It's the Road To Wembley in the Buildbase FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round this weekend and today I was at Park View Road to see Southern Counties East Premier Division side Erith and Belvedere take on Thurlow Nunn First Division South side Fire United Christian. The home side were promoted back up to Step 5 after finishing runner's up in Division One last season - they spent two seasons at this level after relegation from the Premier Division in 2017. They did spend one season in the Isthmian League Division One (North) in 2013/14 where they finished bottom of the table. They did reach the final of the FA Amateur Cup in 1924 (lost to Clapton at The Den) and in 1938 when they lost to Bromley also at The Den. They reached the quarter-final of the FA Vase in 2014/15 where they lost to the eventual winner's of the competition - North Shields won 0-2 at Park View Road in front of 503 people.
Fire United Christian were formed in 2012 and moved up from the Middlesex County League to the newly formed Thurlow Nunn League First Division South for the 2017/18 season. They were formed by Gustavo Ferreira who is still their manager today. Their roots lie in the Capital's Brazilian Community and they are nicknamed The Samba Boys. It's been somewhat of a struggle for the club who currently play at The Terrance McMillan Stadium in Plaistow. They finished bottom of the table last season and prior to kick off today had started with two losses against Burnham Ramblers and Little Oakley - their game last week against May & Baker was abandoned on 83 minutes with Fire losing 1-6. A combination of three red cards and injuries meant they didn't have enough players to continue.
MANAGER OF FIRE UNITED - GUSTAVO FERREIRA
LOPEZ-PREZA MADE SOME GOOD SAVES BUT IT WASN'T HIS DAY UNFORTUNATELY
The Deres had opened up this season with six 1-1 draws in a row followed by a 1-0 win and then two defeats (1-5 and 1-2). The home side had much of the possession in this match and it was no surprise when they took the lead just before half-time through former Dulwich Hamlet youth player Kameiko Pope-Campbell who finished from close range and an acute angle when the Fire keeper Clair Eduardo Lopez Preza parried a shot into his path. Fire had a few chances to score themselves. In the second half The Deres had some good chances to score but it remained 1-0 with Fire looking dangerous on the break at times. The home side were awarded a penalty kick when Mohamad Sokar was adjudged to have a made a foul in the box. He had already been booked for pulling back a player on the edge of the box - the second yellow followed by a red card was a little harsh for me as the challenged didn't look that bad in my opinion. Chan Quan (who has played for a number of clubs in the local area including Fisher FC Elmstead and Beckenham Town) added a second goal on 83 minutes before Pope-Campbell got another on 87 minutes to make the final score 3-0. EIGHTEEN MINUTES OF HIGHLIGHTS
They will entertain Oakwood of the Southern Combination League Division One in the next round - With Welling United scheduled to play Wealdstone in the Vanarama National League South on Saturday 14th September it's likely The Dere's game will be played either on the Friday night or Sunday afternoon. MINI HIGHLIGHTS - JUST THE GOALS
For fans of old school terracing Park View Road is a must visit. There are two stands on each side of the pitch - One being Welling United's original stand (who E&B ground share with) and one being built in the early 2000's after The Deres had moved into PVR in 1999. Each end has the aforementioned terracing with red barriers. Fire United's next game comes is a league fixture against Lopes Tavares on Wednesday night. Lopes are the home side - they both play at the 'Terry Mac' in Plaistow. Erith host Tunbridge Wells in the league next Saturday - they have won all four of their league games so far. SOME VIEWS AROUND PARK VIEW ROAD
The Road to Wembley in the women's game continues this weekend with 98 games scheduled to be played. Have a look at the list and head down to a game local to you.
Extra Preliminary Round played on Sunday 18th August Washington 0–13 Redcar Town Wakefield Trinity 0–3 Farsley Celtic Mossley Hill H–W Burnley Belvedere Notts County 11–1 Cleethorpes Town Port Vale 9–0 Lye Town Corby Town 1–2 Bungay Town New London Lionesses 5–4 Comets Bishop’s Stortford 1–5 Hartham United Ashford Town (Middx) 4–1 Denham United Burgess Hill Town 3–2 Eastbourne United Preliminary Round scheduled for Sunday 1st SeptemberSherwood Ladies v Arnold Eagles Women Penrith AFC Ladies v Bishop Auckland LFC Boro Rangers Ladies v South Shields LFC Carlisle United LFC v Hartlepool United Ladies Redcar Town LFC v Lumley LFC Blyth Town Ladies v Workington Reds LFC Alnwick Town Ladies v Sunderland West End LFC Wetherby Athletic LFC v Harrogate Town Ladies AFC Ossett United LFC v Rotherham United LFC Ripon City Ladies v Yorkshire Amateur AFC Ladies Bridlington Rovers LFC v Bradford Park Avenue LFC Hepworth United Ladies v Pride Park Ladies Farsley Celtic Women v Thackley AFC Ladies Oughtibridge WM Ladies v Sheffield Wednesday LFC Blackburn Community Women v West Kirby LFC Northwich Vixens LFC v Bury Women Curzon Ashton LFC v Mossley Hill LFC Tameside United Ladies v Fleetwood Town Wrens LFC Manchester Stingers LFC v Merseyrail LFC FC United Of Manchester Women v Tranmere Rovers LFC Accrington Girls & Ladies v Altrincham Ladies Didsbury LFC v West Didsbury & Chorlton Women Accrington Stanley Community Trust Ladies v Morecambe LFC Wythenshawe Amateurs LFC v Crewe Alexandra Women AFC Leicester Ladies v Grimsby Borough LFC Rise Park LFC v Notts County Women Coalville Town LFC v Hykeham Town Womens Worksop Town Women v Mansfield Town LFC Dronfield Town LFC v Leicester City LFC Lutterworth Athletic LFC v Chesterfield LFC Oadby & Wigston LFC v Lincoln Moorlands Railway LFC Arnold Town Ladies v Woodlands Ladies Kidderminster Harriers LFC v Leek Town Ladies Port Vale Ladies v Knowle LFC Droitwich Spa LFC v Sedgley & Gornal United Women Solihull Sporting Ladies v Rugby Town Women Crusaders LFC v Sandwell Ladies Tamworth Ladies v Shrewsbury Town Women Kingfisher LFC v Cookley Sports Ladies Kidsgrove Athletic Ladies v Solihull Ladies United Coundon Court LFC v Sutton Coldfield Town Ladies Wyrley LFC v Shifnal Town LFC Stockingford AA Pavilion LFC v Stourbridge Ladies Coventry Sphinx LFC v AFC Telford United Ladies Wroxham LFC v Kettering Town WFC Haverhill Rovers LFC v King's Lynn Town Ladies St Ives Town LFC v Histon Ladies AFC Sudbury Ladies v Harlow Town Ladies Riverside LFC v Bungay Town LFC Peterborough United LFC v Thrapston Town LFC Fulbourn Institute Bluebirds WFC v Wymondham Town LFC Netherton United LFC v Newmarket Town LFC Clapton Community Ladies v Margate LFC
Aylesford LFC v Dulwich Hamlet LFC Dartford Women v Hackney Women
Whyteleafe Women v Millwall Lionesses LFC Meridian LFC v Regents Park Rangers LFC Sutton United Women v Islington Borough Ladies Phoenix Sports LFC v Haringey Borough WFC Long Lane Women's v Ashford Ladies Watford Ladies Development v Hemel Hempstead Town Ladies Hitchin Belles Ladies v Bowers & Pitsea LFC Royston Town LFC v Wodson Park Ladies Bedford LFC v Colney Heath LFC Houghton Athletic LFC v AFC Dunstable Ladies Hartham United LFC v St Albans Ladies Luton Town LFC v Leigh Ramblers Ladies Abbey Rangers LFC v Hampton & Richmond Borough LFC Queens Park Rangers Girls Development v Wargrave Ladies Banbury United Women v Walton Casuals Ladies
Abingdon United Women v Brentford WFC Ascot United LFC v Abingdon Town LFC Ashford Town (Middx) LFC v Oxford City LFC Wantage Town LFC v Wycombe Wanderers LFC Steyning Town Women v Newhaven LFC Oakwood Ladies v AFC Littlehampton Ladies Pagham LFC v Worthing Women Godalming Town Ladies v Eastbourne Town Women Milford & Witley Ladies v Tunbridge Wells Foresters LFC Burgess Hill Town LFC v Saltdean United Ladies Mole Valley LFC v Bexhill United LFC New Milton Town LFC v Newbury LFC Shanklin LFC v Alton LFC
Bournemouth Sports LFC v Winchester City Flyers LFC Eastleigh Ladies v Moneyfields Ladies AFC Bournemouth Women v Feniton Women Almondsbury Ladies v Longlevens Ladies Weston Super Mare Ladies v Middlezoy Rovers LFC AEK Boco LFC v Ilminster Town LFC Sherborne Town LFC v Keynsham Town Development Royal Wootton Bassett Town LFC v Chipping Sodbury Town LFC Swindon Spitfires LFC v Portishead Town LFC Bideford Ladies AFC v St Agnes AFC Ladies Marine Academy Plymouth LFC v AFC St Austell Ladies Torquay United LFC v RNAS Culdrose Ladies Fulham Women v New London Lionesses LFC Victoire LFC v Herne Bay Ladies
It was a great afternoon for all connected to Stevenage Borough Community who started their Hertforshire Senior County League Division Three season with a very good 6-1 win against Evergreen Reserves who actually took the lead on a extremely hot afternoon at the Valley Sports Academy. The 3G pitch and rubber pellets seem to make it feel even hotter with the heat reflecting off the rubber crumbs on the pitch.
Glenn O'Malley (who had played for Sun Postal and Sandridge Rovers previously) had put the visitors 0-1 up in the first 15 minutes of the game but it was then the home side with an impressive young side coupled with a number of older experienced senior players who took control of the game.
Seyram Hammond (2), Remy Jeffrey and Arin Fehmi (3) got the goals. Fehmi has represented a number of clubs including Hertford Town and Royston Town. Former Codicote and Baldock Town goalkeeper Andrew McEwan played for Stevenage Community as well whose management team are Dave Wappett and Richard Brown. Six of the team were part of the Stevenage Borough Junior 2017/18 squad.
Stevenage Borough Community have a local derby on Saturday as they host Knebworth Reserves on Saturday with Evergreen Reserves travelling to Stanmore Jafferys. FULL HIGHLIGHTS MINI-HIGHLIGHTS
The first round of the SSMFL Challenge Trophy still has a few games outstanding with the results of the first round being Division Two Codicote winning 0-1 at Premier Division Aylesbury Vale Dynamos, Division One Bedford wining on penalty kicks at Premier Division Eynesbury Rovers, Division Two New Bradwell St Peter also winning on spot kicks at Premier Division, St Panteleimon of Division One dispatching Premier Division Dunstable Town and MK Robins winning a remarkable game which ended 7-4 against Oxhey Jets.
Below are results from the first round and the remaining fixtures as well as the draw for the Second Round.
There are also highlights of Baldock Town v Buckingham Athletic which ended 4-1 to the Premier Division side but was much closer than the scoreline suggests as the home side scored two late goals. Scott Piggott (2), Alex O'Brien and Karl Osbourne got the goals for Adam Fisher's side. Jacob Williamson got the goal for the visitors who with the score at 2-1 did have chances to make it 2-2 so they can take many positives from the evening. Piggott scored over 40 goals for Letchworth Garden City Eagles last season who were the Herts Senior County League Champions.
MINI-HIGHLIGHTS FULLER 18 MINUTES OF HIGHLIGHTS
First Round Tuesday 20th August Arlesey Town 2 London Lions 1 (66) Aylesbury Vale Dynamos 0 Codicote 1 (65) Biggleswade United 0 Crawley Green 2 (63) Broadfields United 0 Leighton Town 3 (46) Colney Heath 2 Sarratt 1 (57) Edgware Town 3 Pitstone & Ivinghoe 1 (35) Eynesbury Rovers 2 Bedford 2 - Bedford win 4-1 on pens (81) FC Broxbourne Borough 4 Hillingdon Borough 5 (35) Leverstock Green 0 New Bradwell St Peter 0 - NBSP win 4-2 on pens (35) Milton Keynes Robins 7 Oxhey Jets 4 (63) Newport Pagnell Town 2 Enfield Borough 0 (88) Potton United 0 London Colney 0 - Potton United win 5-4 on pens (61) Rayners Lane 2 Harpenden Town 3 (68) St Panteleimon 4 Dunstable Town 1 (43) Wembley 1 London Tigers 0 (40) Wodson Park 0 North Greenford United 1 (20) Wednesday 21st August Baldock Town 4 Buckingham Athletic 1 (65) Unite MK 0 Ampthill Town 2 (54) Saturday 24th August Mursley United 3 Park View 6 (52) Tring Corinthians 0 Old Bradwell United 6 (45) Wednesday 28th August New Salamis v Berkhamsted Raiders ( ) Saturday 7th August MK Gallaticos v Langford ( ) Tuesday 10th August Amersham Town v Grendon Rangers ( ) Harefield United v Buckingham United Saturday 5th October Aston Clinton v Bovingdon Bye Brimsdown, Shefford Town & Campton, Stotfold, The 61 FC, Totternhoe, Tring Athletic, Winslow United.
Second Round Saturday 26th October New Bradwell St Peter v Codicote Totternhoe v Harefield United or Buckingham United Tuesday 29th October Ampthill Town v Brimsdown Edgware Town v Crawley Green Harpenden Town v Arlesey Town Milton Keynes Robins v St Panteleimon
Newport Pagnell Town v The 61FC (Luton) Shefford Town & Campton v North Greenford United
Stotfold v Potton United
Winslow United v New Salamis or Berkhamsted Raiders Wednesday 30th October Baldock Town v Hillingdon Borough Park View v Tring Athletic Saturday 16th November Old Bradwell United v Colney Heath To be arranged Amersham Town or Grendon Rangers v Wembley Aston Clinton or Bovingdon v Bedford MK Gallacticos or Langford v Leighton Town
New River Athletic have continued their good start to the Hertfordshire Senior County League Premier Division over the past week with a 0-2 win at Weston yesterday and a 3-2 victory over Hatfield Town last Tuesday in their first home game of the season at Cotlandswick where they will be ground-sharing.
Former Stotfold manager Marce Collington has recruited some very exciting young players and they exhibited some very exciting attacking football against a very hard working Hatfield Town side. I was particularly impressed with Eben Mbona (see video below) who played most of the game on the left wing but did switch to the right side at times. He played for Stotfold under Collington and has also played for Barkingside Reserves previously. With the ball at his feet he was very positive and wasn't afraid to run at and take defenders on to create chances for his side and himself.
Athletic join Sandridge Rovers (3 games), Hoddesdon Town Reserves (2) and Belstone (2) as teams still with a 100% winning record in the Premier Division. Hatfield Town's new look squad have been unlucky not to pick anything up so far with a narrow 0-1 loss at Ware Sports and a 1-2 home defeat against Royston Town Reserves in their other games. They host Oxhey Jets at home on Saturday before a tough trip to Letchworth Garden City Eagles on Saturday 7th September. Saturday 31st August Premier Division Fixtures Knebworth v Royston Town Reserves Belstone v Colney Heath Reserves Bush Hill Rangers v Hoddesdon Town Reserves Chipperfield Corinthians v New River Athletic Cockfosters Reserves v Weston Cuffley v Sandridge Rovers Hatfield Town v Oxhey Jets Reserves MINI-HIGHLIGHTS
