Whitstable Town FC

Peter Albin looks ahead to the FA Cup and League action: A break from league pressure for Isthmian 1 clubs this weekend as the FA Cup takes centre stage. For Whitstable Town that means a trip up the line to our old Kent League rivals Thamesmead Town.

Picture: Peter Albin:  A win at newly promoted Holmesdale last Monday lifted Mead to fifth spot in their table with two wins and a draw to date. Keith McMahon's side won their extra preliminary round match against Combined Counties' Egham Town at Bayliss Avenue with a comfortable 4-1 scoreline. No surprise to those who follow kentish football that they have a 100% home record so far. Marc Seager's squad will be tipped as favourites for this encounter, as the senior side, having beat them in the Kent Challenge Shield a couple of weeks ago. Marc will be first in line to remind the players that history counts for nothing while home turf will make a big big difference to our opponents confidence. So although between two sides familiar with each other, this game remains nicely balanced and could tip in either direction. Players to watch for include our old adversaries Rikki Cable, Pedro Kinight and Richard Dimmock all of whom have been finding the net this year. Any natives not busy on Saturday, jump in your car and come and support the Oystermen, the more the merrier.

Four other kent league sides are in action against Isthmian sides, Corinthian-Casuals entertain Deal Town, Walton Casuals host Sevenoaks Town, Ashford Town travel to Erith & Belvedere and Whyteleafe trek across Kent to Hythe Town. Deal Town won through the extra preliminary round after a replay at home following a three all draw at Raynes Park Vale (CoCoP), Deal eventually ran out 4-2 winners. Seven goals in two ties! The home side really can't afford to be too casual about this one, Deal are averaging two per game in the league as well. Sevenoaks should be food and drink to Walton Casuals, not strong on the road at their own level they would be doing very well to get a draw at best. The Deres currently head up the Kent Premier and will provide stiff competition for Ashford, with similar points stats and home advantage for the underdog this looks like being a very evenly matched game, odds on for a replay I'd say. Reachfields is never an easy place to visit and Hythe have a good squad, apologies to Whyteleafe but I think the small fry will carry the day. Leafe will need to be right on top of their game to get one over on a side that have proved to be cup specialists in seasons past.

Spanning the first north-south divisional divide are Dartford and Leatherhead who play their tie at Princes Park. The form from last year's league show's away wins for both teams so therefore the Tanners have it in the bag, only kidding! Recent league form leans towards the Darts and providing they get a good home crowd on the day I can't see why they shouldn't win.

In ties featuring two Isthmian South sides we have Croydon Athletic at Met. Police, Kingstonian head south to Eastbourne Town and Cray Wanderers heading into town to face Tooting & Mitcham. All pairings have yet to meet in the league this year, the Police won both league games last term but might find it harder to win this one as Croydon are riding high in the table . Eastbourne will be sure to draw a good crowd, and they will really need to get behind their boys to win a tie against the current third spot side. The Ks are not unbeatable on the road though, Tooting & Mitcham beating them on bank holiday Monday. Kingstonian must be favourite but an upset is on the cards somewhere, this could just be the one. Tooting & Mitcham have started well in the league and last year's runners-up should have enough in their arsenal to deal with Wanderers, especially on home turf.

Burgess Hill Town are home to Banstead Athletic, Sittingbourne play Chertsey Town at Bourne Park and Horsham YMCA host Chessington & Hook all those away sides being from the Combined Counties Premier. Banstead Athletic have managed to let in eight league goals in their last two matches of which they won one at home and lost one on the road. I'm not sure whether that makes them vulnerable or dangerous, probably both if that's possible. Provided Burgess Hill keep a solid back line they will be in the next round. Chertsey Town are sure to raise their game against joint leaders of the Ryman South Sittingbourne although I doubt whether they'll be in the next round. Even so the distraction of the cup will be a welcome break after poor away form in the CoCo Prem, they have lost both away fixtures with an aggregate score of 8-3, a good work out for them though. Horsham YMCA will also welcome the chance of some cup foottie, not the best of starts to a season, but Monday night's win against Eastbourne will settle their nerves. Chessington & Hook will be cursing their luck that they couldn't play a week earlier, YMCA will be too strong now with hopefully with their confidence restored.

There's opposition from the Sussex leagues also as Walton & Hersham are visited by Hassocks (Suss1), Dulwich Hamlet welcome Three Bridges (Suss1), Chatham travel to the south coast to play Ringmer (Suss1), travelling alongside Molesey who trek down to Arundel (Suss1), Dover cross the length of the south downs to play Redhill (Suss1) and Chipstead must fancy their chances as they travel to Sussex Division 2 outfit Littlehampton Town. Hassocks, well known for their FA Cup runs of recent years will be looking to win through to the 1st qualifying round for the fifth time in eight campaigns, no push overs they are pressuring near the top of Sussex One as well. Walton & Hersham should just have enough about them, but it's a strange game this cup football and a turnover wouldn't completely surprise me. The Dulwich Hamlet v Three Bridges game is a repeat of last years preliminary round match in which the home side ran out three nil winners, a repeat performance would also be no surprise. Ringmer are in second spot in Sussex 1 with three wins out of four and should prove a tough nut to crack for Chatham, although not bullet-proof at home. Crowborough Athletic hitting three past them, on the 21st in the league, with no reply. Molesey v Arundel can go either way really, with Molesey earing just a point from four starts in the league Arundel must fancy their chances, a good journeyman side. If the Moles have another off day they will definitely be put to the sword. Still leading the Ryman South, Dover will surely be too strong for Redhill who have a P3W1D1 record to date, albeit their one win was on home turf. And "Oh lucky lucky! Lucky lucky Chipstead." Four league starts, four league defeats and then a sweet draw in the cup. This sort of thing can turn your game around, last years Combined Counties champions have been looking for something to ignite their season, a nice result here could be the start of a renaissance for the club. Good luck to the Chips, and good luck to everyone this Saturday.