Buildbase FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round
May & Baker E.C. make their maiden voyage in the FA Vase on Saturday when they welcome Burnham Ramblers to their current Gale Street base. Having campaigned for a number of years in the Premier Division of the Prokit UK Essex Olympian League, the Dagenham-based club made the move into the new Step 6 Eastern Senior League Southern Division, and with that move up into Senior football comes the chance to enter the FA Vase. Burnham Ramblers now play in the same league as May & Baker, although Burnham came into Step 6 having been relegated at the end of last season from the Essex Senior League. Newbury Forest have entered the FA Vase previously and they have a home tie against Wivenhoe Town – both clubs now also playing in the Eastern Senior League.
White Ensign will also be making their maiden bow in the Vase and travel to Stanway Rovers – their Twitter account is beaming with excitement and they can’t wait. They top the Eastern Senior League South while Stanway Rovers sit at the foot of the Essex Senior League. Fire United are making their Vase debut as well on Saturday. Unlike White Ensign they are currently bottom of the new Step 6 Division but take time out to enjoy their first ever Vase game at Lordswood. Holland and Halstead Town are the other two Eastern Senior League South teams on Vase duty, with Holland hosting Cornard United while Halstead Town are away to Enfield Borough.
There are two all Essex Senior League ties which see two of the East London based clubs playing host. Clapton welcome Woodford Town to the Old Spotted Dog while Walthamstow have a chance to have a bit of Vase revenge on Takeley. The two sides met on league business recently which Takeley won 4-1. Walthamstow will no doubt offer their visitors hospitality but hoping to burst their Vase bubble. The other East London based clubs will be on their travels as Ilford travel deep into take on Haverhill Rovers, Tower Hamlets are off to Langford, while Leyton Athletic will be spending the afternoon at Stotfold.
Southend Manor host Ipswich Wanderers from the Thurlow Nunn Premier, Stansted too face opposition from the same competition, with Brantham Athletic visiting Hargraves Park. St. Margaretsbury complete the trio of Essex Senior teams hosting Thurlow Nunn opponents when they host Hadleigh United on Sunday
Clapton v Woodford Town
Enfield Borough v Halstead Town
Haverhill Rovers v Ilford
Holland v Cornard United
Langford v Tower Hamlets
Lordswood v Fire United
May & Baker E.C. v Burnham Ramblers
Newbury Forest v Wivenhoe Town
Southend Manor v Ipswich Wanderers
St. Margaretsbury v Hadleigh United (Sunday 2nd September)
Stansted v Brantham Athletic
Stanway Rovers v White Ensign
Stotfold v Leyton Athletic
Walthamstow v Takeley
