THE COLD END WEEKEND PREVIEW - FA VASE SPECIAL!!

We have to start this weekend on The Road To Wembley with The Isuzu FA Vase Second Round games taking place. There are some brilliant games in prospect taking place up and down the country from Newcastle Benfield in the North-East to Brixham AFC in the South-West. We'll stay closer to home and look at the some of the games taking place locally - I apologise if I miss certain games out but I just don't have the time to feature them all. 

I apologise for not featuring the other local leagues in a detailed manner - I just haven't had enough time to write a full preview this week - normal service will (hopefully) be resumed next Thursday! 

As always wherever you are watching your football over the weekend have a great time and I hope you see a great match. 

ISUZU FA VASE SECOND ROUND

DUNSTABLE TOWN v ENFIELD 

It's Friday night football as Creasey Park in a Spartan South Midlands League v Essex Senior League clash. The home side had had a great start to their league season being unbeaten in their first nine games but were well beaten by Stotfold at home last Saturday who left with a 0-4 victory - A real stand out result which puts The Eagles top of the table. They then lost in midweek to Division One side Moulton who won 2-3 in the Gladwish Challenge Cup. 

New signing Danny Webb started in both games - The striker has signed from Newport Pagnell Town where he was part of the squad who won the FA Vase last season.   

Dunstable Town have also announced the signing of striker James Verney on a dual registration basis from Southern League Central Division side Berkhamsted on Wednesday. 

Enfield, managed by Jamie Cureton, are having a great season and are currently top of the Essex Senior League. They won 6-0 against Sawbridgeworth Town last weekend in front of 197 at Bishop's Stortford where they currently ground share. 

Their only league defeat so far came away at Redbridge in September - they have won all eleven of their other games. Their only other defeat this season came at Isthmian Premier Division side Billericay Town in the FA Cup - they had beaten another Step Three side (Rushden & Diamonds) on their run to the Second Qualifying Round. 

Former Bowers & Pitsea Midfielder Danny Norton has been one of their stand-out players this season - He played in their FA Cup First Qualifying Round game at Lincoln City last season. 

There is a programme issued for the game as well as drink deals in The Crossbar and Farmhouse Catering selling Pie & Mash - It looks like Creasey Park is the place to be this Friday evening. 

BALDOCK TOWN v NEWPORT PAGNELL TOWN 

It's then Sunday afternoon football as the current holders of the FA Vase visit Baldock Town who have had some fantastic results and some not so fantastic results this season. Manager Dave Adams has, under limited resources, built a squad with the ethos of developing younger players at Baldock. 

When they were drawn against Thurlow Nunn Premier Division side Ipswich Wanderers in the First Qualifying Round I don't think many people would have given them a chance of getting through against a side who had won the First Division South title the previous season and have a number of players in their squad who have played at higher levels of the non-league game. Matt Blake, a former Leiston player, scored twice in the game which ended 4-3 with former St Margaretsbury striker Lawrence Buma Ajong netting twice for Baldock. 

They have since beaten Long Melford (1-3 away from home) and Benfleet on spot kicks after a 2-2 draw at home to get to this stage. 

It's fair to say The Swans despite playing at the same level as Baldock Town have many more resources - the biggest one being their own ground! 

Since the old Baldock Town Football Club were dissolved in 2001 and they lost their much lover Norton Road Ground they have reformed in 2003 they have initially played at Knights Templar School in Baldock before playing at The County Ground in Letchworth, had a return to Norton Road which was is now a 3G caged pitch, Hitchin Town, Stotfold and now at Arlesey Town. 

Baldock had a great 2-0 win over Risborough Rangers in the league on Tuesday evening with Newport Pagnell Town drawing 0-0 at March Town last weekend.

ST PANTELEIMON v SHERINGHAM 

This game is a local football fan's dream as it kicks off on Saturday evening at 7pm giving people a chance to see two games in day. The randomness of the kick off time is due to The Saints ground-sharing with Hertford Town who are at home at 3pm to Waltham Abbey in the Southern League Central Division. 

Sheringham are having a great season in the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division after winning promotion last campaign in winning the First Division South.

Both of their FA Vase games have been won on penalty kicks - they drew 2-2 at Mulbarton Wanderers and then 1-1 at Wormley Rovers. 

The Saints won 4-0 against Leverstock Green and then 2-3 at Harpenden Town. 

SAFFRON WALDEN TOWN v LEIGHTON TOWN 

This is a huge game for both sides. Leighton Town have been to the Quarter-Final stage in 17/18 (lost to Northwich Victoria), 19/20 (lost to Corinthian) and 20/21 when they lost to Walsall Wood. Their Fourth-Round tie in the 19/20 season when they were 3-1 down at Eynesbury Rovers and ended up winning 3-4 is one of the best non-league games in recent times. 

The Bloods were expected to be challenging for the Essex Senior League title this season especially with the signing of striker Soloman Ofori from Hadley who was reportedly wanted by many clubs higher up the pyramid. They are currently in 9th position in the ESL losing four league games but did record an excellent 1-4 win at Halstead Town last Friday evening - 425 people saw Ofori, Dion Lewis-Kirwan, Palvy Manduakila and Stanley Leech score the goals. They got to the Fourth-Round last season losing at home on penalty kicks to Loughborough Students.

The build-up to the game has seen Manager Jason Maher leave Saffron Walden Town after nine years with the club. He has been appointed Manager of Isthmian North side Coggeshall Town. James Falaise, Jake Noble and Michael Toner will be acting as caretaker Manager until a full-time replacement is found. 

There are many great games in prospect locally including the big London Borough of Merton local derby between Colliers Wood United and Raynes Park Vale which is affectionally known as 'El Crapico' by many of the two club's fans. Also check out Biggleswade United v London Lions, Lakenheath v Buckhurst Hill, Woodford Town v Fakenham Town, Romford v Little Oakley and Tring Athletic v Burnham Ramblers. 

QUICK ROUND UP OF OTHER GAMES IN THE LOCAL AREA 

You can see two games at Letchworth Garden City Eagles as their u23s kick off at 1pm against Broxbourne Badgers in the Herts Senior County League Division Two followed by their First Team entertaining Wellingborough Whitworth in the Spartan South Midlands League at 3pm. 

In the Vanarama National League it's a big game for Wealdstone who host big spending top of the table Wrexham at Grosvenor Vale. The Stones are mid-table at present having had a good 0-1 away win at Altrincham in their last game. The Middlesex side could include centre-back Miguel Freckleton in their squad. He has signed on loan from Sheffield United to replace Deji Elerewe who has left the club to return to his parent club Charlton Athletic. The Welsh side won 1-2 last season with the winner scored in the 90th minute - I think they'll be a bigger crowd than the 1,991 who saw that game.

In the Isthmian Premier Division Aveley (5th) v Hornhchurch (1st) is a big game - The Essex Derby should be watched by a decent crowd at Parkside. 

At Top Field, Hitchin Town host FA Cup heroes Alvechurch. The Canaries are 15th with the visitors currently in 19th - they do have games in hand due to their historic Cup run. 

At Coles Park New Salamis (11th) welcome table topper's Lowestoft Town in the Isthmian North Division. The home side won 1-2 at Tilbury in their last match with The Trawlerboys beating Felixstowe and Walton in a top of the table clash.  A big test for the North London side. 

It's Derby Day in the Southern League Central Division as Harlow Town (16th) welcome Ware who are currently in 2nd place. The Hawks have won their last two home league games but went down 4-1 at Thame United last weekend with Ware winning 3-0 at home to Aylesbury United last weekend. Hertford Town v Waltham Abbey is also a local derby to look out for. 

In the Spartan South Midlands League Potton United (8th) are unbeaten in seven league and cup games - the welcome league leaders Stotfold to The Hollow who are equally in good form without a defeat in eight league and cup games. Another local derby which should be well attended.