THE ROAD TO WEMBLEY CONTINUES

The FA Cup returns this weekend with Ryman North, Spartan South Midlands and Essex Senior League teams in action in the First Qualifying Round. All will be eager to get through and earn the valuable £3000 prize money on offer for moving into the Second Qualifying Round. Teams from the Ryman and Zamaretto Premier Divisions also join at this stage.

The six remaining Spartan South Midland's sides all face difficult ties as they have all been drawn away from home against teams from a higher level. SSML FA Cup team of the moment Crawley Green who have beaten Premier Division Royston Town and Harefield United to earn their away day at Ryman North Romford will be underdogs in the match at The Mill Field. Having said that, they would of not been expected to beat either of their Premier Division opponents to get to this stage. In another interesting match table toppers and currently unbeaten Tring Athletic travel to Grosvenor Vale to play Ryman Premier Wealdstone. The Hertfordshire side will need to put in a brilliant performance to maintain there run with a defeat against The Stone's who are expected to do well in the league this season and reached the first round proper last season. Aylesbury United travel to face Brentwood Town at the Arena. Paul Edgeworth, who captained Slough Town last season, seems to be the danger man for the ducks at present. The midfielder/forward moved back to his former club in the summer and has scored six goals so far, forward Ben Baines has also been hitting the net for Tony Joyce's side having moved from United Counties League side Cogenhoe United at the end of last season.

Above - The Ducks who were famous for their FA Cup runs in the late 80's and early 90's face a trip to The Arena on Saturday.

The other games see Division One side London Colney go to Redbridge who are without a win in the Ryman North division so far, Colney Heath go to Zamaretto Central Burnham and Oxhey Jets going for glory at AFC Horncurch.

There are only two teams from the Essex Senior League left being Bethnal Green United and Burnham Ramblers. The East Londoners travel to Barrows Field to face Harlow Town in a match which could of been a ESL game this season had the hawks been relegated. The ramblers have home advantage when they welcome Chesham United to Leslie Field. Burnham have beaten Hoddesdon Town (2-1) and Haringey Borough (5-1) both at home to get to this stage but will find the generals much tougher opposition as they are currently 2nd in the Zamaretto Premier Division and have only let in three goals in seven league games so far this season.

United have seen off Basildon United (4-0 @ home) and Kentish Town (1-3 away) to earn their tie at Harlow Town. They are unbeaten in seven league and cup games this season and have only let in three goals so will be no pushovers for The Hawks.

Will the SSML and/or the ESL flag still be flying in the world's most famous competition come 5pm on Saturday?? Surely at least one shock will occur but where is the question people will be asking??

Out of the Ryman North division sides left both Tilbury and Cheshunt face difficult trips to Ryman Premier Division sides Billericay Town and Hendon respectively. Both opponents have made good starts to their Premier Division campaign. Great Wakering Rovers (currently without a win in the league) will find it tough against Premier Harrow Borough at Burroughs Park.

Town's trip to Arlesey Town is also a tough game as the home side are amongst the favourites for the Zamaretto Central Division title this season and made some impressive signings in the Summer. They currently lie in 4th place of the early table on nine points, they have one game in hand over early table toppers and near neighbours Hitchin Town who are on thirteen points. The Bedfordshire club won their first three league games and narrowly lost their fourth last Saturday away at Uxbridge. They qualified for this stage by beating fellow Zamaretto Central side Aylesbury FC. "The aRMadillo stadium" as their ground is now called will be a tough place to get a result at but how better to bounce back from the midweek defeat than to gain some cup glory this weekend.

There will be at least one Ryman North side through to the second qualifying round as Ilford take on Maldon & Tiptree at Cricklefields.

HERE IS A FULL LIST OF FA CUP FIXTURES THIS WEEKEND INVOLVING RYMAN NORTH, SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS AND ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE TEAMS -

SSML
AFC Hornchurch V Oxhey Jets
Brentwood Town V Aylesbury United
Burnham V Colney Heath
Redbridge V London Colney
Romford V Colney Heath
Wealdstone V Tring Athletic

ESL
Harlow Town V Bethnal Green United
Burnham Ramblers V Chesham United

RYMAN NORTH
Arlesey Town V Enfield Town
Billericay Town V Tilbury
Brentwood Town V Aylesbury United
East Thurrock V Leighton Town
Grays Athletic V Windsor and Eton - TO BE PLAYED ON SUNDAY
Great Wakering Rovers V Harrow Borough
Harlow Town V Bethnal Green United
Hendon V Cheshunt - TO BE PLAYED ON SUNDAY
Ilford V Maldon and Tiptree
Needham Market V Kempston Rovers
Redbridge V London Colney
Romford V Crawley Green