FA Cup Preliminary Round Preview
With one all ESL tie in the Preliminary Round means that there is at least one guaranteed ESL team in the First Qualifying Round. It’s now up to Tower Hamlets and Takeley to decide which one of them it will be. Takeley took care of business last time around by disposing of Wivenhoe Town with a 3-1 home win. Tower Hamlets had to go to a replay before they booked their place.
FC Romania overcame fellow Essex Senior League outfit Waltham Forest 2-1 in a delayed Extra Preliminary Round Replay on Tuesday. They now travel to Long Melford, who beat Hackney Wick in the last round.
West Essex are new entrants to the FA Cup this season and having bagged the prize money in an-all ESL tie with Sawbridgeworth Town now return to Hertfordshire to take on Bostik North outfit Potters Bar Town. It’s one of three ties involved ESL teams against teams from the Bostik League as Redbridge are away to Grays Athletic, while Clapton welcome Norwich United to the Old Spotted Dog.
Basildon United hit the road as they are away to Great Yarmouth Town from the Thurlow Nunn League. Ilford meet opposition from the same league as they host Haverhill Borough; Southend Manor meanwhile entertain Gorleston who have made a decent start to their league campaign, but can Manor make full usage of their home advantage.
Hullbridge Sports play their game 24 hours later, when they visit St. Margaretsbury.
Saturday 19th August
FA Cup Preliminary Round
Clapton v Norwich United
Grays Athletic v Redbridge
Great Yarmouth Town v Basildon United
Ilford v Haverhill Borough
Long Melford v Waltham Forest/FC Romania
Potters Bar Town v West Essex
Southend Manor v Gorleston
Tower Hamlets v Takeley
Sunday 20th August
FA Cup Preliminary Round
St Margaretsbury v Hullbridge Sports
