A North Cup Preview!

Basildon United have had a positive start to the campaign, with wins in both League and Cup, and will hope to make it three from three as Kings Langley make the trip to Essex. Their Pitching In Southern Division One Central visitors are unbeaten so far.

Haringey Borough will want to put their opening day defeat behind them as they travel to take on Essex Senior League side Benfleet, the hosts looking for a third win in a row, whilst Brightlingsea Regent welcome Romford to the Taydal. Regent will want to bounce back after a heavy defeat against Witham Town last weekend, whilst FA Vase winners Romford will be amongst the favourites to return to our ranks from the Essex Senior League- and are unbeaten so far. 

We’ve a big match between two of our North promotion favourites as Bury Town welcome Felixstowe and Walton United- and a local derby to boot. Both sides were comfortable winners on opening day, the Seasiders hitting six, and United took four points from six from their meetings last season.

Concord Rangers got their Pitching In Isthmian North campaign off to a shaky start last weekend, but the Beachboys will hope to be too strong for Essex Olympian League side Catholic United.

Downham Town of the Thurlow Nunn Premier currently sit bottom of that table, and they are the hosts for Ipswich Wanderers, who have yet to concede a goal in their three matches this season. They’ve only scored two, mind you, but that has been enough for Cup progression and a League win, and they’ll hope to keep that run going. 

Great Yarmouth is the destination for Cambridge City. City drew at Heybridge Swifts on opening day after hitting Lakenheath for five in the previous round of the cup, but they’ll need to be focused as their hosts have won each of their three league matches so far, and have a cup victory under their belts, too.

Hanworth Villa will follow their opening day draw with Raynes Park Vale by welcoming Abbey Rangers. Rangers are currently third in Combined Counties Premier South, and have won each of their three opening matches of the campaign, knocking Hythe Town out in the last round. 

Leighton Town of Pitching In Southern Central Division One is the destination for Waltham Abbey, who of course were in the same Division last season and took four points from this weekend’s opponents. Town defeated Clacton six-nil in the last round and got their League campaign started with a draw last weekend, whilst the Abbots lost narrowly at Sporting Bengal United in their only match so far. 

Leverstock Green is the destination for Heybridge Swifts, the Pitching In Southern Division One Central side having lost their two league matches so far. Swifts defeated Wormley Rovers in the last round and drew with Cambridge City in their opening League campaign. 

Mulbarton Wanderers are in seventh place in the Thurlow Nunn Premier, and they are also the hosts for Gorleston. Wanderers have lost only one of the five matches they’ve played so far, whilst the Greens have defeated Walthamstow and Hadleigh United in league and cup. 

Redbridge host an East London derby, as the Motormen- who fell to opening day defeat on Saturday after defeating Great Wakering Rovers in the last round of the cup-  welcome Barking. The visitors are these days in the Essex Senior League, and they sit in ninth place after an inconsistent start.

Tilbury delivered a fine performance in the last round, defeating Buckhurst Hill four-one, and they again have Essex Senior League opposition, Stanway Rovers travelling to Chadfields. The Dockers lost narrowly with ten men in their opening league match, whilst Rovers will be looking to defeat North Division opposition for the second time in a row after victory over Maldon & Tiptree. 

Walthamstow will hope to bounce back from opening day defeat by beating Saffron Waldren Town in East London. Their Essex Senior League visitors are four unbeaten in all competitions.

Ware, in ninth place in Pitching In Southern Division One Central, welcome Brentwood Town to Wodson Park. Our Blues started the season with a fine win at Redbridge.

We have a North Division Cup battle between Wroxham and Newmarket Town, both of whom lost on opening day but both of whom have cup victories under their belts, the Jockeys over March Town United, the Yachtsmen against Walsham Le Willows.