FA Vase Preview

With the previous round now fully completed, the CCL will have 11 clubs competing in the 1st Round Proper of the Buildbase FA Vase this coming weekend, three of whom play in Division One. This is one less than last season when we had 12 clubs involved.

We are guaranteed two clubs in the 2nd Round, with Abbey Rangers being one as they are exempt until this stage plus the winner of the tie between Div One Bedfont & Feltham and Colliers Wood United. Don’t forget that there is a feast of football at The Orchard this Saturday with British Airways taking on Jersey Bulls after the Vase match, kicking off at 7.30 p.m.

In this summary of the ties in which CCL clubs are involved the next one up is AFC Hayes at home to FC Broxbourne Borough. They play at Step 6, competing in Division One of the Spartan S. Midlands League, currently in 11th place. They would appear to be draw specialists with six of their ten league matches this season having finished all square.

Egham Town are back in the Vase after several seasons and will play at home to Binfield from the Hellenic League. Binfield are habituall strong members of that League having finished in the top ten for ten consecutive seasons. This time round they are currently in 5th place, Egham though are revitalised under new manager Tony Choules and this could be a very tight match.

Next up is the tie between Mile Oak and Redhill. The latter have not started well this season, rather unexpectedly. Their opponents are based in xx and play at Step 6 of the Southern Combination, in which they are in 3rd place with 19 points from their eight matches to date. They hail from the Brighton area.

The next one sees Raynes Park Vale playing at home to Horndean from the Wessex League. It looks another tough one for the Vale as Horndean. In the last three seasons, they have finished 6th, 4th and then 2nd last season and are in 5th place at the present time. They are a Hampshire side just off the A3 near Waterlooville,

Southall’s tie at home to Tunbridge Wells is being played on Sunday, kick-off 3.00 p.m. at Ashford Town (Mx) FC. Tunbridge are in the Southern Counties East League currently in 7th place. They have actually had four rather indifferent seasons but have a considerable Vase pedigree which includes reaching the Final in 2012-2013 when they lost to Spennymoor Town.

League leaders Ascot United are playing on Friday evening away to Sporting Club Thamesmead, previously known as Seven Acre and Sidcup. They are a Step 6 club currently sitting in 12th place in Division One of the Southern Counties East. The two clubs have agreed to settle the tie on the night with no replay.

On we go with Sutton Common Rovers playing at home to Snodland Town another club from Division One of Southern Counties East League in which they are 9th at the moment. They were founder members of this Division in the 2016-2017 season.

Badshot Lea are off in a different direction as they go down to Wiltshire side Westbury United from the Western League, a journey of around 75 miles. They are in 4th position and have done well in their league in recent seasons.

Finally it is the tie between Division One Westside and Southern Counties East side Deal Town. Deal have previously won the competition but it was sometime ago now, back in 2000. They are long time members of the Southern Counties East Division and are right in the middle of the table at present in 10th place. This is another Sunday match being played at Chessington & Hook United, kick-off 3.00 p.m.