Trophy Time

Our sides can move a step closer to Wembley in the FA Trophy, with fixtures tonight and tomorrow. We’re going to begin our preview by heading to Histon FC- also home to Cambridge City, who kick off tonight against Needham Market.

City have had an underwhelming start to their first season back in the Isthmian League, but some judicious squad strengthening should see them finding form in the near future, and home fans will hope that starts tonight. Opponents Needham Market sit in mid table in BetVictor Southern Premier Central, but have been on a good run of form, with only one defeat in their last six matches. They defeated Peterborough Sports on Tuesday night, and that followed victory over Lowestoft Town last Saturday.

Moving on to Saturday, then, we start at AFC Dunstable, who host our South East Division favourites Hastings United. The sides should be well matched, as the hosts are in third place in Southern Central Division One, and defeated Hanwell Town in the last round.

AFC Sudbury changed their entire management team earlier this week, apart from one-manager Mark Morsley. The Yellows should take confidence from becoming the first side to take anything from Maldon & Tiptree this season, drawing with them in midweek before winning the Velocity Trophy penalty shootout- and they won their last FA Trophy match in style too, defeating VCD Athletic 4-1. Opponents Harrow Borough are in fifteenth place in Southern Premier South at present, and have gone a month without victory, losing four of their last five matches.

Ashford United had a super start to the campaign but have gone off the boil a little recently. The Nuts and Bolts have conceded three goals in each of their last two matches, whilst opponents Barton Rovers, in ninth place in the Southern Central Division One, have been rather successful against Isthmian opposition so far this season, defeating Cambridge City, Romford, Hullbridge Sports and Chichester City in FA Cup and Trophy.

Aveley and Bowers & Pitsea need no introduction before their tie at Parkside, and neither do Barking or Margate, who meet at Mayesbrook Park in a clash of the blues. Basildon United host Chesham United, in third place in the Southern Premier South Division, and undefeated in three matches. The Bees knocked out North Division rivals Brentwood Town in the last round, but lost their last match- to Canvey Island- last weekend and sit second from bottom of the Division.

Bishop’s Stortford and Enfield Town know all about each other, although the hosts will want to forget the last time they met, in August, as the Towners won 5-0. Brightlingsea Regent

Brightlingsea Regent don’t have a victory since 31st August, but hopefully will have spoken to Essex rivals Maldon & Tiptree to learn how to defeat Royston Town, knocked out of the FA Cup last weekend by the Jammers. Town quickly bounced back from that defeat at walloped St Ives Town four-nil in midweek.

Carshalton Athletic and Merstham will need no introduction, but the Robins are unbeaten in League and FA Cup since 14 September whilst the Moatsiders won their last match on that very same date, losing every game since.

Cheshunt and East Thurrock United meet for the first time since the opening game of the season, a match the Rocks won four-one, whilst we have a Surrey v Essex clash on the High Road as Chipstead take on Canvey Island. Two all-Premier Division fixtures see leaders Folkestone Invicta host managerless Lewes, whilst Haringey Borough entertain Horsham. The Hornets will travel to Coles Park on the following Saturday too, as they are back there in the league- but if the sides draw tomorrow they won’t replay in midweek as Borough are starting again against Yeovil Town in the FA Cup.

Haywards Heath Town bring Aylesbury United to Hanbury Park. The Ducks are in sixth place in Southern Central Division One, have lost only one of their last seven matches, and knocked out South East Division leaders Sevenoaks Town in the last round. Heybridge Swifts, fourth in the North Division, will remember Trophy triumphs from a couple of years ago as they welcome Premier Division Potters Bar Town. The Scholars departed the FA Cup in midweek at the hands of National League Barnet, but prior to that hadn’t been defeated since August 24th- more than two months ago.

The match between Hitchin Town and Bedfont Sports has been postponed.

Hornchurch have had an inconsistent October thus far, and they welcome Berkhampstead to Bridge Avenue hoping to get back to winning ways. The Berks (no, not really) are sitting pretty at the top of Southern Central Division One, undefeated in the league and having walloped Herne Bay five-nil in the last round.

Kingstonian won’t need any information about their visitors to King George’s Field, as their visitors are also their hosts, Corinthian-Casuals. Both fell to narrow defeat in midweek and will look to bounce back.

Leatherhead are in fabulous form at present, but so are their visitors, Ware- undefeated in the South Central Division, whilst we have another all-Isthmian clash at Park Drive, as Maldon & Tiptree- who failed to win for the first time this season in midweek, drawing in the Velocity Trophy before losing a shootout- prepare to host Cray Wanderers. Wands have played their last three matches away from home and picked up seven points, so certainly won’t be overawed by the growing reputation of their opposition.

Marlow host Sholing, the Southampton side sitting in sixteenth place in Southern Division One South, whilst Tilbury travel to Metropolitan Police, Super Play-Off Finalists last year and currently in eleventh place in Southern Premier South. The Dockers scored six goals in the last round, defeating Waltham Abbey six-two.

Phoenix Sports have risen up the South East table like, well, some kind of mythical bird in recent weeks, but will need to do a little giant-killing to get further in the Trophy, as they entertain Southern Premier Central Kings Langley. The visitors will perhaps welcome the fact they are taking on Isthmian opposition, as they’ve already defeated Corinthian-Casuals, Folkestone Invicta and Barking this season.

Sittingbourne and Tooting and Mitcham United will clash at Woodstock Park, the travelling Terrors still unbeaten in the league but having slowed up a little lately, with only one win from their last five in all competitions. The Brickies are in good form, unbeaten for more than a month.

Soham Town Rangers travel to St Ives Town, their hosts fourth from bottom of the Southern Premier Central having picked up only one point from their last twelve. Our matchday fixture should come from Uxbridge so long as the M25 doesn’t fall over, as we watch the red Army take on Premier Division opposition in newly rejuvenated- but short on numbers- Bognor Regis Town.

Westfield entertain Beaconsfield Town. Field are unbeaten at home in the league, although they have lost two cup ties there; whilst their opponents are having a torrid season, bottom of the Southern South Premier- but have tightened up their defence of late, drawing three of their last four matches.

Whitehawk will host Hendon (if the Sussex rain ever stops), our former Isthmian stalwarts currently sitting second bottom of the Southern Premier South- but the Greens did pick up their first win in four in midweek, defeating Walton Casuals 2-0. Casuals will also be on the Sussex coast, although they shouldn’t need to worry about the weather as they are travelling to Worthing, for whom plastic is fantastic. Casuals are eighteenth in the table, but have lost their last five matches.

With the exception of a Middlesex Cup victory, Wingate and Finchley haven’t won a match since defeating London Colney in the FA Cup on September 7th- and last defeated a side at their own level on August Bank Holiday Monday. The Blues host Hayes & Yeading United, who haven’t been able to start their Southern South Premier campaign the way they ended last season in Isthmian South Central, but have games in hand over their rivals due to cup commitments- fixtures which could take them into the top ten if they win them.

We also have North, South Central, South East and Velocity Trophy fixtures tomorrow and Sunday. Head HERE for a complete list.