It’s an FA Trophy First Round Saturday

Folkestone Invicta hit the road to Barton Rovers of Pitching In Southern Division One Central. Rovers sit in mid table but are unbeaten in three matches, and have already defeated two Pitching In Isthmian sides this season, Waltham Abbey in the FA Cup and Littlehampton Town in the last round of the Trophy. Invicta will be favourites, but they might have to dig deep. 

Potters Bar Town are also on the road, and indeed they are just along the road from Invicta as they take on Biggleswade Town. The Scholars hosts are currently bottom of Pitching In Southern Premier Central, and have won only once in the League so far this season. They’ve lost their last four, but they do have a victory over Isthmian opposition this season, as they knocked Bowers and Pitsea out of the Cup last month. The Scholars are having a positive campaign, and lost their first match in five in midweek, a penalty shootout Velocity Cup defeat against Cheshunt. 

Pitching In Isthmian North promotion chasers Felixstowe and Walton United have a second away match this week- and will hope for a similar result. The Seasiders, who defeated Cambridge City in midweek, may have a tougher task as they take on a familiar name, Bishop’s Stortford, the Blues these days in Pitching In Southern Premier Central, where they sit in the bottom four having lost their last four matches in League and Cup. The Seasiders are better at home than on their travels, but will undoubtedly raise their game for a chance at a giant killing.

Bowers and Pitsea welcome Chatham Town for the second time this season, having already lost two-nil to the Chats at the Len Salmon back in August. Since then neither side have been particularly positive, and their are only two points between them in the league, but Bowers home form has improved enormously- although they were defeated on penalties by Brightlingsea Regent in the Velocity Cup in midweek. The Chats are three unbeaten and will hope that they’ve turned a corner.

Brentwood Town, who knocked out Pitching In Isthmian Premier Cray Wanderers in the last round, will hope to repeat the feat as Cray Valley PM come to call- and complete a Cray ‘double!’ The Blues really seem to have found their groove, and come into the match six unbeaten, including five wins- whilst the Millers are having a fine first Premier season and have a four match unbeaten run to protect. 

Cambridge City are at ‘home’ for the second time this week, but hoping for a better result as they take on Pitching In Southern Premier side Royston Town. City have played very well on occasions this season but are yet to find any consistency, perhaps partially due to the fact that they haven’t yet been able to move into their new ground so every match is technically ‘away.’ Their visitors are also having a very hit and miss sort of campaign, but were victorious against Bishop’s Stortford in midweek.

We’ve an all-Premier clash as Canvey Island welcome Horsham. The Gulls were victorious on their own patch against Carshalton Athletic in midweek, and have lost only one of their last five, whilst the Hornets are in fine form, having won six in a row whilst conceding only one goal. The Gulls will hope their opponents are focused on their trip to Chesterfield in the FA Cup next weekend- particularly as Horsham have emerged victorious from the last four meetings between the sides.

Dover Athletic and Sittingbourne have already met twice this season, and our Premier leaders will be looking for a little revenge having been knocked out of the FA Cup by the South East promotion chasers back in September. Athletic have won their last four and looked consistently impressive of late, whilst the travelling Brickies are seven unbeaten, defeated Premier opposition in the shape of Bognor Regis Town in the last round, and have scored ten goals in their last two matches.

Another all-Premier clash sees Dulwich Hamlet welcome Hashtag United. Hamlet have lost their last two matches at Champion Hill, whilst the Tags have been consistently inconsistent, which is perhaps why they find themselves in the bottom four. Hamlet took four points from their meetings last season- but they needed a last-gasp winner the last time they met. 

Hastings United are on the road to Hadley. The hosts are top of Pitching In Southern Division One Central, have lost only once at home all season, and defeated United’s Premier rivals Carshalton Athletic in the last round, so should not be underestimated. United’s recent form has been rather patchy, particularly away from Pilot Field, but they warmed up for this one by scoring six in the County Cup in midweek.

Hendon had a one hundred percent home record until Tuesday night, when it vanished under a hail of Wingate and Finchley goals, so the Greens will perhaps be glad to be on the road, taking on Hanwell Town. Hendon are three unbeaten on the road, whilst the hosting Geordies have had an inconsistent campaign but sit comfortably in mid table in Pitching In Southern Premier South. The sides were, of course, in the same Division for the last couple of years, and their last three meetings have ended in a draw. This one has to have a winner.

Former Pitching In Isthmian Premier leaders Lewes play host to South East opponents, Ashford United making the trip to the Dripping Pan. The Rooks remain unbeaten at home, whilst the Nuts and Bolts seem to have found form, and are looking for a fourth win in a row- and a fourth win in a row against Sussex opposition! 

Chichester City have perhaps the longest journey of the weekend, as they travel to Plymouth Parkway. City have lost their last three in League and County Cup but were in good form prior to that, whilst their Pitching In Southern Premier hosts are second from bottom with only one league win all season, but have been better in knockout competitions, and have already defeated an Isthmian side, Sittingbourne, this season. 

Uxbridge have been in magnificent form of late, and are eleven matches unbeaten as a familiar name makes the journey to Honeycroft, current South Central champions Chertsey Town the visitors. The home crowd have seen their side win their last eight matches on their own patch, so will be confident of seeing off a ‘giant,’ whilst the travelling Curfews have had a steady if inconsistent start to their first Pitching In Southern Premier campaign, but of course disposed of our Premier title chasers Billericay Town in the last round.