The Pitching In Isthmian Football League

FA Cup Preview: Havant & Waterlooville v Cray Valley PM

8 Nov 2020 By Ian Townsend

Can the Millers slay yet another giant?

The FA Vase Final, promotion to the Isthmian League, and third place in their first Isthmian South East season- it seemed unlikely that there was any way that Cray Valley Paper Mills could top their efforts of 2018-19 and 2019-20 this time around. And yet, here we are, about to watch them in the First Round of the FA Cup, as they continue to entertain and surprise us all.

So far the Millers have lost but two of eleven competitive matches- and one of those was on penalties. Stand up Faversham Town, the only side to defeat them in open play, whilst the likes of Pitching In Southern Premier Harrow Borough- defeated five-one in the Second Qualifying Round- and National League Maidenhead United- defeated three-two in the last round- can remain firmly seated. This is the furthest they've ever progressed in the competition- but we could have said that after the Second Qualifying Round!

Today manager Kevin Watson takes his charges to Hampshire, where they will face National League South side Havant & Waterlooville. You don't have to think back too far to remember the Hawks as an Isthmian League side, albeit for one season as they clinched promotion on the final day, pipping Bognor Regis Town to the title with a goalless draw at Kingsmeadow in the K's last ever match at their traditional home. They followed that with immediate promotion to the National League, but lasted only one season before heading back to Step Two once more. In the FA Cup this is the first time in six years they've managed to progress further than the final qualifying round, but those of us who aren't in our tender years will be able to recall their feats in 2007-08, when they progressed all the way to the Fourth Round, defeating Notts County and Swansea City on the way before succumbing to the might of Liverpool at Anfield.

The Hawks are currently in thirteenth place in National League South, but don't read too much into that as they've only played three matches. They defeated Horsham, Chatham Town- conquerors of Folkestone Invicta- and Bath City to reach this stage, and their FA Cup aggregate score is currently 9-2. Their website draws attention to the fact that the Millers have only won one of their five league matches this season, but for reasons of balance we feel we should point out that they've only lost one of those too!

The very best of luck to all at Cray Valley PM. Being underdogs has done you know harm so far, and we're confident that once more you'll go out and do the Pitching In Isthmian League proud.

The Millers route to Round One:

PRE V.C.D. ATHLETIC H 6-0
1Q BURGESS HILL TOWN H 3-1
2Q HARROW BOROUGH A 5-1
3Q AVELEY H 2-0
4Q MAIDENHEAD UNITED A 3-2

The match will be available to watch on the BBC iPlayer, kick off at 1245 PM.

Where next?

Four Bees Bees busy in lockdown as Basildon add a quartet

Gulls make the Second Round- whilst Stortford come so close, but lose at the last Canvey Island and Bishop’s Stortford appeared in fan-free FA Cup First Round ties this afternoon, both against higher ranked sides- and both delivered magnificent performances. A round up of a pulsating afternoon of cup football.