One step from the promised land!

Brilliant Beckenham Town face their seventh FA Cup match of the season, as they welcome a side playing their very first one, Dagenham & Redbridge.

Becks have already defeated Horsham YMCA, K Sports, East Grinstead Town, Dartford and Binfield to reach this stage, their best ever run in the competition- and in Louie Theophanous have the joint top scorer in the competition, with eight FA Cup goals so far. We’ll be at Eden Park to see whether they can take that next giant step, and will have a report here by around ten minutes after the final whistle. Their opponents have drawn their last two matches but have delivered some fine performances this season- but the bigger they come…it’s only three years since our very own Carshalton Athletic put them out at this stage.

Fabulous Folkestone Invicta have a long trip on their hands, off to Welsh Wales to take on Merthyr Town. The Pitching In Southern Premier side have defeated Truro City, Cirencester Town and Gloucester City to reach this stage, whilst Invicta’s road has taken them past Dulwich Hamlet, Chichester City and North Greenford United. Neil Cugley’s men reached this stage last year and in 2017-18, and must fancy their chances to mix it with the big boys in the next round. Their hosts have lost only one of their last eight in all competitions, however, so shouldn’t be underestimated.

Heroic Hornchurch face the might of National League South side Oxford City at Bridge Avenue. The Urchins were uncharacteristically sloppy when departing the Trophy to lower league opposition last time out, and it led us to wonder whether they were more focused on this match- they’d won seven consecutive games prior to that Harlow defeat. They will take confidence from the fact that they hammered National League South opponents- Braintree Town- in the last round, three-nil. City have gone six league games without a win, but- of course- have won through two rounds of the cup during that period.

Super Sevenoaks have a Kent derby as they head to Ebbsfleet United. Oaks have become rather good at giantkilling, having already removed National League South side Bath City and our very own Pitching In Isthmian Premier Kingstonian to reach this stage, along with Phoenix Sports, Merstham and Horley Town. Fleet are currently top of National League South and unbeaten- indeed only one side have taken so much as a point from them- but if they relax, then we suspect that Harry Hudson’s heroes will be ready to pounce.

The best of luck to all four sides- and whatever happens, we’re proud of you!

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