Friday Night Football!

It's FA Cup Friday, as Margate travel to Aylesbury United and Three Bridges welcome Erith Town.

Gate are looking to get back on track after three matches without a win, including two defeats. Their hosts, the Ducks, sit in sixth place in Pitching In Southern Division One Central, and were walloped- plucked- four-nil at Berkhamsted on Monday; but that may have been something of an anomaly as prior to that match they were unbeaten over their first five matches.

It has been twenty years since United last reached the First Round Proper of the competition, and they have lost to Isthmian opposition twice in the last five seasons; Folkestone Invicta and Marlow removing them from the competition in 2017-18 and 2018-19. They reached the Third Qualifying Round last season.

The Blues last had a significant run in the competition during 2019-20, reaching the Fourth Qualifying Round. They reached that stage in 2015-16, 16-17 and 17-18, too.

Three Bridges saw a run of three successive victories come to an end with defeat at Whitehawk on Monday. Their opponents may be a mid table side in the SCEFL Premier, but they are in decent form, particularly in the cup, having already removed Pitching In Isthmian South Central side Bedfont Sports from the competition.

This is the first time that Bridges have reached this stage since 2013-14, and they've only gone beyond it twice in their history, 1982-83 and 2002-03. The record of their visitors is only marginally better, but they reached the Second Qualifying Round in 2018-19, losing to Haringey Borough, and in 2011-12, when Cray Wanderers were the victors.

Both matches kick off at 7.45 PM.

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