FA Cup weekend: Premier

Our top two meet at Parkside. Aveley and Potters Bar Town each have only one defeat from their five league matches so far, and each have delivered wins from the other four, so this should be a competitive encounter. The last meeting between the two was also in the cup, goals from Dernell Wynter and Bradley Sach earning victory for the Scholars on August 25th 2018.

Billericay Town haven’t had the start they might have expected to our Pitching In Isthmian Premier campaign. The Blues will hope to kick start their season by defeating Leverstock Green- from the Spartan South Midlands League. Green lost for the first time last season last weekend, departing the FA Vase against Edgware & Kingsbury after a penalty shootout.

Bishop's Stortford will be missing keeper Jack Giddens, who is getting married, when they welcome St Neots Town. The Blues are without a win from three, an early-season blip perhaps, whilst their visitors- from Pitching In Northern Premier Division One Midlands- got back to winning ways on Monday after two defeats, beating Hinckley LRFC by three goals to nil. They’ve scored nine goals and conceded only one in their two FA Cup matches this season.

Bognor Regis Town welcome Pitching In Isthmian Premier rivals Cray Wanderers to the Nye Camp. The two have already met this season- a two-two draw at Hayes Lane on August 17th- and Wands will have fond memories of the last time they visited Nyewood Lane, a three-two win back in March. Prior to that the Wands hadn’t managed to defeat the Rocks in six attempts; perhaps their luck has turned? Bognor picked up our Pitching In Isthmian Premier Performance of the Month award earlier this week, for their six-one win over Aveley.

Brightlingsea Regent welcome Mildenhall Town to the Taydal. Regent have won two of their last three, defeating Margate and Billericay, whilst their visitors have already dismissed Hadleigh United and Histon from the competition.

Another Pitching In Isthmian Premier clash sees Canvey Island welcome Enfield Town. The Gulls come into the match on the back of a win over Hornchurch and a draw with Bowers & Pitsea, whilst the Towners took three points from Bowers but lost to Potters Bar Town last time out. The Gulls reached the Second Round of the competition as recently as 2020-21, whilst the Towners have never got past the Qualifying Rounds. Perhaps this may be their year?

The two will meet again in the league seventeen days later.

Carshalton Athletic welcome VCD Athletic to Colston Avenue. The Robins have lost their last two matches and have had a stuttering start to the campaign, whilst a similar charge can be levelled against the Vickers, who defeated Tooting & Mitcham United in the last round. Perhaps this will be the weekend to kick start someone’s season?

Corinthian-Casuals are the hosts as Burgess Hill Town travel to Tolworth. The Hillians have had a torrid start to their Pitching In Isthmian South East campaign, losing every league match- although they did record a victory over Stansfield in the last round. Casuals have been a little hit and miss, with one win, two draws and two defeats from their last five, but will hope to have too much for their Sussex opponents. The hosts had their best run in the competition for many a year last season, departing the competition in the final Qualifying Round after taking St Albans City to a replay. The visitors best recent run was that memorable 2017-18 season, when they reached the Fourth Qualifying Round.

Cray Valley PM welcome Hastings United to Kent. The two know each other well, having met in the Pitching In Isthmian South East for the last few seasons. United have generally had the best of their encounters, with three wins and two draws from their last six meetings; but that Millers victory wasn’t all that long ago, November last year seeing them triumph at Pilot Field. The Millers enter the fray four matches unbeaten, whilst United have begun to find their Premier feet, and alongside a win over Brightlingsea Regent have taken points from Lewes and Folkestone Invicta, who are amongst the promotion favourites.

Folkestone Invicta have had a fine, unbeaten start to the Pitching In Isthmian Premier campaign- and have won their last three matches. Their visitors are North Greenford United, who currently sit in thirteenth place in Combined Counties Premier North. United have won their last three matches in Cup, Vase and League, and will; be confident as they board their bus to the seaside.

Herne Bay welcome Horsham to the seaside, in an all Pitching In Isthmian Premier clash. The Hornets sit in fourth place in the table after a fine start, Bay are nineteenth- but it must be pointed out that having had significant pitch works over the summer, Bay haven’t yet managed to play a match at their own ground. This one, again, will be held along the coast at Ramsgate FC. The Hornets, you might recall, went as far as the First Round of the competition last season, and have a fine cup pedigree; whilst Bay have never reached the First Round. The last time the two met in the cup, back in 2017, Bay were five-two winners. Dukali, Schafer, Embery, Aikhionbare and Carlton scored for Bay, Hyde and House replied for the Hornets.

Ipswich Wanderers are the hosts for Hornchurch. The Urchins have had a mixed start, with three wins and two defeats, but still find themselves inside the top five. Wanderers, who have drawn their opening three league fixtures of the campaign, comprehensively defeated Pitching In Isthmian North Gorleston in the last round.

Maldon & Tiptree welcome Haringey Borough, the Jammers reeling from a string of four successive league defeats, conceding two goals in each of them. They did win in the last round of the cup, however, defeating Harpenden Town- and of course have a fine cup pedigree, reaching the First Round in 20-21 and the Second Round the season before. That run to the First Round saw them defeat Borough, so the side from White Hart Lane will be looking for revenge- and are three matches unbeaten in the league.

Sevenoaks Town welcome Kingstonian to Greatness Park. Oaks lost for the first time this season on Monday, as Chatham Town came from behind to take victory- perhaps they were too focused on this tie against Premier Division opponents? The K’s are unbeaten, but did draw the first four of their five matches so far before defeating Carshalton Athletic on Monday.

Sheppey United defeated a Sussex side, Newhaven, in the last round- and their reward is to face another, Lewes. The Ites haven’t yet managed to win a league match, but they have scored eleven cup goals after twice being taken to replays; whilst the Rooks are undefeated but have drawn three of their five games.

Finally, Wingate & Finchley welcome Bowers & Pitsea to North London in an all Pitching In Isthmian Premier clash. Second bottom hosts third bottom, with both sides searching for form. The hosting Blues are yet to pick up a win but have drawn three of their five matches, whilst the visitors have a point more, from a win over Herne Bay and a draw with Canvey Island. The last time the two met, in January, Wingate won- but that was their only win in five against these opponents.

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