Two wins from the Promised Land

We start with two sides who have had very positive starts to the season as AFC Sudbury host Cheshunt. The Yellows sit in second place in the Pitching In isthmian North Division and have lost only one match all season- from ten- and who have seven clean sheets during that run. That will pose a challenge even to an Ambers side who have scored three in four of their last five matches. Cheshunt, who have lost only one of their last five, must start the match favourites if ony because they are a step higher- but this one could be close.

Bedfont Sports reward for their famous win over Dulwich Hamlet is to entertain former FA Vase winners Sholing (it’s on the outskirts of Southampton, in case you were wondering). Sports have lost only one match all season and have been quite magnificent, whilst their opponents are in second place in Pitching In Southern League Division One South and have a similar record as their hosts, having lost for the first time this season on Tuesday night.

East Thurrock United travel to Boston United of Vanarama National League North. Boston are in good form, with four wins from their last five- including a six-nil win over Corby Town in the last round- whilst the Rocks will look to bounce back after conceding five to Haringey Borough last time out.

Bowers and Pitsea host Hornchurch, both already rather familiar with each other. The Urchins come into this one on the back of three consecutive victories and looked back to their best when defeating Lewes at the weekend, whilst Bowers have also hit a purple patch and are unbeaten in six. The last four times the two have met, Hornchurch have emerged victorious.

Enfield Town are off to Essex to face National League South side Chelmsford City. The hosts saw a good run come to an end last weekend with defeat against Dulwich Hamlet, halting a five match unbeaten run; whilst the Towners had a fine start to the season but have hit an inconsistent patch of late. Town have never reached the First Round of the competition, and only twice reached the Fourth Qualifying Round, but with Mo Faal already on seven goals for the season will think they have the necessary firepower to make history this season.

Hastings United also travel to take on a National League South side, in their case Chippenham Town, who sit fourth in the table. Town were defeated five-two at home to Ebbsfleet United in midweek, so may be feeling rather shellshocked- whilst our United are in fine form, having won their last six matches across all competitions and scored nineteen goals in the process.

We’ve an all-Pitching In Isthmian Premier tie as Corinthian-Casuals host Wingate and Finchley. The two are both in good form, the visitors having scored five at Cray Wanderers in midweek and arriving on the back of a four match unbeaten run which also included victory over League leaders Kingstonian; whilst Casuals saw their six match unbeaten run come to an end in the very last minute of their match at Worthing last weekend. The two have already met in the league this season, drawing two-two on the last Saturday of August.

Folkestone Invicta would undoubtedly be top of the league of only they could turn draws into wins! Still unbeaten in all competitions but with three draws from their seven matches in the league, the side in stripes have the task of welcoming National League North side Gloucester City to the BuildKent on Saturday. City have only one league win all season and sit second bottom of their division, having lost at Gateshead last weekend. Rather remarkably they lost nine-nil to Chorley on September 4th- a National League North record.

Marlow travel to face Pitching In Southern Premier side Harrow Borough, the visitors in such good form that it almost defies superlatives. Eight matches played, eight victories, and NOT A SINGLE GOAL CONCEEDED. Borough, who knocked out Ramsgate in the last round, may be their toughest opponents yet, particularly as they are on a run of six consecutive victories in all competitions.

Whitehawk have had a terrible time in the league so far but have been fabulous in the cup, having knocked National League South side Slough Town out of the competition in the last round. They’ll need to find the same form this weekend as they travel to face Pitching In Southern South Premier leaders Hayes and Yeading United, who are unbeaten in all competitions and have won seven of their eight league matches so far. United dropped their first points of the season last Saturday as Metropolitan Police escaped with a draw, but they knocked Tonbridge Angels out of the competition in the last round by winning five-nil, and Bognor Regis Town in the round before that.

Horsham bring National League South side Eastbourne Borough to the Camping World Community Stadium. The Sussex seaside side defeated Hanwell Town in the last round, and are four games unbeaten- having walloped Braintree Town six-nil last weekend. The Hornets haven’t really found their rhythm in the league yet, but have knocked South East leaders Haywards Heath Town and Premier leaders Kingstonian out of the cup in the last two rounds.

Chertsey Town are in very good form as they travel to face Jersey Bulls, unbeaten in all competitions so far. Bulls have already knocked out two Isthmian sides, VCD Athletic and Sutton Common Rovers, but the Curfews will be confident that this will be third time lucky for the Pitching In Isthmian League!

Merstham host Hereford, who we last saw as they lost to Hornchurch in last seasons FA Trophy Final at Wembley. The Bulls perhaps carried over a Wembley hangover into their new National League North campaign, with only one win so far- but that did come at York City on Tuesday night. The Moatsiders last four matches have gone win-defeat-win-defeat, so they’ll hope that continues for another week.

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