Written by Scott W (Twitter: @ScottMHC14) & Peter D (Twitter: @ped1980)
Hello and welcome to an extended edition of the Preview piece with Non-League bloggers Peter D & Scott W. This week, we look at the FA Vase First Round action involving Essex Senior League & Eastern Senior Lge Sth sides and a reduced league programme on ‘Non-League Day’. Get out there and sample the Non-League game this weekend & what do you think on our predictions?
The FA Vase – First Round (Sat 13th Oct)
Leverstock Green v Sawbridgeworth Town |
Pete: The Robins travel to Spartan South Midlands Leverstock Green off the back of ending Hullbridge Sports’ unbeaten league start to the season, and this proves to be another tough one although Green sit 12th in the division albeit with games in hand over the sides around them. And the hosts did smack six past Oxhey Jets in their last league game at home so know where the goal is, and I feel the home side may win this one.
Pete’s Prediction: 3 – 1
Scott: Sawbo make the trip to Spartan South Mids Premier side Leverstock, on the back of a battling win over ESL leaders Hullbridge. The home side powered to a big home win over Oxhey last weekend. John Watters’ side have a tough job here though desire is not lacking on the part of the club and I wouldn’t put it past them to advance here.
Scott’s Prediction: 1 – 2
Little Oakley v Enfield 1893 |
Pete: If you had asked me to predict this one around two weeks ago I’d have said this could be a potential banana skin for Enfield after Oakley had dispatched Hadleigh United from the Vase. However, since then the hosts have lost their last two in the league conceding thirteen without reply, so it looks more likely that Enfield will win this one, and although no doubt the hosts will raise their game for this big cup tie, it’s an away win for me.
Pete’s Prediction: 0 – 2
Scott: Enfield make the trip to Eastern Senior League South side LIttle Oakley on the back of being unbeaten in three matches in all competitions. Matt Hanning’s side defeated Stanway at home last weekend before battling to a point at Hoddesdon. The hosts have conceded 13 goals without reply in losses to May & Baker and Benfleet. Has this match been on their minds recently? Time will tell though the visitors are more than useful going forward and that could well be the difference.
Scott’s Prediction: 1 – 4
May & Baker E.C v North Greenford Utd | Barking Rugby Club
Pete: Hosts Bakers will look to cause an upset for the second round running after they thrashed Saffron Walden Town away in the last round, but they take on Spartan South Midlands North Greenford United who currently sit sixth in the division, although their form has been mixed of late, although they did hit five at Stotfold in their last league outing. I have a sneaky feeling May & Baker could edge this one.
Pete’s Prediction: 2 – 1
Scott: May & Baker continue their FA Vase following their fine win at Saffron Walden. Spartan South Midlands Premier side North Greenford are the visitors to Barking RFC if the hosts continue their good start to the season, this is the sort of test they will cherish. Both sides can score goals and defences may not prosper here though will go for a narrow home win.
Scott’s Prediction: 3 – 2
Newbury Forest v Newport Pagnell Town | Oakside
Pete: Forest have a tough assignment against United Counties League side Newport Pagnell Town who did reach the Quarter Finals of the competition two years ago. Pagnell do sit down in 15th in their division and have lost half their league games so far, but I feel they will probably have to much for the Step Six opponents here at Oakside.
Pete’s Prediction: 1 – 4
Scott: Eastern Senior League South side Forest welcome United Counties Premier side Newport Pagnell. The visitors have won two of eight league matches as of last weekend while the hosts also concede a few to be fair and this is a tough match against Step 5 opposition.
Scott’s Prediction: 1 – 2
Southend Manor v Redbridge | Southchurch Park
Pete: These two played at Southchurch Park recently in a league fixture and saw The Motormen come from 2-0 down to win 3-2 and trying to predict this one is fairly tough. Manor have struggled of late with plenty of players missing whilst Redbridge put a poor few games behind them recently with a superb win at a free-falling Takeley. Feel Redbridge may repeat the trick here and grab a win.
Pete’s Prediction: 1 – 2
Scott: These two Essex Senior League sides do battle again, weeks after the Motormen roared back from two goals down to win that league encounter at the same venue. One win in their last league outings for Manor means that Adam Peek’s side could do with a victory here while Redbridge are unpredictable themselves though did get a good win at Takeley in midweek. My first instinct is to go for an away win though this is another toughie to call.
Scott’s Prediction: 1 – 2
Takeley v Wodson Park | Station Road
Pete: Don’t let Wodson Park’s Step Six status fool you, they are a very good Spartan South One side with six wins and two draws from their eight league games so far, and they visit a Takeley side at sixes and sevens currently. This is such an intriguing game to try and predict, and you feel the hosts need a win desperately here to try and get their season back on track, and I feel they may just sneak this one.
Pete’s Prediction: 2 – 1
Scott: Takeley welcome Spartan South Midlands Division One outfit Wodson Park to Station Road. Three or four weeks ago you may well have said that Marc Das’ side would have little trouble in progressing in the competition. Four defeats in their last five league matches puts a slightly different complexion on this match. Wodson are still unbeaten in their league after eight matches, six of which they have won so this is ‘no gimme’ despite the hosts being a step higher. Will go for a home win, just.
Scott’s Prediction: 2 – 1
Sunday 14th October
West Essex v Godmanchester Rovers | Mayesbrook Park (2pm KO)
Pete: A tough tie awaits West at Mayesbrook Park as Thurlow Nunn title contenders Godmanchester Rovers come to town, although Rovers last away trip saw them defeated 3-0 at Woodbridge Town who are down in the bottom half of the division. However, prior to that they had only lost one in seven league outings so it could have been one of those off days. West though have improved massively since the opening weeks of the season and if they can grab an early goal they may have a chance, but I feel the visitors will win here.
Pete’s Prediction: 0 – 2
Scott: Finally in the Vase action, The Stags welcome Godmanchester Rovers, of the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division, to Mayesbrook Park on Sunday. Kwame Kwateng’s side have had a mixed week with a tough win at Southend Manor last weekend followed by defeat at home to Sporting Bengal in midweek. Rovers have won six of their nine league matches and score aplenty as well. Have to go with an away win here.
Scott’s Prediction: 1 – 3
Essex Senior League
Saturday 13th October – Non-League Day
Barkingside v Stansted | Cricklefield
Pete: On paper this point to an easy away win, with the Airportmen flying right now having won seven league games on the bounce, whilst Side are bottom with no wins and off the back off two heavy defeats to teams around them. But football is not played on paper, so things don’t always happen this way, but I feel the visitors will grab a win here.
Pete’s Prediction: 0 – 3
Scott: These sides are at the opposite ends of the standings and in the form book. Barkingside have had another wearing week with heavy losses to Leyton Athletic and Tower Hamlets while Stansted have scored four or more in each of their last four matches in League and Cup. ‘Side’s losing run stands at eight matches while the Airportmen have won their last seven on-the-reel in the League. Have to plump for an away win though I sincerely hope there is a good crowd in attendance with ‘Side being one of a number of clubs embracing Non-League Day.
Scott’s Prediction: 0 – 3
Hullbridge Sports v Leyton Athletic | Lower Road
Pete: League leaders Bridge suffered their first reverse in the league at Sawbridgeworth on Tuesday, so it will be interesting to see how they bounce back from that, and they welcome a Leyton Athletic side to Lower Road who can cause problems going forward so they will certainly provide a test for the leaders. I do expect the hosts to win this one though.
Pete’s Prediction: 3 – 1
Scott: Lower Road is the destination for Leyton Athletic here though both sides have had mixed weeks. Hullbridge saw their ten-match unbeaten league run end at Sawbridgeworth in midweek while Leyton went down at home to Clapton, also in midweek. Both clubs won last weekend though and Glen Kendall’s side are a threat going forward so Darren Manning’s side will need to be ‘on it’ here. Leyton have conceded 25 goals in ten matches thus far though and that could be the deciding factor here. Home win.
Scott’s Prediction: 3 – 1
Saffron Walden Town v St Margaretsbury | Catons Lane
Pete: Walden have drawn their last two home games as their challenge for the top spots has faltered slightly, but they welcome a St Margaretsbury side who blow hot and cold but do possess an attacking threat. Fancy an entertaining game here and the hosts to win a five-goal thriller.
Pete’s Prediction: 3 – 2
Scott: The Bloods entertain St Margs at Catons Lane following a week where they not once but twice rescued points from a precarious position, particularly aginst Walthamstow in midweek. The visitors had a great day ‘at the office’ last weekend thanks to a thumping win over Tower Hamlets. Jason Maher’s side has a certain resolve about it and that may be enough to swing it their way here.
Scott’s Prediction: 2 – 1
Sporting Bengal Utd v Hoddesdon Town | Mile End Stadium
Pete: Potential for a decent match here at Mile End as Sporting Bengal, who have been in terrific form lately, come up against a Hoddesdon Town side who are on a decent unbeaten run themselves. The visiting defence will have to be on their metal too as the hosts are banging in the goals recently, but Hoddy have decent attacking players themselves and are a solid unit, so it’s a difficult one to predict. Thinking this could be a draw.
Pete’s Prediction: 1 – 1
Scott: Bengal welcome Hoddesdon to Mile End, following a fine week which saw wins over Sawbridgeworth and West Essex, scoring nine goals in the process. They face a gritty Hoddesdon side who picked up a point at Saffron Walden last weekend followed by a point at home to Enfield in midweek. Imrul Gazi’s side has pace and a growing belief after three straight league wins though my feeling is this will be a really tough encounter for both teams.
Scott’s Prediction: 2 – 1
Stanway Rovers v Tower Hamlets | the Hawthorns
Pete: Second bottom plays third bottom here at The Hawthorns and there is history between these two after that FA Cup abandonment earlier in the season. Stanway were winning that tie comfortably at the time and they also won the replay too so previous results would favour a home win here, but Hamlets have kept three clean sheets in their last four outings and apart from a 6-0 thrashing at St Margaretsbury have been doing ok lately. Their 4-0 win over Barkingside would have certainly helped morale, but I feel the hosts will sneak this one.
Pete’s Prediction: 2 – 1
Scott: Finally in the league this weekend, Hamlets travel back to Stanway Rovers. ‘Mixed emotions’ might describe the last week for AJ Ashinike’s men as a big loss to St Margaretsbury last weekend was tempered by a important win over Barkingside on Monday night. Stanway have had a tough one themselves with away losses to Enfield and in-form Stansted, conceding eight goals in the process.
I feel Lee Fisher’s side are stronger at home and as Hamlets don’t always play well away from Mile End, I’ll go for a home win.
Scott’s Prediction: 3 – 2
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