It’s FA Cup weekend once more- part one: Premier Division

Bishop’s Stortford welcome one of our former clubs, Lowestoft Town, who currently sit three places off the bottom of Pitching In Southern Premier Central, with one win and four defeats from their five matches. The Trawlerboys have gone out of the competition to Isthmian sides for the last four years, let’s hope our Blues can make that five! The visitors have conceded seventeen goals so far this season, but of course Stortford haven’t had the best of starts either and still await their first victory.

Bognor Regis Town, fresh from that morale-boosting win at Worthing on Monday, travel to face Hayes and Yeading United. The Pitching In Southern Premier South leaders have won all five of their matches so far, scoring sixteen goals in the process- and, of course, defeated Bognor five-nil in the Second Qualifying Round last year. A good time for a little revenge, perhaps!

Bowers and Pitsea are still searching for some consistency, but did pick up their first point of the season on Monday so will hope that first win is just around the corner. They are on the road to Arlesey Town of the Spartan South Midlands League, who defeated march Town United in the last round and are so far unbeaten in their League campaign.

Brightlingsea Regent take their positive form to another of our former clubs, Leiston. Regent have lost only once this season and seem to have dramatically tightened up at the back, with two clean sheets from four. Leiston sit in eighth place in Pitching In Southern Premier Central, with two wins and two defeats from their five matches. They defeated Lowestoft Town four-two on Monday.

Carshalton Athletic travel to Homelands, home of Ashford United- but they aren’t taking on the Nuts and Bolts, instead they have the prospect of SCEFL side Kennington (no, not the one on the Northern Line). The hosts are currently in eighth place, undefeated in five matches- seven if you include their impressive cup wins over Horley Town and Little Common to reach this stage.

Cheshunt lost their unbeaten record as they fell to narrow defeat at Enfield Town on Monday, and face a tough challenge as they travel to Brentwood Town. Town have won two of their three league matches so far and defeated Leighton Town in the last round.

Corinthian-Casuals travel to face Worthing with both looking to bounce back from defeat on Monday. The two play again in the league later this month, so this one will be something of a dress rehearsal. Mackerel Men boss Adam Hinshelwood told the local press that his side played their best match of the season so far in defeat against local rivals Bognor on Monday, so locals will hope for more of that, although this time plus goals.

Cray Wanderers host Sutton Common Rovers. Wands have lost their last two matches two-one, whilst Rovers picked up their first point of the season in midweek.

East Thurrock United have gone three games unbeaten, and hope to make it four as they head to Cambridge City. City were moved to the Pitching In Northern Premier Division One- Midlands Division- in the summer and haven’t had the best of starts, still without a win. They did defeat Daventry Town five-one in the last round, however.

Enfield Town host Dereham Town, as our North Division side travel to Donkey Lane. The Towners remain unbeaten and have won three matches from four so far to sit in second place in the table, whilst the Magpies lost for the first time on Monday and defeated Cogenhoe United in the last round.

Folkestone Invicta travel to South East side Corinthian, and put their unbeaten record to the test. The hosts lost their unbeaten record against Cray Valley PM last time out, and defeated Badshot Lea in the last round.

Haringey Borough can’t give a debut to new signing from Heybridge Swifts Adeyinka Cole, as he played in the last round- but he may not have got a start anyway given how good they’ve been of late. Borough, with three straight victories under their belts, will need to be at their best as they travel to face Southern Premier Central leaders Peterborough Sports, who have won all five of their games so far and scored seventeen goals in the process.

Hornchurch got back to winning ways on Monday, and bring Barton Rovers to Bridge Avenue. Rovers are still looking for their first Southern Division One Central victory, and defeated Little Oakley in the last round.

Horsham travel to face South East leaders Haywards Heath Town in their second Sussex derby of the week! The Hornets took four points from six over the Bank Holiday weekend, Heath six from six, and given the hosts also defeated Lancing in the Cup to reach this stage they have a one hundred percent record in all competitions.

Our league leaders, Kingstonian, have won every match so far. They travel to face Oxhey Jets of the SSML Premier Division, who are unbeaten since the opening day.

Leatherhead have lost three in a row, and travel to take on South East Whitstable Town, who have lost all three league matches so far but did defeat Alfold five-nil in the cup on August 21st.

Lewes are unbeaten in three matches after opening day defeat. They host another of our former sides, Metropolitan Police. Met are in the Pitching In Southern Premier South these days, and have had a very good start to the campaign, unbeaten in five and with three wins and only one goal conceded. They hit Walton Casuals for five last time out, and won’t be phased by a trip to the Dripping Pan.

Margate, unbeaten so far, host Thame United, third from bottom in Southern Division One Central. United knocked Thatcham Town out of the competition in the last round, but that’s the only match they’ve won this season- and they lost their weekend fixtures four-nil to Ware and three-one to Aylesbury United.

Merstham travel to Balham on Sunday, although they don’t because Balham play in Croydon (or in reality Thornton Heath) at the home of Croydon Athletic. The Moatsiders will have a great view of Croydon Crematorium from there, but hopefully they won’t get burned by the Combined Counties Premier South Division side, who are unbeaten in five.

Potters Bar Town started the season well but have lost their last three matches. They travel to face in-form North Division Stowmarket Town, whose only defeat this season came at the hands of hot title favourites Maldon and Tiptree, who beat them last Saturday due to a late goal. That looks a potential banana skin, the Scholars will have to be at their best!

Wingate and Finchley host Basildon United, and how tricky that will be will depend on which Basildon turn up! The Bees lost seven-nil last Saturday as they hosted Grays Athletic, but bounced right back to score four at Great Wakering Rovers on Monday. The hosting Blues fell to defeat at Haringey on Monday but will hope that’s just a blip!