The Magnificent Four!

It's FA Trophy Third Round weekend- and we have four sides in action. 

Brentwood Town, who have just picked up our Performance of the Month award for their win at Hereford in the last round, have even bigger fish- well, shrimp- to fry as Southend United make the trip to the Arena. The Blues have won three of their last four and warmed up with victory at Heybridge Swifts on Tuesday, and, of course, have defeated three ‘giants’ in a row to reach this stage. United are having a mixed National League campaign, but are three unbeaten- albeit including two draws. 

The match will see the sold out signs posted outside the ground- we’re writing this on Thursday morning and the last we heard there were fewer than fifty tickets remaining. 

Hashtag United hit the road to National League South side Hampton & Richmond Borough- the Beavers- and you’ll need to take a card of some sort as the Beveree is a cashless stadium. The Tags are in fine form, one defeat in nine in all competitions, and defeated National League North promotion chasers Brackley Town in the last round- whilst their hosts are having a mixed campaign, but they have only lost one of their last five. That said, their home form is particularly mixed, with four defeats from nine matches on their own patch this season.

Sittingbourne, who have already completed four giant killings this season (two of them over Dover Athletic), face a rather familiar ‘giant’ as Enfield Town make the trip to Woodstock Park. The Towners have had a difficult start to their first National League South season, and sit at the bottom of the table eight points from safety. They’ve particularly struggled on the road, whilst the Brickies have made their home a fortress, winning every league match they’ve played there this season. They are collecting Performance of the Month Awards by the armful, and will want another!

Finally, Horsham make the long trip to the English Riviera to take on Torquay United. The Hornets have already defeated two National League South sides in cup competitions this season, but this may be their most difficult task yet, as their hosts, in third place, are yet to taste defeat on their own patch and, if there has been a Horsham flaw this season, it has most definitely been their away form. That said, if the visitors play as well as we know they can, they’ll feel they have a good chance of another famous victory. 

By the way, travelling fans, there’s a fabulous fish and chip shop near the ground on St Marychurch Road! 

Match Postponed- rescheduled for Tuesday.