A South East Trophy weekend

Our FA Trophy weekend starts on Friday night, with two of our Pitching In Isthmian South East clubs in action.

At the Racecourse Ground we have a South Central v South East meeting, with Ascot United playing host to Merstham. The Yellas, who defeated Ashford Town in the last round, will be full of confidence after three consecutive wins; whilst the travelling Moatsiders have also won their last three and have had a fine start to the season, six wins from seven in all competitions, and a one hundred percent record on the road.

Kingstonian, at their new home of Raynes Park Vale, welcome Eastbourne Town in another South Central v South East tie, with a pitch inspection already passed (although with the suggestion that there may be another later- and the weather is rather biblical, albeit minus the locusts). After three wins from three at the start of the season- including one against Town’s neighbours United in the Cup- the K’s have conceded four goals in each of the last two matches, although the prolific Eddie Simon has already started the season with his shooting boots firmly fastened, with five goals in five matches. Town have won their last two away matches, and indeed have been better on the road than on their own patch. 

Saturday

Onto Saturday, and AFC Croydon Athletic welcome Beaconsfield Town, who are in mid table in Pitching In Southern Division One Central and have lost their last three in all competitons. The Rams have been good on their own patch, their midweek Velocity Cup win over Rayners Lane their third home win of the season.

Badshot Lea of the South Central are still without a first League win, although they have won twice in knockout competitions. The Baggies hope to end a four match losing streak as South East side Broadbridge Heath come to call, the travelling Bears travelling for the second time this week after a midweek Cup win in Faversham and looking for a fourth unbeaten match.

We’ve a South East Kentish derby as Deal Town welcome Ashford United. Town have had a positive start to the league season, with three wins so far, whilst United haven’t yet managed a league win but have been sweeping all before them in the cup, having already scored thirteen knockout goals including six against Three Bridges last weekend.

Hanworth Villa will look to bounce back after midweek Cup defeat as they welcome Margate, the visitors making their second trip to West London in four days and looking for a similar outcome, after defeating Hayes & Yeading United three-one on Tuesday night. The Villains are undefeated on their own patch this seaosn, and have scored sixteen home goals in five matches; whilst the travelling Blues are undefeated in all competitions and have conceded only three goals in six, with four clean sheets. 

Hartley Wintney have had a positive start to the season, and host yet another South Central v South East battle as East Grinstead Town make the trip. This will be the hosts first match for a fortnight, and they’ve won three of their four fixtures this season, the most recent of those at Leatherhead on August 24th. The travelling Wasps have gone three matches without a win, but they remain unbeaten on the road.

Herne Bay welcome Northwood, the visitors these days a Southern League club. Bay are unbeaten this season, and this will be only their second home match- whilst the Woods have not yet adapted to life in Pitching In Southern Division One Central, and are yet to win a game- indeed the travel to Kent on the back of six defeats from six in all competitions. 

We’ve an all South East tie as Hythe Town play host to Three Bridges. Neither side has had a positive start to the season, and the Cannons come into this one having won only once in all competitions and having lost their last three without scoring, whilst Bridges conceded six at Ashford last weekend and are three without a win, their only win this season a Cup repla victory over Saltdean United. When the sides last met, in April, Bridges won an incredible match by eight goals to three- five up at half time only for the Cannons to score three in twelve second half minutes, before Bridges added three more! 

Raynes Park Vale welcome Beckenham Town- another of those South Central v South East ties- both sides having had positive starts to the campaign. Vale’s unbeaten record departed with a narrow cup defeat against Chertsey Town last weekend, whilst Becks left the cup at the first hurdle but haven’t looked back since, taking ten points from twelve, the last three of those coming in a five-nil win at Sevenoaks Town last weekend.

Sevenoaks Town play host to Harrow Borough. Oaks needed a big performance after their thrashing at the hands of Beckenham Town last weekend, and got their recovery underway by defeating Phoenix Sports in the Velocity Cup in midweek, that three-nil victory ending a four match winless run. Borough have had a superb start to the season, four league games bringing four victories and three clean sheets, but their only defeat came at the hands of South East opposition,  Ashford United removing them from the Cup.

Sheppey United sawe a superb start to the campaign come to a bit of a painful halt in midweek, as they were on the receiving end of a Hanwell Town hammering. The Ites were unbeaten prior to that, with a one hundred percent league record, but they have a difficult match in prospect as Ramsgate make the trip. The Rams sit at the top of the table with four wins from four, and can add two FA Cup wins to that record, the last of those coming against Premier Division side Folkestone Invicta last weekend. The two encounters between the sides last season saw only one goal. 

Sittingbourne will be bouncing Brickies after their performances over Premier promotion chasers Dover Athletic, who they removed from the Cup at the Crabble in midweek. The Brickies welcome Sutton Common Rovers to Woodstock  Park, the visitors looking for a second win of the season. 

Southall were victorious against a Sussex side in the last round, indeed they had to defeat Lancing twice after the first result was annulled after an ineligible player issue, the latest victory a four-nil thumping on Tuesday night. They’ve had a slow start to the season otherwise- they’ve defeated only Lancing- and Burgess Hill Town will hope to prove sterner opposition as they head to Burnham, the Hillians travelling on the back of a three match winning streak.

Steyning Town are at home for the second weekend in a row, although hoping for a more positive result. Town, who are still looking for a first League win but have won three cup ties this season, play host to Pitching In Southern Division One Central side Thame United, who saw a three match winning streak come to an end when they were thumped by Wingate & Finchley last weekend.

Uxbridge welcome Phoenix Sports to Honeycroft. This is a match between two sides who are rather desperate for a victory, the hosts having lost their opening three league matches and been knocked out of the cup, the visitors having lost their last three, four of their last six, and yet to pick up a victory of any kind.

Sunday will also see Littlehampton Town welcome Sporting Bengal United, South East v North. The Golds have been rather short of football so far, having played only one league match- a narrow defeat- and three knockout matches, the last of those a victory in the previous round of the Trophy, a shootout win over Rayners Lane after a two-two draw on August 27th. This wilkl be their fifth consecutive home match- they haven’t yet played away from the Sportsfield. United have played four league matches so far, winning two and losing two, and if that pattern continues are due a victory!