It’s Cup Saturday!

Marlow aren’t just unbeaten this season, they haven’t conceded a single, solitary goal. Not one. Six games in all competitions, eleven goals scored, not one ending up in their own net. They travel to Abbey Rangers of the Combined Counties Premier, who are in third place and have won each of their home matches- indeed they’ve won every match this season barring one, and put five past Chatham Town in the last round. I hope we’re selling it properly, as this looks a superb encounter in prospect.

We’ve a North Division derby as AFC Sudbury and Stowmarket Town meet. Both sides have been impressive so far, this one could be tight, too.

Ashford Town, who defeated Tilbury in the last round, host Folkestone Invicta. The visitors are still unbeaten and will travel with confidence, but the Tangerines have shown flashes of form recently, particularly in that win over the Dockers and in their five goal thrashing of Staines Town.

Barking, who came through a marathon match against Aveley in midweek- winning the replay on penalties- host AFC Dunstable. With a one hundred percent record in the league plus, now, an unexpected cup run- unexpected because they were knocked out by Ilford, reinstated and victorious- the Blues will have to work hard one more as their Pitching In Southern Division One Central opponents haven’t lost a match in a month and have won five of their last six.

Basingstoke Town have had a fine start to the campaign, unbeaten in all competitions until Portsmouth removed them from the Hampshire Senior Cup on penalties in midweek! They entertain Wimbourne Town- the Magpies second bottom of Pitching In Southern Premier South but showing signs of improvement of late, with wins over Salisbury and Blackfield & Langley before last Saturday’s defeat at the hands of Chesham United. The visitors have to be the favourites due to their Step Three status, but ‘Stoke’s form might say otherwise.

Bishop’s Stortford host Bowers and Pitsea in a match between two of our improving Premier Division sides, whilst Hastings United have also looked like their own selves in recent weeks and travel to take on Broadfields United. We watched the hosts take on South Park in a replay last week and they were rather impressive and absolutely deserved victory- and they’ve been particularly impressive throughout this FA Cup competition. Hastings will rightly be favourites, but they need not to be complacent. Their defence needs to be particularly aware of Rico Clarke-Rowe, who was magnificent at Whitehall Lane.

Burgess Hill Town have been magnificent in the Cup and far less so in the League- and will hope that continues for just one more match as they host Dorking Wanderers. It isn’t that long since the two were playing each other in the league, and these days Wanderers are in midtable in National League South but aiming much higher- and you wouldn’t want to bet against them achieving that dream, either.

Carshalton Athletic entertain Ebbsfleet United. The Robins have been a little off the boil the last couple of matches but will have quite a few players who will remember their FA Cup run of 2019-20, when they reached the first round and despatched Dagenham and Redbridge along the way- so they won’t be short on motivation as they try to do it again. United have had a mixed start to the season, beginning magnificently but now without a win in three, losing three-nil to Hampton and Richmond Borough last weekend.

Chertsey Town face Chesham United, conquerors of fellow South Central side Uxbridge in the last round. The Curfews warmed up for this one by scoring six in midweek and haven’t yet experienced defeat this season, whilst United have had a mixed start in Pitching In Southern Premier South but are unbeaten in four matches.

Chichester City, who also scored six on Tuesday night, host Maidstone United- two steps higher. Chi are four games unbeaten and have scored fifteen goals in that run, but their visitors are on top form, six games unbeaten and second in National League South. The side in green and white will need to be at their best.

Hythe Town have an even bigger task, as they travel to face National League South leaders Dartford. The Darts have sixteen points from eighteen and will pose a stiff test for the Cannons, who have won five of their last six and have a one hundred percent away record.

Bedfont Sports travel to visit our former favourites, Dulwich Hamlet. Sports have been mightily impressive, losing only once so far this season, and slayed two giants on their way to the Third Qualifying Round last year, whilst Hamlet are in seventh place in National League South and unbeaten in three, during which they’ve scored eleven goals. They are averaging nearly two thousand fans for a home match, Sports players may need earplugs!

East Thurrock United welcome another of our former clubs, Needham Market. The Marketmen haven’t had the best start to their campaign and are still searching for a league victory, but they are unbeaten in three. The Rocks have only lost one of their last six, so will be confident.

Enfield Town entertain Hadley. The Towners have had a superb start to the campaign and have lost only once, whilst the Spartan South Midlands side defeated the other Enfield in the last round, and remain unbeaten in the league, where they sit fifth.

Great Wakering Rovers have a big task ahead of them as they entertain Pitching In Southern Premier Central leaders Peterborough Sports. The visitors have won six of their seven matches this season, including victory over Haringey Borough in the last round, and have scored twenty two goals in the process. Rovers have been great in the cup, however, winning both of their ties against North Division opposition three-one.

Hanwell Town haven’t quite clicked into gear yet. The Geordies host National League South side Eastbourne Borough, about whom the same criticism could be levelled, Sports drawing three of their last four matches two-two. If Town turn up we know they have the ability to spring a surprise.

Cheshunt are off to Hitchin Town. The Ambers were impressive in victory at Potters Bar Town in midweek, and would dearly love a cup run, whilst Hitchin, like their opponents, are still searching for consistency. Chesunt have gone out of this stage in three of the last four years, here’s hoping that this will see them take that next step- the last time they reached the Third Qualifying Round was 2006.

Hornchurch have bounced back to form of late with only one defeat in five, and the Urchins entertain Walthamstow. The Essex Senior League side have already knocked Hullbridge Sports and Berkhamsted out of the competition and currently sit in fifth place in the table, with seven wins and only one defeat from their eight matches.

Kingstonian will look to bounce back from their first defeat of the season as they entertain Horsham. Last weekend Rob Tolfrey broke the all-time appearance record for the K’s, this weekend Gary Charman may well be doing the same for the Hornets- congratulations to them both.

We have a Surrey derby at Fetcham Grove, as Leatherhead host Corinthian-Casuals. The Tanners were walloped at home to Worthing in midweek, whilst at the same time Casuals were doing the walloping, defeating Cray Wanderers by four goals. Leatherhead have only one win since the opening weekend of the season, that coming against Whitstable Town in the last round, whilst Casuals have won three in a row and will be full of beans, or perhaps four types of cheese.

We’ve another Premier tie as Merstham entertain Margate, with both sides having lost in midweek. In the case of the Blues that was their first loss of the season, whilst the Moatsiders haven’t been quite so consistent but have shown promise on occasions.

Phoenix Sports entertain Redhill, conquerors of Sevenoaks Town in the last round- a match where they were three-nil down at the break and somehow won four-three! Sports lost three-nil to Oaks in midweek, so we’ve no idea what that means for this match (clue- probably absolutely nothing) but they’ve followed a four match unbeaten run with four defeats so will be desperate to bounce back.

Whitehawk were walloped in Chichester in midweek, not the best preparation for a trip to Slough Town of the National League South. Sluff (that’s how you pronounce it, isn’t it?) have only won one of their five league matches so far this season, and indeed have the same W-D-L record as their visitors- but they are two divisions higher. The Hawks faithful will make lots of noise and hopefully that might be worth a goal or two!

Sutton Common Rovers host Jersey Bulls at 1230, and if you can’t get along to watch it will be on the telly, the BBC having chosen it for the red button service and their website/iPlayer. Rovers took out Cray Wanderers in the last round, whilst Bulls were hitting five past VCD Athletic. We predict goals and lots of fun (which with our predictions record will probably make it a goalless draw).

Finally, Wingate and Finchley, the first side to conquer Kingstonian in midweek, entertain Baldock Town, of the Spartan Southern Midlands League. The visitors are in seventeenth place in their league, but have been far better in the cup, defeating Wembley, Wisbech Town, and-most impressively- our Pitching In Isthmian North leaders Grays Athletic.

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