Spelthorne Sports - Sole FA Cup Survivors

The spotlight falls upon Spelthorne Sports this week, following their extra win by four goals to three against Raynes Park Vale on Tuesday evening. It was an exceptional match with both sides giving their all and it was a shame there had to be a loser. The momentum swung from one to another with Spelthorne taking the lead on three occasions, only to be pegged back by Vale who equalised every time to send the match into extra time.

If anything, they then went on to have the better of the play during that period but the deadlock was not broken and penalties looked inevitable as we went into stoppage time in extra time. Right at the death though, Spelthorne were awarded a free kick some 15 yards outside the area and a superb effort rocketed into the net, to give the Spelly victory by four goals to three.

They are now the League’s sole survivors in the FA Cup, and will entertain Erith Town from the Southern Counties East League on Saturday, kick-off 3.00 p.m.

Erith are in the lower reaches of their league at present with just five points from their five games to date but they comprehensively beat Loxwood in their own FA Cup replay on Tuesday evening (4-1) and also trounced Arundel 5-0 in the FA Vase last week.

Given Spelthorne’s recent goal scoring record, plenty of goals look on the cards as both side strive to reach the 2nd Qualifying Round and net prize money of £6000 at the same time.

Sadly, our other remnaining representatives left in the FA Cup, Hanworth Villa, having done the hard work in securing a draw away in the first match, lost 0-1 to ex-CCL side AFC Croydon Athletic, also on Tuesday evening.

As well as the FA Cup match, there is an almost full league programme on Saturday, with possibly the “stand-out” match being in Division One where Farnham Town take on Chessington & Hook who have certainly found some form in recent matches, not least their 7-0 victory over Oakwood in last week’s FA Vase encounter.