SOME NON-LEAGUE NEWS AND UPDATES

Let's spare a thought for Dalbeattie Star Football Club who have started their Lowland Football League season with five defeats scoring none and letting in 19 goals. On Saturday they lost 3-0 to the early season league leaders Bonnyrigg Rose. This coming Saturday The Star face Edinburgh University at home at their Islecroft Stadium -   The visitors have one win and three defeats in their four league games so far. Their win came against Vale of Leithen who along with Gretna 2008 (three defeats) and Berwick Rangers (two defeats) are the other sides without a point on the board so far. The top goalscorer in the league so far is Nathan Austin who was born in Hertfordshire but moved North of the border with family when he was seven years old. The 25 year old striker has also played in the Scottish Football League for East Fife, Falkirk and Inverness Caledonian Thistle where he was a first team regular for the Scottish Championship side from 2017 to 2019. Austin has seven goals to his name for his new side Kelty Hearts. 

Kelty Hearts are a side on the up and have aspirations to join the Scottish Football League - they finished in third place last season after moving up from the East of Scotland League which they won in 2017/18. They are managed by Barry Ferguson who joined the club in October 2018 from Clyde. The former Scottish International player is probably best known from his playing career for his time with Rangers but also played for Blackburn Rovers (they paid £7.5m for his services in 2003), Birmingham City and Blackpool. 

The Maroon Machine qualified for the uniquely named Tunnocks Caramel Wafer Challenge Cup with their league finish last season. The "Scottish Challenge Cup" has opened up to teams from Northern Ireland and Wales from 2016/17, then the Republic of Ireland from 2017/18 and England in 2018/19. 

The host one of the two National League "English" sides who have qualified for the 2019/20 competition. Solihull Moors will visit Central Park on Saturday 7th September - The Moors are also managed by a former Blackburn Rovers player in Tim Flowers. 

English is in inverted commas as the other side is Wrexham who face Ayr United at The Racecourse Ground in their Third Round game. The Red Dragons could face Welsh club's The New Saints or Connahs Key Nomads should they get through their games in the third round. 

The Middlesex County League 2019/20 Premier Division has got underway over the past two weekends. There are some midweek games with an East London Derby which is likely to attract a decent crowd at Wadham Lodge looking decent. Clapton Community FC make their debut at Step Seven by hosting Sporting Hackney. The Parrots, as Sporting are nicknamed, have played one league game so far which they lost against Pitshanger Dynamo. It's FREE entry to the game tomorrow with donations welcome. 

Other league games this midweek sees London Samurai take on NW London at Northwood FC on Tuesday evening. 

Wednesday sees Brentham host Larkspur Rovers, Hilltop welcoming Hillingdon, Pitshanger Dynamo v Cricklewood Wanderers and Yeading Town v Lampton Park. 

There is one game on Thursday which sees CB Hounslow United Reserves hosting Indian Gymkhana Club. 

In the Essex Senior League only Sawbridgeworth Town and St Margaretsbury are without a point in the early league table. The Bury have only played one game which they lost to Redbridge - they are expecting a larger than average crowd for their game with Hashtag United tomorrow evening. The Tags lost their first game at Step Five of the non-league ladder but have since won 6-0 (v Tower Hamlets) and 2-0 (v Redbridge) so it'll be tough game for former Clapton boss Jon Fowell who is now in charge of St Margarestsbury. 

Sawbridgeworth Town also have a new manager for 2019/20 with Lee Mackman now in charge following John Watters departure in April. They have lost league games against Woodford Town (0-8), Saffron Walden Town (0-3) and Tower Hamlets (1-4) as well as an Emirates FA Cup game against Halstead Town (1-3). Tomorrow evening they get the chance to get some points on the board with a home game against Sporting Bengal United. 

A famous name from non-league's past have had a great start to their Northern Football Alliance League Premier Division season. The previous Newcastle Blue Star club famously won the FA Vase in in 1978 defeating Barton Rovers at Wembley and also reached the semi-finals in 1982 where they lost to Forest Green Rovers. Following financial problems in 2009 the club were wound up - they had won the Northern Premier League Division One (North) play off final against Curzon Ashton and would of played at Step Three of the non-league ladder for the 2009/10 season. 

The club were re-formed in 2018 and joined the Step Seven Northern Alliance League Premier Division and finished in third place for the 2018/19 campaign - second placed Newcastle University were promoted to the Northern Football League Division Two.  So far this season Blue Star have won 2-1 at home to Shankhouse, 0-12 away to Seaton Delaval and 2-5 at Winlaton Vulcans. They host Alnwick Town on Wednesday followed by another home against AFC New Fordley on Saturday. 

Only Haringey Borough are left with a 100% winning record in the BetVictor Isthmian Premier Division - They have won 1-0 at home to Corinthian Casuals, 2-3 at Leatherhead and 0-1 at Cheshunt. Chiduben Onokwai has made a great start to the season with his new club as he has scored in each game - He spent time with Marlow, FC Romania and Hayes & Yeading United last season. He has also played for Ware, Aveley and Romford. Their next game comes on Saturday when Brightlingsea Regent visit Coles Park. 

It's the start of the Spartan South Midlands League Challenge Trophy this midweek with Premier Division, Division One and Division Tow clubs in action. Division Two side's Codicote and Sarratt have really tough looking trips to two of the teams setting the pace in the Premier Division in Aylesbury Vale Dynamos and Colney Heath. Premier Division Dunstable Town who have started their league campaign with one win and two defeats in three games won't be relishing their trip to Division One side St Panteleimon who have won three and drawn one of their games - Last season the hosts were playing in the Middlesex County League Premier Division (Step Seven) and the visitors playing in the Southern League Division One Central (Step Four) so it's a massive game for The Saints who were only formed in 2015. 

For me the game of the night tomorrow in the BetVictor South Central Division comes at Reynolds Field as Hanwell Town, who were 0-4 winners away at Bedfont Sports on Saturday with former Barnet academy player Brian Testolin scoring twice, hosting Harlow Town who won 4-3 at home to FC Romania. The Hawks were 4-0 up just after half time with two goals from De'juane Taylor-Crossdale but only just hung on after a spirited come back from the visitors who scored three goals on 51,61 and 90 minutes. 

Chalfont St Peter under the new management of Finlay Johnson had a great start to their season with a 0-4 away victory at Ashford Town - they host Bedfont Sports tomorrow evening who will be looking to be a bit tighter at the back following their defeat against Hanwell Town. 

Finally it's still early day in all the league tables but in the Vanarama South Division next Monday's fixture between Weymouth and Wealdstone looks a real stand out game. The Stones are currently top the table with four wins and one defeat with The Terras marking their return to Step Two of the non-league ladder with three wins and two draws in their five games played. The Dorset side last played at this level in 2009/10 when they finished bottom which sealed two relegations in as many seasons following their second from bottom finish in the then Conference National in 2008/09 - During this time there were many reports of financial difficulties for the club off the field.  Before the big Bank Holiday showdown The Stones host Hungerford Town and Weymouth travel to Chippenham Town on Saturday.