BUILDBASE FA VASE AT THE FIFTH ROUND PROPER STAGE

Saturday 3rd February 
Fifth Round Proper 
Wolverhampton SC v Leighton Town
4th in West Midlands (Regional) Premier Division v 3rd in Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division

Thatcham Town v Bromsgrove Sporting
2nd in UHLSPORT Hellenic League Premier v 2nd in Total Motion Midland League Premier Division 

Marske United v Bradford Town 
2nd in EBAC Northern League Division One v 4th in Toolstation Western League Premier Division 

Coleshill Town v Bracknell Town 
1st in Total Midland League Premier Division v 5th in UHLSPORT Hellenic League Premier 

1874 Northwich v Chichester City @ Witton Albion 
13th in Hallmark North West Counties Premier v 4th in Macron Southern Combination League Premier 

Stockton Town v Stourport Swifts 
7th in EBAC Northern League Division One v 18th in Total Motion Midland League Premier Division 

Windsor v Hamble Club 
9th in UHLSPORT Hellenic Premier Division v 10th in Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division 

Melksham Town v Tring Athletic
3rd in Toolstation Western League Premier Division v 17th in Spartan South Midlands League Premier 

The FA Vase is at the Fifth Round stage with every club bar one competing at Step Five of the non-league ladder. The sole exception are Wolverhampton Sporting Community who are currently fourth in the West Midlands Regional League Premier Division. It's by far the best run in the competition for the club formerly known as Chubb Sports and Heath Town Rangers. They joined at the First Qualifying Round stage and have since beaten FC Oswestry Town, Heath Hayes, Staveley MW, Rugby Towm (after a replay), Shepshed Dynamo and Cogenhoe United. 

The EBAC Northern League, who have dominated the competition over the last few seasons, have two teams left being Marske United and Stockton Town. Marske have reached the quarter-final stage on two previous occasions in 2001 and 2009 with Stockton Town previously only involved in 1982/83 (1st Round) and last season (2nd Round). 

There will be a new name as winner's of the famous competition as no club left has even been to the final. The winners of the Fifth Round ties will receive £2,250 from the Football Association's prize fund. 

BUILDBASE FA TROPHY AT THIRD ROUND STAGE

SATURDAY 3rd FEBRUARY 
Harrogate Town v Billericay Town
2nd in Vanarama North v 2nd in Bostik Premier

Maidstone United v Gateshead
14th in Vanarama National v 15th in Vanarama National

Maidenhead United v Stockport County
13th in Vanarama National v 10th in Vararama North

Wealdstone v Warrington Town
13th in Vanarama South v 4th in Evo Stik Northern League Premier Division 

Brackley Town v Sutton United 
3rd in Vanarama North v 3rd in Vanarama National

Dover Athletic v Leyton Orient 
6th in Vanarama National v 19th in Vanarama National

Spennymoor Town v East Thurrock United 
5th in Vanarama North v 11th in Vanarama South 

Workington AFC v Bromley
7th in Evo Stik Northern League Premier Division v 7th in Vanarama National 

Wealdstone are the only club left in this season's Buildbase FA Trophy that have previously won the competition. The Stones won it back in 1985 when their famous team won the non-league double. There best performance since came in 2012 when as a Isthmian League Premier Division side they reached the semi-final losing on aggregate to Newport County. They host Warrington Town (who are pushing for a play-off place and possibly the title in the Evo Stik Northern League Premier Division. They reached the Quarter-Final in 1992/93 and have previously reached the FA Vase final in 1987 where they lost to St Helens Town. 

Stockport County suffered two relegations in three seasons from 2011 to 2013 dropping from League Two to Step Two on the non-league ladder. Since then they have finished 11th, 9th and 8th in the table. They are currently 10th and have a real chance of getting into the top seven/play off places. This season is the best they have done in the FA Trophy previously getting to the second round stage on three occasions. They go to Vanarama National league side Maidenhead United who are doing well in their maiden season in non-league's top division currently placed comfortably in a mid-table 13th position. 

Workington AFC are the lowest ranked (on current league placements) side still in the competition. They host Vanarama National play-off hopeful's Bromley at the Third Round stage  - The Evo-Stik Northern League Premier Division side's best performance in the competition was back in 2009/10 when they lost to Stevenage Borough at the Quarter-Final stage. They have beaten Witton Albion, Chasetown, Glossop North End (after a replay), Hartlepool United and Weston-Super-Mare to get to this stage. The Reds have already picked up £25,250 from the Football Association's prize fund. 

A victory in the Third Round puts a club only two stages away from Wembley being the Quarter-Finals and Semi-Finals (which are played over two legs). Winners at the Third Round stage bag £8,000 from the FA's prize fund. 

The best of luck to all teams on the Road To Wembley. 

BOSTIK PREMIER DIVISION - FACTS, STATS AND NEWS ON THE RACE FOR THE TITLE, PLAY-OFFS AND RELEGATION

CURRENT TABLE 

TOP TWO 

POS	TEAM	P	GD	PTS	FORM
1	DULWICH HAMLET	29	+32	62	WWWWLL
2	BILLERICAY TOWN	22	+40	57	DWWWWD

Dulwich Hamlet are still top of the table but have lost ground on title favourite's Billericay Town in their last two games which have ended in defeat to Margate (away last Saturday) and at home to Merstham yesterday. The Moatsiders recorded a 1-2 win coming back from 1-0 down at half-time with two goals from Charlie Penny. Billericay's scheduled home game against Harrow Borough at The AGP Arena was called off at 1.30pm when the match referee deemed some areas of the pitch unplayable. 

Glenn Tamplin's side now face playing 24 league games in a little over three months along with their continued involvement in the Essex Senior Cup (Semi-Final which is scheduled for next Thursday at home to Bostik North side Romford) and Buildbase FA Trophy (Third Round trip to Vanarama North side Harrogate Town on Saturday 3rd February - Town are currently second in the table behind Salford City). They also have the Bostik League Velocity League Trophy where they qualified for a semi-final place with a 0-1 away victory at Wingate and Finchley last midweek. 

With a current points per game 2.59 compared to Hamlet's of 2.14 it's no surprise to see Billericay Town rated as odd's on favourites for the title. 

POINTS PER GAME FOR THE CURRENT TOP THREE - THIS SHOWS WHY BILLERICAY TOWN ARE ODDS ON FOR THE TITLE

Tuesday night's fixtures see Dulwich at home to Wingate and Finchley who, as you'll see below still have a shot at making the play-offs, and Billericay Town travelling to Dorking Wanderers. 

CURRENT TABLE 

POSITIONS 3 to 10 

POS	TEAM	P	GD	PTS	FORM
3	FOLKESTONE INVICTA	28	+19	52	WWWLDW
4	STAINES TOWN	28	+20	49	WLDLWW
5	HENDON	26	+28	48	WWWWLD
6	MARGATE	28	+14	48	LDWWDW
7	LEISTON	28	+3	48	WLLWLW
8	MET POLICE	30	+5	46	LDWDWL
9	WINGATE & FINCHLEY	26	+3	45	DDWLWW
10	LEATHERHEAD	27	+3	45	WWWWLD

Folkestone Invicta, Staines Town and Hendon currently make up the play-off places. Invicta need just three more points to equal the amount they won last season in 46 games played. It's a real close fight with just seven points seperating the teams. If Hendon win their two games in hand they have on the teams around them it could be argued that they are the best placed of the teams to secure a play-off spot. 

CURRENT TABLE 
POSITIONS 11 to 19 

POS	TEAM	P	GD	PTS	FORM
11	TONBRIDGE ANGELS	28	+1	41	WLWDLW
12	BRIGHTLINGSEA REGENT	29	-4	38	LLWDWW
13	THURROCK	30	-12	37	LWWDLW
14	ENFIELD TOWN	28	-2	36	DWDLDL
15	HARROW BOROUGH	30	-16	34	LLLLWW
16	DORKING WANDERERS	26	-5	32	LWWWDD
17	MERSTHAM	29	-9	32	LLLLDW
18	KINGSTONIAN	27	-15	32	LLLWWL
19	LOWESTOFT TOWN	28	-12	31	WDLDDL

The teams from 11th to 19th have probably done enough to avoid the one sole relegation spot there is this season but not quite enough to get into the play-off race. Tonbridge Angels are only seven points off the top five so are best placed to get there. They would need to put together a good run of wins over their forthcoming fixtures. Likewise Lowestoft Town and Kingstonian will need to pick up a few more wins to keep away from the bottom of the table. The loyal supporters of both Brightlingsea Regent and Thurrock (who came up from the North Division) last season will be really pleased at sitting comfortably in mid-table after 29 and 30 games played. 

CURRENT TABLE 
POSITIONS 20 to 24 

POS	TEAM	P	GD	PTS	FORM
20	HARLOW TOWN	29	-26	28	LLLWLD
21	NEEDHAM MARKET	30	-11	27	DLLLLD
22	WORTHING	28	-15	25	LWDWDL
23	TOOTING & MITCHAM UTD	29	-30	25	LWLLLL
24	BURGESS HILL TOWN	25	-21	21	DLLLLL

The Hillians currently occupy bottom spot but have games in hand over their rivals which could be highly important come the end of the season. They are without a win in eleven league games (two draws and nine defeats) with their last victory coming way back on Tuesday 7th November when they won 1-2 at Tooting & Mitcham United. The Terrors (back at Step three for the first time since 2012) will have to put in some hard work in training and out on the pitch to keep off the bottom of the table as will Worthing, Needham Market and Harlow Town. 

SOME FACTS 

* Harlow Town's record away from home is pretty grim. They picked up only five points from a possible forty-five on offer so far. These have come in a 0-0 midweek draw at Leiston in September, a 0-3 win at Lowestoft Town on the weekend before Christmas and a 2-2 draw yesterday at Dorking Wanderers. 

* Tooting and Mitcham United have the worst goals conceded record letting in 70 in their 29 games played equating to 2.41 goals per game. They have improved from 3.1 g.pg (in their first 10), 1.88 g.p.g in matches 11 to 19 and 2.1 g.p.g in their last 10 games played. They will need to tighten up their defence in the final part of the season if they want to keep away from the bottom of the table. 

* Play-Off contenders Hendon have not been short of goals of late - they are top scorers in the last ten games played hitting the back of the net 28 times with the next nearest team being Billericay Town on 20 goals. 2.8 goals per game is up on the 2 goals per game they scored in their first 16 games. 

* Kingstonian are the lowest scorers in the last ten games played scoring only 8 goals (4 of which came in their victory over Enfield Town!). 

* Billericay Town only have one defeat which came in the famous home game against Kingstonian on the opening day of the season when Craig Edwards went back to his former side and pulled off a 0-1 victory. After leaving Kingstonian he is now in charge of Bostik North side Cheshunt after a very short spell with Ware. Only goalkeeper Rob Tolfrey and defender Manolis Gogonas remained in the starting XI from that victory in yesterday's 0-1 home defeat to Brightlingsea Regent. 

* Lewis Taylor, the scorer of the goal in that famous goal, is now with Dorking Wanderers and was in their starting XI for their 2-2 draw with Harlow Town yesterday. 

* The biggest victory so far came in Staines Town 0-7 victory at Tooting and Mitcham United in October. 

* The highest scoring game so far came in the Tonbridge Angels v Needham Market game played on Saturday 18th November - it ended 5-4! 

* The lowest crowd of the season so far came on Saturday 9th September when 74 people saw Wingate's 2-0 home win over Burgess Hill Town. 

* The top crowd of the season so far came on Saturday 7th October 2017 when 2,417 saw Dulwich Hamlet v Needham Market at Champion Hill. 

* Hamlet have the top average crowd of the season so far on 1,543 closely followed by Billericay Town on 1,226. 

* Wingate have the lowest average on 129 for their games played so far. 

RACE FOR THE GOLDEN BOOT

Hendon's Niko Muir is currently leading the way on 23 goals scored closely followed by  a trio of players on 19 goals who are Jake Robinson of Billericay Town, Elliott Buchanan of Staines Town and Adam Yussuff of Folkestone Invicta. 

Hendon have announced that Muir is currently having a week training with Championship side Queens Park Rangers although no formal offer has been made as yet. The R's are one of a number of Championship and League One clubs to express an interest in the 25 year old striker who spent the second half of last season with Leiston before returning to Hendon in the summer. 

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES 

Tuesday 23rd January 

Burgess Hill Town v Harlow Town 
Dorking Wanderers v Billericay Town 
Dulwich Hamlet v Wingate & Finchley 
Lowestoft Town v Hendon 
Margate v Thurrock 
Metropolitan Police v Tonbridge Angels 

Saturday 27th January
Brightlingsea Regent v Dorking Wanderers
Enfield Town v Needham Market 
Harlow Town v Kingstonian 
Harrow Borough v Margate 
Hendon v Folkestone Invicta 
Leatherhead v Dulwich Hamlet 
Lowestoft Town v Staines Town 
Merstham v Thurrock 
Metropolitan Police v Leiston 
Tonbridge Angels v Burgess Hill Town 
Tooting & Mitcham United v Billericay Town 
Worthing v Wingate & Finchley 

Monday 29th January 
Kingstonian v Margate 

Tuesday 30th January 
Billericay Town v Worthing 
Dorking Wanderers v Tooting & Mitcham United 
Harlow Town v Merstham 
Hendon v Leatherhead 
Wingate & Finchley v Lowestoft Town

MIDWEEK MATCH OF THE DAY 
This mid-weeks MOTD has to come at The Green Elephant Stadium in a 'relegation six pointer' as Burgess Hill Town (looking for their first win in eleven games) take on Harlow Town looking for only their second win on their travels this season. A three point haul for either side would be highly important in the battle to stay off of the bottom spot. 

THE BURY BOYS PULL AWAY FROM THE SSMFL PREMIER DIVISION DROP ZONE

Everyone at St Margaretsbury will be ecstatic at their haul of seven points from their first nine on offer in 2018 following a 0-3 win at London Tigers, a highly entertaining 0-0 draw at relegation rival's Stotfold last Tuesday and an amazing 1-0 home win against title challenger's Berkhamsted on Saturday. It pulls them away from the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division bottom two. 

AHMED MOHAMMED'S CHALLENGE WHICH SAW HIM RED CARDED 
taken from the video footage

Highlights of the game versus Stotfold are below in which there were three red cards. The first saw Ahmed Mohammed dismissed for a straight red in the first half which looking at the replay was entirely the correct decision by the match officials. There didn't seem anything malicious in the challenge but it was a stud's up dangerous tackle that could of seriously injured the Stotfold player. The match was an even encounter with away keeper Adam Seymour making some really good saves to keep a well deserved clean sheet - his one handed stop in the second half deserves a particular mention. 

Late on in the game Tom Cowell (St Mag's sub) and Charlie Briggs of Stotfold clashed off the ball and were both sent off. 

Stotfold are bottom of the table and are now, following their 4-3 defeat at London Colney on Saturday, without a win in four league games. All is to play for though with many points up for grabs between now and the end of the season. 

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS 
Game played on Tuesday 9th January 

SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION 
CURRENT TABLE 
BOTTOM SIX ONLY 

TEAM	P	GD	PTS
ST MAGS	22	-16	22
TRING ATH	19	0	21
OXHEY JETS	20	-12	21
HOLMER GREEN	22	-23	21
CRAWLEY GREEN	21	-13	20
STOTFOLD	24	-26	17

Meanwhile at the top of the division there has been some twists and turns over the last couple of games played indicated in Berkhamsted's defeat to St Margaretsbury. This was The Comrades first league defeat of the season - Their title rivals overtook them at the top of the table on Saturday but they swapped places again on Tuesday evening when Biggleswade United won 3-2 against The Citizens (which was their first defeat of the season) and Berkhamsted won comfortably 4-0 at home to Hadley. The race for the title looks set to be an exciting one - Some people may rate Welwyn as favourites (just!) with the three games in hand they currently have. 

The two title rivals face each other three times within the next month beginning next Wednesday in the Herts FA Charity Shield Semi-Final (the other semi-final is between FC Broxbourne Borough and Colney Heath) which will be a dress rehersal for the two highly important league games coming up in February. One at Broadwater on Saturday 3rd February and the return on Valentines Night at Herns Way! 

SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE 
PREMIER DIVISION 
TOP TWO ONLY

TEAM	P	GD	PTS
BERKHAMSTED	22	+30	51
WELWYN GC	19	+33	50

NEXT LEAGUE GAMES 

DATE	BERKHAMSTED	WELWYN GC
20/1	LONDON COLNEY	Hadley
27/1	London Tigers	EDGWARE TOWN
30/1	London Colney	-
31/1	-	COCKFOSTERS
3/2	WELWYN GC	Berkhamsted
7/2	-	CRAWLEY GREEN
10/2	Leighton Town	OXHEY JETS
14/2	Welwyn GC	BERKHAMSTED

THE CONIFA WORLD CUP COMES TO LONDON IN 2018

The Confederation of Independent Football Associations (CONIFA) World Cup is coming to London and will be held between Thursday 31st May and Sunday 10th June at venues yet to be announced. 

For those not in the know CONIFA is the International Football Confederation for teams that are not part of FIFA. Its members include states, partially-recognised states, regions, minority groups and sports-isolated territories. The organisation is strictly politically neutral and is run by volunteers. The 2018 tournament brings together a diverse collection of CONIFA members from around the world. Participation in the competition was determined on qualification games/tournaments, regional qualification spots and two wild cards.

The draw has been made the teams competing are as follows. The Cold End will bring you news of venues as soon as they are announced.  

GROUP A 

Barawa 

Ellan Vannin  

Tamil Eelam 

Cascadia

GROUP B

Abkhazia 

Northern Cyprus 

Felvidek 

Tibet

GROUP C

Padania 

Székely Land 

Kiribati 

Matabeleland 

GROUP D

Panjab 

United Koreans of Japan 

Western Armenia 

Kabylie 

THE BLUE BOYS CONTINUE THEIR UNBEATEN HOME RUN - JUST!

FC BROXBOURNE BOROUGH UNLUCKY NOT TO TAKE SOMETHING FROM AN ENTERTAINING GAME AT THE GOSLING STADIUM 

Hatfield Town made it four home wins in a row with a hard fought 2-1 victory over Roy Bleau's young FC Broxbourne Borough side in a Spartan South Midlands League Division One game on a very chilly Saturday afternoon in Hertfordshire. Kevin Pearman's side were well in control at half time being 2-0 up through goals from Stephen Newton on 17 minutes (although FCBB's goalkeeper Leon Miller had a hand in it to - he won't relish watching the replay as he misjudged claiming the lofted ball into the box and deflected it into his own net) and Jordan Lewis on 36 minutes. Lewis's goal had a touch of quality about it with a neat turn on the edge of the box followed by a neatly judged lob over the keeper into the net - his acrobatic celebration afterwards was equally impressive. 

THE AWAY BENCH TRY AND KEEP WARM ON A CHILLY AFTERNOON

FC Broxbourne who have a number of impressive young players in their side have been struggling for form with just three wins in seventeen league games played going into this game. Despite this record I would say the furture is bright for the club and with the commitment shown in the second half I would say some positive results are not too far away. Their left winger Kai Bowers, who is only sixteen years old, really stood out for me. His close control and ability to run at and commit defenders was fantastic - he deserved a goal in the second half and it was only a brilliant save by Kieron Extence that denied him. I'd say Bowers in a player to be on the look out for - This was only his second start in the first team - He scored on his debut against promotion chasing Baldock Town. 

They did make it 2-1 through Corey Stewart's long range effort and but for a bit more luck they could of taken a point from this game. I would say it was the Hatfield fans and players who briefed a sigh of relief when the final whistle went. 

This Saturday Broxbourne travel to Rayners Lane with Hatfield Town at home to London Lions who are pushing hard for a promotion place at the top of the division.

HATFIELD TOWN 
Kieran Extence, Richard Cooke, Emmanuel Fambisai, Chris Gray, Jordan Lewis (Paul Otim), Stephen Newton, Matthew Noot, Darren O'Brien (Collins Frimpong), Jack Sheldrake, Keifar Shuttleworth, Jordan White (Toby Kirkham). 

FC BROXBOURNE BOROUGH 
Leon Miller, Emmanuel Boateng (Lewis Dickinson), Matty Fogbawa (Taylor Wild), Nathan Wilson, Frankie Chandlger, Oli Richards, Corey Stewart, Robbie Carrol, Chris Wells, Kai Bowers, Jeff Okirie (Matt Bailey). 

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS 

A QUICK LOOK AT THE VANARAMA NATIONAL DIVISION

CHAMPION'S RECORDS FOR THE LAST SIX SEASONS

SEASON	TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS	WIN%	PPG
11/12	FLEETWOOD TOWN	46	31	10	5	102	48	+54	103	67.39%	2.24
12/13	MANSFIELD TOWN	46	30	5	11	92	52	+40	95	65.21%	2.07
13/14	LUTON TOWN	46	30	11	5	102	35	+67	101	65.21%	2.19
14/15	BARNET	46	28	8	10	94	46	+48	92	60.87%	2.06
15/16	CHELTENHAM TOWN	46	30	11	5	87	30	+57	101	65.21%	2.19
16/17	LINCOLN CITY	46	30	9	7	83	40	+43	99	65.21%	2.15

Whenever I write these articles I always say there are no two seasons the same but we can take something from the averages and statistics of the previous champions I think. Looking at the last six seasons it took an average of 29.83 games (we'll round it up to 30) won for teams to win the league, 95 goals scored and a win percentage of 64.85%. We can also see that no team has won the league having lost more than 11 games with the average being 7.16.  

So looking at the current record of Tranmere Rovers, who were pre-season favourites, we can see they currently have a win percentage of 44.44% (twelve wins in twenty seven games played) - they are only eleven points behind current table topper's Macclesfield Town so are still in with a chance but to get to a win percentage of around 64.85% for the end of the season they would have to win 17 (63.04%) or 18 (65.22%) of their last 19 games. It's possible - they have won seven of their last ten league games. 

CURRENT POINTS PER GAME OF THE TOP NINE WHICH SHOWS MACCLESFIELD TOWN ON 1.93 PPG SLIGHTLY AHEAD OF THE REST. 

There are only twelve points between the current top nine so it looks to be a very exciting second half of the season in the Vanarama National Division although Macclesfield Town now have a six point lead from second placed Aldershot Town following a current unbeaten run of ten games.

TOP GOAL SCORERS 

13 - Daniel Rowe (AFC Fylde) and MacCauley Bonne (Leyton Orient)
12 - Ryan Bird (Dover Athletic) and Louis Dennis (Bromley)

In the race for the league's golden boot it's currently a two-way tie. Daniel Rowe has been with AFC Fylde in August 2014 and his goals have helped the club rise up the pyramid. He has also played for Stockport County and Macclesfield Town.  MacCauley Bonne of Leyton Orient joins them. The Zimbabwe International player moved to The O's from Colchester United over the summer. They are closely followed by Ryan Bird and Louis Dennis. Bird joined Dover Athletic over the summer having played in the football league for Newport County at the end 2016/17 where he began at Eastleigh in the Vanarama National Division. He has also played for Cambridge United, Portsmouth, Yeovil Town and Hartlepool United in the football league having begun his career in the non-league games with Burnham where he made nearly 300 appearances. Dennis has been with Bromley since 2014 whom he joined from Dagenham and Redbridge. 

SATURDAY FIXTURES 
Barrow v Tranmere Rovers 
Bromley v AFC Fylde 
Dagenham & Redbridge v Hartlepool United 
Dover Athletic v Aldershot Town 
Eastleigh v Guiseley 
Ebbsfleet United v Chester 
Gateshead v Sutton United 
Leyton Orient v Boreham Wood 
Macclesfield Town v Solihull Moors 
Maidenhead United v FC Halifax Town 
Woking v Maidstone United 
Wrexham v Torquay United