Eleven ESL sides are in FA Vase action over the weekend, with two of those 2nd Qualifying Round ties being all-ESL affairs. The pick of those has to be the West Essex v Great Wakering Rovers. The hosts beat Clapton 4-3 in midweek that took them to the top of the table, while the visitors are sixth, three points being the leaders. League business will be put aside in this enthralling Vase encounter. The other all-ESL affair pits Ilford against Hullbridge Sports.
Redbridge gave a tough encounter against Coggeshall Town who currently sit second in the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division. However the Motormen did despatch Brantham Athletic, from the same division as Coggeshall, 6-1 in the last round. They have home advantage again but face a tougher proposition. Four other ESL sides face Thurlow Nunn Premier Division teams, with three of them having to travel. Sawbridgeworth Town visit Hadleigh United, Enfield 1893 travel to Stowmarket Town, while Burnham Ramblers take time out from worrying league campaign to visit a Kirkley & Pakefield side that also find them close to the wrong end of the table. Basildon United meanwhile have made a good start to their ESL campaign and they will be hoping that will help them see off a Walsham le Willows side that currenty sit seventh in the Thurlow Nunn Premier.
Two teams from the Thurlow Nunn Division One provide opposition to ESL sides, both of whom have been drawn at home. Tower Hamlets have been in good form of late and they welcome a Little Oakley side who are having their debut campaing in the Vase. The visitors’ league form hasn’t been great and they have a difficult trip to the Mile End Stadium against a Tower Hamlets side that have suddenly clicked into gear in recent games. Barkingside play their game against Whitton United on Sunday.
There are also two league games on Saturday with Clapton hoping to kick-start their season against an FC Romania side who have started strongly and who lost in midweek to Hayes & Yeading United in the FA Cup, taking their higher opponents into extra-time before succumbing 2-0. The other game sees Stansted take on bottom-placed Wadham Lodge.
Saturday 23rd September
FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round
Basildon United v Walsham le Willows
Hadleigh United v Sawbridgeworth Town
Ilford v Hullbridge Sports
Kirkley & Pakefield v Burnham Ramblers
Redbridge v Coggleshall Town
Stowmarket Town v Enfield 1893
West Essex v Great Wakering Rovers
Premier Division
Clapton v FC Romania
Stansted v Wadham Lodge
Sunday 24th September
FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round
Barkingside v Whitton United
