FA Vase Day

It’s FA Vase 1st Round day and the CCL has just 12 clubs competing, which is a little disappointing, given that three were exempt to this stage anyway.

Three of the twelve are from Division One. Cobham are in good form at the moment but face a tough tie against Premier Division leaders Westfield. This match though guarantees at least one CCL club in the 2nd Round.

Frimley Green also have a tough task in front of them as they entertain Hellenic League leaders Blackfield and Langley whilst the third representative from Division One is Kensington Borough. They travel to Step 5 club Broadbridge Heath from the Southern Combination.

Walton & Hersham travel to Edgware Town from the Spartan S. Midlands League. Edgware are in mid-table in their Premier Division. Horley Town also have an away trip as they go to Erith & Belvedere, who were once a Southern League club, but now languish at Step 6 in the Southern Counties East.

Camberley Town also travel, being away to Haywards Heath Town, another Sussex club, and they are right at the top of the Southern Counties East. It looks like a tough tie for Camberley but it wasn’t so long ago that they came so close to beating Hereford and they have a good Vase pedigree behind them.

Balham and Spelthorne Sports both entertain opposition from Kent in the shape of Deal Town and Lordswood and these will be tough matches with Lordswood in 5th place and Deal in 12th.

Maybe the FA Vase will be the catalyst for Epsom & Ewell to turn their season around. Results have already started to improve and they travel to Rusthall, also in the S. Counites East. Rusthall are in their first season at Step 5 and currently sit 14th.

Hanworth Villa are at home to Three Bridges in what looks a close affair with their visitors in 5th place down in Sussex. Finally Farnham Town entertain Lymington Town from the Wessex League and again it looks close with Lymington sitting in 5th place.

Good luck to all our sides and hopefully we will have plenty of representation in the 2nd Round, the draw for which will be released on Monday by the FA. Any replays from today will take precedence over any matches scheduled for next midweek.