Whitstable Town FC

FA Cup Action

Peter Albin's roundup of Saturday's FA Cup action for 29th September. Thirteen fixtures of local interest in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup this Saturday out of a total of 80 matches being played this round. The winners will go into the hat alone for the draw for the third round, the forty winners of which will be joined by the Blue Square Conference Premier sides to compete for the 1st round proper. Yes, their really that close. Starting with the Kent League, Hythe have the pick of the hot fixtures as they host near neighbours and Ryman South play-off favourites Dover Athletic. There will be a crowd in excess of a thousand at Reachfields for a cracking derby atmosphere. Hythe number amongst the Kent leagues cup specialists and will prove stiff opposition for the Whites. No doubt, Dover boss, Hessenthaler will have had them watched and will set out his stall accordingly. My own opinion is that this one is too tight to call and could go either way, cracking football match in store though. Also with a home draw are Erith Town who remain unbeaten in the league, their visitors are the Isthmian Premier’s Heybridge Swifts who, in a strange quirk of fate, still have to win a league game in nine starts. Their five points come from five draws which finds them anchored to the foot of the table. If confidence is the key then the Dockers ought to progress to the next round, however, if you were Swift’s boss Brian Statham you must be thinking this is an opportunity to find some winning form. The biggest challenge of the day falls to our blue friends along the coast, Herne Bay who travel to Hayes & Yeading United of the Conference South. Bay are also unbeaten in the league, but with 57 places between them and their opponents in the pyramid, have the steepest mountain to climb at the weekend. Whatever the outcome, it will be a great day for the club, players and supporters alike and I wish them good luck. There are still three Ryman Div.1 S clubs involved and with two drawn together at least one will progress further. The current third place side Walton & Hersham travel to the south coast to play sixth spot Worthing. The sides will know each other quite well as they play in Div. 1 courtesy of relegation from the Isthmian Premier last season. For the record Worthing won both league matches last term. Dulwich Hamlet are drawn at home against Spartan South Midlands Premier’s Chalfont St.Peter who show fifth in their league which is at step 5. Hamlet should win the tie buoyed by their emphatic midweek league win at Chatham Town. Dartford (Ryman 1N) enjoy home turf against Camberley Town who play in the Combined Counties Premier and are currently third in that league. Promises to be an even game with the home side just shading the result. Moving up the leagues to the Ryman Premier we have Maidstone United playing at Billericay Town. Stones will welcome this game as a breathe of fresh air away from league pressures, and should take the opportunity to enjoy the occasion. A good result for them might invigorate their league campaign. High flying Ramsgate are at Southwood against the Southern league Premier outfit, Corby Town. The Rams should win over a side that needed a replay to beat an inferior Barton Rovers sdie in the previous round. As always with knock-out footie there is always a proviso and Ramsgate will need to do the job at the first time of asking, a replay is definitely not what is required. With inferior opposition and home advantage Tonbridge Angels and Folkestone Invicta should prevail in their contests against Maldon Town (Ryman 1N) and Windsor & Eton (Southern 1 SW) respectively, straightforward, yes? Not so for Margate who travel to Conference South side Fisher Athletic, in a tricky tie I suspect the home side will win through although not without a fight. It’s no easier task faced by Conference South’ers Welling United who entertain the Essex Senior league’s Barkingside. Although further into their campaign Welling’s league record isn’t as good as their oppositions 100% start from four games. Tails will be up on the underdogs and the home side will need all their class on the day to stamp their authority. This could be the upset of the round. Finally, although on the road Bromley should have a less stressful afternoon at Aylesbury United who compete in the Southern Div.1 Midlands league. The whites making a better fist of early season performances in comparison, class should tell. Wherever you watch your football, enjoy it to the full! Peter Albin - 26/09/07

 

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