Page 12 - Yate Town FC v Bracknell Town FA Cup 011022

It’s Emirates FA Cup Third Qualifying Round action again involving a number of
clubs in the Pitching In Southern Football League. And there are some intriguing
ties.
The league is only assured of two entries into the next round as Premier Division Central
rivals Alvechurch and Nuneaton Borough meet at Lye Meadow and Premier Division South
sides Yate Town and Bracknell Town do battle at Lodge Road.
Friday evening kicks-off the round as Kevin Horlock’s Premier Division Central outfit
Needham Market welcome Isthmian League Premier Division Brightlingsea Regent to
Bloomfields. The Marketmen are currently fourth in the table with five wins from nine league
games and have so far seen off league rivals Leiston and Thurlow Nunn Leaguers
Sheringham in the previous rounds.
Brightlingsea are sitting in 19th spot in the league with just two wins and five defeats from
their eight league matches. In the cup, they beat Thurlow Nunn League side Mildenhall Town
3-0 and won 3-2 at Southern Division One Central outfit Waltham Abbey in the last round.
Several Southern League clubs face opposition from the Vanarama National League North or
South.
Division One Central side Berkhamsted will be looking to cause an upset when they journey
up the M4 to play reigning Southern Premier Division Central champions Banbury United,
now sitting second in the National League North.
Last season’s Premier Division South play-off winners, Farnborough, will be familiar
opposition for their former league rivals Swindon Supermarine, who welcome Spencer Day’s
side to the Webbswood Stadium with Boro currently 21st in the National League South.
Their start to the league season may be disappointing, but Boro will be tough opponents as
their play-off losers Hayes & Yeading United found in the last round.
Plymouth Parkway have endured a tough start to life at Step 3 level but will be buoyed by
earning their first Premier Division South win of the campaign this week as they head up the
motorway to take on National League South side Oxford City at Marsh Lane. The Hoops are
currently 11th in the table with four wins and four defeats from ten league outings.
Parkway’s league rivals Metropolitan Police will fancy their chances of causing another cup
upset when they host National League South side Chippenham Town at Imber Court. The
Bluebirds are currently a place behind Oxford with an identical record, while the Met, sitting
9th, have been a bit inconsistent so far and have wins over lower league opponents in
Isthmian South East outfits Corinthian and Burgess Hill Town to reach this stage.
Hanwell Town have had a good start to life at Step 3 level in the Premier Division South and
Monday’s 1-1 draw at Bracknell Town leaves them in fourth spot. The Geordies have beaten
Southern Combination League side Eastbourne Town and Isthmian South East outfit Cray
Valley PM so far and now face one of the biggest games in their recent history when National
League South Ebbsfleet United journey to the Powerday Stadium. And the draw could not
have been harder for Hanwell as Fleet sit top of the table, having won nine and drawn one
of their ten league matches!
Division One South club Paulton Rovers will have to produce something special if they are
to progress. Rovers travel to The Beveree to take on National League South side
Hampton & Richmond Borough, and whilst the Beavers are only 17th in the table,
it is still a two-division gap that the visitors are looking to surmount.