It's a South Central Saturday

By Ian Townsend

Can the Terrors get back on track? Will the Geordies take the plaudits, or will Basingstoke bag the points? We've a fabulous South Central Saturday in prospect!


Leaders Marlow don’t play until Monday, but we have fourth versus second as Uxbridge, who have started the campaign with wins in League and Cup, host a Westfield side who were very impressive in victory over Tooting & Mitcham United on the opening day before finally departing the cup on Tuesday night- a three-one defeat to Hythe Town following a mammoth match the previous Saturday in which they were two-nil down in the last minute only to go three-two up before an even later equaliser. Kai Hamilton-Olise and Afolabi Owlade are in form with two goals each for Field, whilst Tony Mendy has scored in both of the Uxbridge victories.

Chalfont St Peter fell to a late goal in the Cup on Saturday, and they travel to a Chipstead side who scored three late goals- in the last six minutes- to defeat Faversham Town. The Chips will want to continue that form, whilst the Saints, for whom Shamal Edwards has two goals, will want to play the way they did in defeating Ashford Town on the opening day.

Chertsey Town, who followed a league win over Staines Town with a cup win over Lingfield, have scored seven times in two matches, with Tony Halsey on three and Andrew Crossley on two. They take on a South Park side who’ve scored a few of their own of late, seven in the last week against Three Bridges over two cup matches. Leon Lalor-Dell has two of them, and man mountain Melford Simpson another two.

Bedfont Sports have looked mightily impressive, defeating Herne Bay in the cup last weekend and Chipstead on the opening day, resembling Lazarus in that match with two goals in the last four minutes after being behind since before half time. They are on the road for the first time, but they don’t have to travel far, swapping a view of the end of the Heathrow runway for one of the airport fuel storage tanks as they head to Ashford Town. The Tangerines might be a little tired after their FA Cup replay in midweek went to extra time, but they’ll be delighted with that victory nonetheless.

Basingstoke Town won a pulsating cup tie at the weekend- a match which saw three goals, all from the spot. They host Hanwell Town in what could well be our match of the day- two highly-rated sides, the Geordies following their opening day draw with title-favourites Bracknell Town with a thumping five-nil FA Cup win over Athletic Newham, who weren’t quite athletic enough.

The Robins of Bracknell have started slowly by their standards, that draw with the Geordies followed by a one-nil win in the cup last weekend. They host Sutton Common Rovers, who lost on the opening day but found their groove when defeating Steyning Town four-nil in the Cup on Wednesday.

Northwood also won a cup replay in midweek, and also scored four goals. They host Binfield, the FA Vase finalists having lost both of their matches so far by one goal.

Thatcham Town travel to Tooting & Mitcham United, both looking to kick-start their campaigns. The Terrors lost heavily to Westfield on the opening day and had already departed the cup against lower-league opposition, whilst Town picked up a point at Northwood but left the cup at Thame Utd last weekend. It’s far too early to call it a crisis for the Terrors, but one goal scored and seven conceded so far is not how they expected to start the campaign.

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