Another North and Trophy Saturday

Isuzu FA Trophy

Tilbury, with a couple of new signings in tow, travel to take on Berkhampstead. Their Pitching In Southern Division One hosts had won seven in a row prior to defeat against St Ives Town in the Cup last weekend, whilst the Dockers have lost their last two- but the last of those was against National League South opposition. They have already defeated Southern Division One opposition this season, Welwyn Garden City in the last round.

Brightlingsea Regent welcome Brentwood Town in an all-north affair, Regent four without a win whilst the Blues haven’t won in three- although two of those were against higher Division opposition. When the sides met last season Regent did the double.

Felixstowe and Walton United have been rather free scoring this season, indeed with thirty two goals in ten matches in all competitions are averaging more than three a match. The Seasiders have played six matches on their own patch so far this season and have won all of them, and they’ll have the chance to win a seventh as Enfield come to call, the E’s- these days in Pitching In Southern Division One Central- having had a mixed start to the season. They lost five-nil against Brentwood Town in the FA Cup at the end of last month.

Pitching In Southern Division One Central leaders Hadley are the hosts for Ipswich Wanderers. Hadley have lost only once all season, a Cup defeat against Basildon United on August 3rd, and have won every game but once since, including victory over Grays Athletic in the last round- they come in to this match looking for a sixth consecutive win. Wanderers actually defeated Basildon in midweek, and will be confident of adding another scalp, as Michael Bareck looks to score in a fourth consecutive match since joining the club. 

Maldon and Tiptree welcome Pitching In Northern Division One Midlands leaders Corby Town. The visitors are on a nine match unbeaten run- indeed their only defeat this season came right at the start, and it was a shootout defeat in the Cup. The Jammers campaign so far has been rather hit and miss, but they had won two in a row before defeat against Felixstowe on Monday.

Newmarket Town are the hosts for North Division rivals Cambridge City. The Jockeys don’t yet have a single league point but have been much better in the Cups, having won five times in knockout competitions. City haven’t yet hit their stride, perhaps because they can’t yet play in their new ground so haven’t had a ‘home’ match, but they have won three of their last four.

An all-North tie sees Wroxham bring Haringey Borough to the Broads. Borough, as we said the other day, have resembled Doctor Jekyll this season- put a knockout match in front of them and watch them go, make them play in the League and the outcome is rather more scary. The travelling faithful will be glad that this is a knockout match, then, as their side has come through four rounds worth of those so far, their latest victory coming on Tuesday night in the cup at Witham Town. The Yachtsmen have also seen their only wins come in cup competitions, and have two of those, but in all competitions have only one win in seven, that coming on penalties against Aylesbury United in the last round. 

Pitching In Isthmian North Division

We have three matches in Pitching In Isthmian North whilst the rest are away in the FA Trophy, and one of them could give us new leaders. 

Second place Bury Town are behind Basildon United only on goal difference, so anything but defeat will see them take top spot- but they may not have it all their own way as sixth place Gorleston head to Ram Meadow. Town haven’t really found consistency so far this season, nine matches in all competitions bringing four wins, two draws and three defeats, but there is a reason why they are amongst our promotion favourites. The Greens started the season in fine form, winning their first six matches, and after a couple of defeats got back to winning ways at Barking in midweek, progressing to the Third Qualifying Round of the Cup. Town took four points from their meetings last season.

Grays Athletic bring Heybridge Swifts to Tilbury. Athletic got back to winning ways last week with victory over Concord Rangers, whilst Swifts have been difficult to defeat but are rather short of victories, only two all season in all competitions- but they’ve only lost three as well, one of those on a shootout. Four more have ended in draws. 

Last season Swifts did the double over Athletic.

Mildenhall Town could climb into the top five if they can defeat Concord Rangers. Two wins in a row- and two clean sheets- have greatly improved the mood at Hall after a previously winless start to the season, whilst Rangers have only two wins for the season so far in all competitions, and five defeats, with not a draw in sight.