WEEKEND PREVIEW - BIG DAY IN THE FA CUP

The FA Cup Third Qualifying Round games take place this weekend with teams tantalisingly close but yet so far from a potential money spinning game against a Football League side in the First Round proper or even a Blue Square Premier side who enter in the Fourth Qualifying Round. From Enfield Town's Ryman Division One (North) Division there are three sides flying the flag in the World's greatest competition. AFC Sudbury, Redbridge and Maldon & Tiptree have already banked £9,000 in prize money so far with victory in this round worth another £7,500! This seems like pocket money to the giants of the Premier League but at our level of the game that amount of money could make all the difference.

AFC Sudbury travel to Blue Square South side Eastbourne Borough with both other sides at home against Ryman Premier Division Hendon and Dunstable Town, who are now the only Spartan South Midlands league side left in the competition.

The sole Essex Senior League side left in the competition host Zamaretto Central Division Leighton Town. Southend Manor will be looking at attracting a large crowd to Southchurch Park for what could be a historic day for the ESL. The Manor became only the fourth club (it has occured five times but Romford have done it twice) from the league to reach the 3rd Qualifying Round and should they get through will become only the second club to reach the 4th Qualifying Round.

Spookily, The record books show that on four of the five occasions ESL clubs have reached this stage they have lost to the same side on the same ground!  St Albans City beat Romford (1-0 in 1995 and 3-1 in 1996), Stansted (5-0 in 1998) and Basildon United (3-0 in 1998). Canvey Island were the only side to get to the 4th Qualifying Round where they lost out to Kettering Town (1-3 at Rockingham Road).

Enfield Town play just down the road from the big Essex FA Cup game at Burroughs Park. Town face Great Wakering Rovers, who are currently without an official manager, in a Ryman Division One (North) game. Ryan Wilkinson resigned from his role after the 7-0 loss at Waltham Abbey and has been followed by Assistant Manager/Physio Cleve Taylor who has also left the club.

Rovers sit in eighteenth place and obviously haven't had the best of seasons so far but have shown glimspe of form with wins away at Ilford and at home to Ware and Thamesmead Town. Last weekend they went out of the FA Trophy with a 6-1 loss at AFC Sudbury.

FORM COMPARISON - CUP & LEAGUE GAMES
                        ENFIELD TOWN  GREAT WAKERING ROVERS   
GAMES PLAYED            13            14 
WINS                    6             3 
DRAWS                   4             3 
DEFEATS                 3             8
GLS SCORED              27            17
GLS CONCEDED            20            39 
LEAGUE POSITION         2nd           18th
PTS (TOTAL)             19 (33)       11 (33)
CLEAN SHEETS            2             0  
FAILED TO SCORE         1             4

There are a number of other games in the Ryman North Division this weekend with (amongst others) the big East London Derby taking place when third placed Waltham Forest 'host' second from bottom Ilford at Cricklefields. The Foxes got off their first win on Wednesday night with a home victory over Heybridge Swifts. Fourth placed Tilbury welcome Waltham Abbey to Chadfields as well as 5th v 6th when Harlow Town travel to Leiston.