It's another Trophy Tuesday

By Ian Townsend

It's FA Trophy time once more. Here's our guide to Tuesday night's action.


We start our preview at Parkside, where last season’s Trophy heroes Aveley host Chesham United. The Millers, who have so far defeated Hanwell Town, Beaconsfield Town and Hastings United, face a side who have been very difficult to beat this season- indeed they’ve lost only one league match- and difficult to score against- they have the joint best defensive record in Pitching In Southern Premier South, having conceded only four goals. They defeated Weston-super-Mare in the last round.

Bracknell Town have already slain a giant, having defeated Salisbury in the last round, and now they welcome another, as Havant and Waterlooville arrive at Larges Lane. The Robins have lost only one match in all competitions this season- a cup defeat at Haringey Borough- but will face a tough test against the Hawks, who currently sit seventh in National League South and who have already defeated two Pitching In Isthmian clubs this season, knocking Horsham and Cray Wanderers out of the FA Cup.

Corinthian-Casuals also welcome a National League South side, as Hemel Hempstead Town arrive in Tolworth. The tenth place Tudors saw a good run of form come to an end when they were defeated by Hungerford Town at the weekend, and Casuals might have to show the form in front of goal that saw them score five against Hendon in the Third Qualifying Round. They didn’t have to play in the First Round as their opponents, Walton Casuals, had to withdraw from the competition. Match postponed- waterlogged pitch

Cheshunt will visit our old friends Dulwich Hamlet. The Ambers have been in fabulous form this season, and enter the match in second place in the League and with three wins and a draw from their last four matches. Hamlet saw a five match unbeaten run come to an end as they lost by the only goal of the game at Oxford City on Saturday, but Cheshunt won’t be afraid of the trip to Champion Hill as they won their last two rounds away from home, at Lowestoft Town and East Thurrock United. MATCH NOW BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

It’s a battle of the Borough’s at Coles Park as Haringey Borough host Eastbourne Borough. Haringey have been inconsistent this season but looked good in defeating Bishop’s Stortford in the last round, whilst their National League South opponents have had their best start to the season for some years, sitting in fifth place- although with only one win from their last four matches.

It seems a little strange to speculate that a Pitching In Isthmian Premier side could be underdogs when travelling to face Pitching In Isthmian North opponents, but when those opponents are Maldon and Tiptree then all becomes clear. The Jammers have spent the last two seasons slaying giants as if it were easy, and this season alone have defeated Enfield Town, Kingstonian, Haringey Borough and Braintree Town- indeed their only defeat in all competitions came against Morecambe. That said, the travelling Rocks won’t be without confidence as they’ve won their last five matches, scoring fifteen goals in the process. This one should be a cracker!

St Albans City will be hoping for a better outcome against Cray Wanderers than they managed the last time they played a Pitching In Isthmian side, a match which saw them fall to defeat against Bishop’s Stortford in the FA Cup. But Wands will probably need to be magic if they are to win, as the Saints are undefeated since that cup match and sit proudly at the top of the National League South table, with twenty points from their last twenty four and only two goals conceded during those eight matches. Wands are no slouches in the goals department either, having scored twelve in their last three matches; wins over Merstham, Whitehawk and Uxbridge.

Hornchurch travel to face familiar opponents, our former favourites Tonbridge Angels playing host to the Urchins. Hornchurch have been in good form, having lost only one of their last seven matches, whilst Angels are fourteenth in National League South and a little hit and miss; although losing at St Albans at the weekend is no shame given the Saints form, and Angels did defeat Concord Rangers in their last match at Longmead.

Finally, Burgess Hill Town travel to face Welwyn Garden City. Their hosts are in mid table in Pitching In Southern Division One Central, and have already defeated two Sussex sides in the competition this season, knocking out Hill’s local rivals Haywards Heath Town and perhaps more impressively defeating Premier Division Horsham in the Third Qualifying Round. They then managed to slay another giant, defeating Hednesford Town in the last round. The Hillians have had a fairly mediocre start to their league campaign but have been far more impressive in this competition, walloping Pitching In Southern Premier side Harrow Borough four-one in the last round, and defeating South Central promotion chasing Ware in Qualifying Round Two.

Where next?

It’s Friendly- and Trophy- Tuesday We’ve already previewed tonight’s Trophy matches, but here are details of the friendlies we’ve found on social media
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