A Trophy and Premier Saturday

Isuzu FA Trophy

Chichester City welcome neighbours and National League South opponents in the shape of Worthing. City were in good form until their hammering at the hands of Hashtag United last weekend, but won’t be afraid of the challenge posed by their high flying opponents. The travelling Mackerel Men, once they’ve negotiated the queues at Arundel, should bring a large away contingent. They currently sit just outside the Play Off places, but that might underestimate their form, as they’ve played the far moire games away from home than on their own patch due to building work at Woodside Road. 

Folkestone Invicta take on a bunch of Geordies, Pitching In Southern Premier side Hanwell Town making the trip to the seaside. Invicta have finally found some form on their own patch, losing only one of their last four at home, and will be hoping for another big crowd. The Geordies currently sit in fourteenth place but shouldn’t be underestimated, having lost only one of their last five matches- and having hit Hendon for five in the last round. That was their second cup tie against an Isthmian side this season, as they hammered Sheppey United six-nil in the FA Cup in early September. 

Horsham have been magnificent in knockout competitions and pretty good on their own patch, whilst struggling away from home. On that note they’ll be glad to be hosting Maidstone United, the National League South draw specialists- almost half of the Stones league matches have ended level, including two of the last three, a narrow win over Hornchurch the meat in that particular sandwich. Looking at the statistics another way, they have one defeat from twelve! That said, only Dover Athletic have defeated Horsham on their own patch, and they’ve won their last six home matches without conceding a goal- including an FA Cup win over another National League South side, Dorking Wanderers. 

Lewes got back to winning ways in midweek, hitting Bognor Regis Town for four- and the Rooks are unbeaten at home in League,Trophy and County Cup, their only defeat at the Pan coming on penalties in the FA Cup on September 3rd. They welcome AFC Totton of Pitching In Southern Premier, the travelling Stags having a fine season, in third place with only one league defeat- and indeed have only lost two games in all competitions all season. This one looks a cracker.

Chatham Town are on the road to Berkshire, where they take on Slough Town. The Chats take a nine match unbeaten record with them, but know exactly the challenge they are up against as Slough knocked them out of the FA Cup in September, a comfortable three-nil win at the Bauvill. Slough sit in the final play off place in National League South, and have lost only once at home. This will be their fourth cup tie of the season against Isthmian Premier opposition, as they knocked Chichester City out of the FA Cup after a replay. 

Hashtag United welcome Brackley Town on Sunday- we’ll preview that on Sunday morning, with our round up of Saturday’s matches.

Pitching In Isthmian Premier

We have a reduced Premier fixture list because of the FA Trophy, but we still have four of the top five in action. 

Leaders Dover Athletic host a seaside derby, Canvey Island the visitors. Due to their superior goal difference and a three point lead, we know that Athletic will be top on Saturday evening whatever happens, but after winning five of their last six, drawing the latest of those in Chatham last weekend, the hosts will be rather keen on getting back to winning ways. The travelling Gulls aren’t in bad form either, with four wins from their last six, and have actually been better on the road than at home so won’t be daunted by the trip to Kent. 

Second place Cray Valley PM travel to Hastings United. The Millers are six unbeaten in the League, with four wins, and have had a magnificent start to their first season at Step Three. United have won only two of their last ten league matches, but have won three in a row at home in League and Cups so will be hopeful of making that four. With only two points separating the hosts from the bottom four, the home fans will be hoping the same. 

Wingate and Finchley, in third, are also on the Sussex coast, as they travel to Whitehawk. The Blues surprisingly lost against North Division Tilbury in the Velocity Cup in midweek, but had won five of six prior to that. Their hosts are in terrible shape, second from bottom and without a League win since mid September- the last seven matches have brought them two points and seen them score only one goal. Last season the two sides drew three-three at the Enclosed Ground, whilst the Blues won five-one in North London.

Billericay Town saw their unbeaten record depart at Carshalton last weekend, a result which also saw them drop down the table, and they head into their home match against Bowers and Pitsea five points behind the leaders and in fifth place. The Blues problem this season hasn’t been defeats but draws, fifty percent of their matches ending level, but that has been less of a problem at New Lodge so they will expect to get back to winning ways, particularly given that Bowers have only won one league match on the road. That said, the side from the Len Salmon also knocked the Blues out of the Cup at new Lodge at the end of August, and will perhaps be pleased to be travelling, given they’ve played eight of their last nine matches on their own patch.

Potters Bar Town, who start the weekend in eighth, will hope to get back to winning ways as they entertain third bottom Cray Wanderers. The Scholars are on their worst run of the campaign, having gone four without a win in the league, but they did win a thrilling County Cup match against Hertford Town in midweek. Wands have picked up more points away from home that at their own Flamingo Park this season, but have lost their last two- both on the road- and will be looking to avoid an unwanted hat trick of defeats. The Scholars took four points from the Wands last season.

Carshalton Athletic look to be on the up. The Robins came from behind to inflict a first League defeat of the season on Billericay Town last weekend, and on Monday came from behind again to inflict a Cup defeat on Croydon Athletic, ending another long unbeaten run in the process. They travel to a side who would love an unbeaten run, Bognor Regis Town. The Rocks, bottom of the table, have lost six of their last seven in the League, and any confidence gained from their win at Bowers and Pitsea last weekend was quickly drained by a four-one thumping at Lewes on Tuesday, although it was one-one with just three minutes to go. Rather improbably, three of the last four meetings between the sides have ended in a three-three draw.