Town. The hosts are in tenth place and five games unbeaten on their own patch, whilst the Blues are five unbeaten in all competitions and looking to slay another giant, having defeated National League South side Hemel Hempstead Town in the last round. 

Brentwood Town welcome Dagenham & Redbridge, a sell out crowd, the actual FA Cup and the BBC cameras- the match will be live via the red button- to the Arena. The Blues are in their best form of the season so far, whilst the Daggers are in second place in National League South- but have been rather inconsistent on the road.

Cray Wanderers reward for their win over Maidstone United is the visit of Chippenham Town. Wands are five unbeaten and won five-one on the road in midweek, whilst their Pitching In Southern Premier South opponents are third from bottom, but have shown their best form so far in Cup competitions. 

Crowborough Athletic have removed two ‘giants’- AFC Whyteleafe and Hampton & Richmond Borough- from the competition already, and will welcome the arrival of Wimborne Town as they try to make that three, their visitors in mid table in Pitching In Southern Premier South. Town are eleven unbeaten in all competitions, so will certainly not expect to become victims on this occasion.

Chatham Town head to National League South side Dorking Wanderers. The Chats have lost two of their last three, but the victory was over National League South opposition- Slough Town defeated on the road- so the Chats will travel with confidence. Their hosts are eight unbeaten- but needed a replay and extra time to defeat Southall in a nine goal thriller in the last round.

St Albans City travel to Harborough Town, the hosts in seventeenth place in National League North. Town have won only one of their last five, whilst the Saints are eight unbeaten in League and Cups.

Leatherhead are at home to Hanworth Villa, a rematch between the two sides promoted from Pitching In Isthmian South Central last season. Villa have had a fine start to Step Three life, sitting in third place in Pitching In Southern Premier South and looking for a fifth consecutive win, whilst the Tanners have been similarly impressive, seventh in our top flight and six unbeaten until a narrow County Cup defeat against higher league opposition in midweek. The Tanners have won three of the last four meetings between the sides, the last one a three-three draw.

Oxford City are the hosts for Enfield Town. City are third in National League North (who knew that Oxford was in the North?), with only one defeat from six in all competitions; whilst the Towners have played six matches on the road so far this season and won them all, knocking out National League South side Billericay Town in the last round. 

Salisbury are having a fine National League South campaign, and sit in third place- and seven unbeaten in all competitions- as they host Dulwich Hamlet. The South Londoners were knocked out of the FA Trophy last weekend by South East side Hastings United but bounced back to defeat Aveley in midweek. Hamlet have lost three times in League and Cup so far this season, all of those defeats coming on the road.

Dartford travel to Tadley Calleva. The hosts are in mid table in Step Five Combined Counties Premier South- albeit with games in hand over the sides around them- but their only defeat in their last ten was in the County Cup, so the Darts may need to have their wits about them. Dartford sit proudly atop our Premier Division and are looking for an eighth successive win in all competitions.

Eastbourne Borough hit the road to Thame United. Borough have won five in a row in League, Cup and Trophy, whilst their hosts sit in tenth place in Pitching In Southern Division One Central, but have only one defeat from eleven- that coming against Step Three opposition in the shape of Chichester City in the FA Trophy last weekend. 

Premier

Third place Welling United will be aware that victory over fourth from bottom AFC Whyteleafe will take them top of the table, and Wings only defeat at home this season came on penalties in the FA Trophy last weekend, whilst Leafe have taken only one point on the road. 

Fourth place Carshalton Athletic travel to take on ninth place Ramsgate, the Robins looking for a third win in a row whilst the Rams have taken seven points from their last three League matches; whilst fifth place Lewes, with four wins from six in the League but having lost their last two in all competitions, host a struggling Whitehawk side in a Sussex derby. The Hawks are third from bottom with only one win so far.

Burgess Hill Town are at home to Maldon and Tiptree, the Jammers making the trip having appointed a new manager- but having lost their last five in all competitions. Hill have only one defeat from ten in all competitions, and remain unbeaten on their own patch.