Trophy time is here again

With all of the Qualifying Rounds cast into history we’ve reached the First Round of the FA Trophy, with quite a collection of our sides in action- and we know that we’ll have at least seven sides in Round Two because fourteen of them play each other!

Aveley are at home to Carshalton Athletic, both sides seeking some respite from poor runs in the League. The Millers have won only two of nine in all competitions, whilst for the Robins that tally is  three wins from their last thirteen, and four defeats from their last five. 

The last three meetings between the sides have ended all square. Someone will have to emerge victorious this time. 

Cray Wanderers will have to put their FA Cup glory- and their upcoming tie with Stockport County- to the back of their minds as they travel to take on Berkhamsted of Pitching In Southern Premier South. The hosts are also in the First Round of the Cup, and they defeated National League Southend United to get there, so most certainly shouldn’t be underestimated by their visitors. 

Dartford and Three Bridges meet at Princes Park, Bridges looking for revenge after a three-two defeat on the opening day of the season. The Darts have lost their way a little, with four defeats from five in all competitions, whilst Bridges have only two wins from their last ten in League and Cups.

We’ve a South East v North battle on the Kent coast, as Deal Town play host to Hashtag United. Town have had an extremely mixed start to their season, and sit just outside the drop zone- but they were three unbeaten until defeat against Faversham Town in midweek. The Tags also suffered a midweek defeat, but prior to that were seven unbeaten in all competitions, and they knocked out Premier Division opposition in the previous round of the Trophy.

Egham Town have found their form over the last few weeks, and the Sarnies- who have won four in a row and have only one defeat from nine- won’t be dismayed by the arrival of Pitching In Southern Premier side Uxbridge, as they knocked out a Step Three side in the last round. Uxbridge, however, are in superb form, sitting second in their League -although they have been better at their own Honeycroft than they have been on the road. 

Top flight leaders Enfield Town are at home to a side we know well, Hanworth Villa making a trip around the M25. The Towners have only one defeat from seven, and the Villains, these days in Pitching In Southern Premier, are also in good form. They sit fourth in the table - but they were knocked out of the cup by Isthmian opposition in the shape of Leatherhead.

Erith Town have had a fantastic start to their Pitching In Isthmian South East campaign, and they’ll have a chance to test just how far they’ve come as Premier Division side Burgess Hill Town make the trip. The Dockers have lost one of seven, whilst Hill have also been in good form, with only one defeat from six in the league, their latest result seeing them come from two down to defeat AFC Whyteleafe on Wednesday evening. 

Faversham Town versus Newmarket Town looks to be an intriguing clash. The South East Lilywhites sit fourth in their table and four unbeaten having won their last two, whilst the North Division Jockeys are in second place in their table, twelve unbeaten in League and Cups -and eight unbeaten on their travels, winning their last six. 

South East leaders Hastings United face the challenge of Waltham Abbey. Hastings have put the travails of last season firmly behind them to blaze a trail, and come into this one five unbeaten having won four of them; whilst the Abbotts are in ninth place in Pitching In Southern Division One Central, but have games in hand over all the sides above them. Seventeen matches in all competitions have brought only three defeats- they will not be pushovers at Pilot Field.

Leatherhead will need to quickly put their Cup defeat in Yeovil in midweek behind them, Eastbourne Borough coming to call. Borough also departed the Cup to higher-level opposition, but that loss apart have won ten of their last eleven. They did lose to the Tanners, however back in August, and will be searching for revenge. 

Wingate & Finchley will need to travel to take on Pitching In Southern Premier Central side Needham Market. The Marketmen have only one defeat from seven, whilst our Blues were in good form in midweek, hitting four against Carshalton, and indeed have won three in a row. 

Takeley of Pitching In Isthmian North face the challenge of Pitching In Southern Premier visitors, Chertsey Town making the trip. Takeley have won five of their last six on their own patch, whilst the travelling Curfews sit in eighth place in their table, and have already defeated three Isthmian opponents in Cup competitions this season, Sheppey United, Welling United and Carshalton Athletic.

Whitehawk are at home to St Albans City. The Hawks have only two wins from fifteen matches in all competitions so far this season and one solitary draw to show from their last five, whilst the Saints have only one defeat from their last ten in League and Cups. The sides meet again in the League on the same ground only a week later. 

We also have- of course- a fairly packed Pitching In Isthmian League programme- and you can see all of our fixtures by heading HERE. Lets take a look at the highlights. 

In our top flight perhaps the stand out match sees a Kentish derby between Chatham Town and Welling United, the visitors aware that victory will send them back to the summit. The Chats have been in mixed form but were superb in walloping Dulwich Hamlet in midweek, whilst Wings have won five of their last six- but they don’t have a good recent record against these opponents, losing their last four meetings.

Elsewhere, Maldon and Tiptree host Dulwich Hamlet and Stanway Rovers, eight points from safety, welcome Cheshunt.

Into Pitching In Isthmian North, and as Newmarket Town are in Trophy action Gorleston will hope to regain their top spot- but they have a tough trip to fourth place Redbridge in what is most definitely our match of the day. The Greens were nine unbeaten before defeat against Little Oakley on Wednesday, whilst Redbridge have three wins from four. Redbridge have won the last three meetings between the sides, including a two-one win in Yarmouth in August.

Cambridge City will try to climb from fifth to fourth or even third, and to follow their seven goal win last weekend with three more points as they travel to Canvey Island, whilst seventh place Felixstowe & Walton United travel to Buckhurst Hill. 

Bognor Regis Town remain atop of Pitching In Isthmian South Central, however their lead has been cut to only one point following their first defeat of the campaign last time out. The Rocks travel to take on an Ascot United side who have only one win- and seven defeats- from their last nine matches, a run which has seen them drop into the bottom four.

Second place Jersey Bulls are hoping to pounce on any Rocks slip up, and they travel to Hendon. Bulls remain unbeaten, whilst Hendon have seen some positive early season form fade recently, and have only one win from seven. Winchester City, nine points behind the leaders in third place, are looking for a fourth win in a row as Cobham come to call, their visitors having lost six in a row; whilst free-scoring Ashford Town, in seventh, welcome fifth place Raynes Park Vale.

Pitching In Isthmian South East sees the top four missing in action, so Whitstable Town will hope to take advantage. The Oysterboys have won six in a row and will hope to make that seven as Peacehaven and Telscombe swap seasides, the visitors with only one defeat from their last four. Sixth place Margate head to third bottom Crowborough Athletic, both sides fresh from celebrating midweek victories, whilst Herne Bay will hope to climb back into the top seven as they travel to take on Broadbridge Heath, Bay looking for a third win in succession whilst the Bears looking to get back to winning ways after a six match winless run. 

Remember, you can see all of our fixtures HERE!