Can Town stop the Seasiders?

Felixstowe and Walton United have been scoring goals for fun. Three matches so far- including two in the cup- have delivered twelve Seasiders goals, six on opening day against Newmarket Town, and six more over two matches against expected title rivals Bury Town, including four in a Cup Replay thrashing in midweek. United hit the road to take on Witham Town, another side who have had a fine start to the campaign. Three matches- two in the Cup- have brought three wins, nine goals scored and only two conceded, and with home advantage they’ll have confidence that they’ll stop the seaside steamroller! United have won four of their last five meetings- but they did lose the last time they visited the Simarco Stadium. 

Maldon and Tiptree have been two weeks without a match after going out of the Cup at first time of asking, but the Jammers recovered from that to hit Wroxham for four as the league kicked off on August 10th. They are on their own patch, Tilbury the visitors. The Dockers have comfortably won two cup ties so far this season, but in between those they lost their opening league match against Ipswich Wanderers, so they’ll want to get some points on the board. The last time the two sides met, back in 22-23, we saw two away wins, so Tilbury will hope to keep that run going for one more game! The last thirty three meetings between the sides (!) sees the Jammers fifteen-nine ahead in terms of victories. 

Bury Town will hope that their midweek cup defeat at the hands of Felixstowe was something of an aberration. After all, they started the campaign with a three-nil win over Concord Rangers, and then drew two-two with the Seasiders last weekend, so nobody really saw that hammering coming. They’ll want to put that right as Wroxham travel to Ram Meadow, although after two defeats of their own- against Maldon and Newmarket- and the departure of their manager this week the Yachtsmen will also have a point to prove. The sides met three times last season in League and Cup, with one win apiece and a draw the outcome, and a draw has been the most likely recent outcome, three of their last five meetings ending all square. 

Brentwood Town officially open their new 3G pitch and their newly refurbished clubhouse as they welcome Walthamstow. The Blues, who of course reached the Play Off Final for the second time in three seasons at the end of 23-24, are amongst our promotion favourites- and have started like they deserve that description, with away wins at Redbridge in the League and Ware in the Cup. Stow lost narrowly at Gorleston on opening day but bounced back to win in the Cup last weekend, and will hope to be involved in the promotion shake up themselves. Brentwood took six points from their meetings last season. 

Gorleston welcome Redbridge to Great Yarmouth, the Greens looking to win their fourth match in a row, after two cup victories and that victory over Walthamstow have given them a perfect start to the campaign. The travelling Motormen started the campaign with a Cup win over Great Wakering Rovers, but have since lost in the League and Cup and will want to get their campaign back on track. Last season’s meetings both finished one-nil, on both occasions a triumph for the hosting side. 

Grays Athletic are the hosts for Sporting Bengal United. Grays drew their opening fixture against Mildenhall Town but bowed out of the Cup on Sunday after delivering a below-par performance against Witham Town, whilst United haven’t played for a fortnight, but defeated Waltham Abbey on opening day, putting an earlier FA Cup defeat quickly behind them.

Basildon United were superb on occasions last season, and the Bees have had a superb start to this season, winning each of their three matches in League and Cup so far- and keeping two clean sheets. They are on the road for the first time, travelling to Cambridge City, who are still sharing at St Ives Town whilst waiting for their new ground to be finished. City bowed out of the Cup last weekend, and drew their first league match against Heybridge Swifts on opening day.

Ipswich Wanderers bring Heybridge Swifts to the Doucy. Wanderers started the campaign with a win at Tilbury, and indeed have had a perfect start, as they have also defeated Thetford Town and Downham Town in the Cup- a far cry from the way they started last season and something which they will hope to build on. Swifts last three matches have all ended one-one, but the last of them, in the Cup against Leverstock Green in midweek, also came with a shootout defeat. Swifts did the double over Wanderers last season. 

Waltham Abbey welcome Mildenhall Town. The Abbotts began the league season with a narrow defeat at Sporting Bengal before getting back to winning ways in the cup last weekend, whilst Hall departed the Cup on August 3rd, grabbed a late draw against Grays on opening day, and haven’t played for a fortnight. 

Haringey Borough welcome Brightlingsea Regent to Coles Park. Both sides started the League campaign with defeat, Borough losing at Basildon whilst Regent lost at Witham, but both have been triumphant in the Cup. Brightlingsea have had to progress through two rounds and have scored eight goals in the process, whilst Borough hit Benfleet for five last Saturday. The last nine meetings between the sides have seen one Regent victory, seven for Borough, and one draw. 

FA Trophy

Concord Rangers started the campaign with defeat against Bury Town, and followed that, rather more surprisingly, by losing to Milton keynes irish in the Cup last weekend. The Beachboys have another knockout match as they travel to AFC Dunstable of Pitching In Southern Division One Central, their hosts having won their last two matches after starting the season with a six-nil thrashing.