Buildbase FA Vase 1st Round
Six Essex Senior League sides, along with three from the new Step 6 Eastern Senior League South feature in this weekend’s Buildbase FA Vase 1st Round. Southend Manor and Redbridge are paired together – meaning at least one other ESL side will be guaranteed to be joining Hullbridge Sports in the 2nd Round . The Southchurch Park based outfit came through seven goal thriller with Haverhill Rovers in the last round, with Nathan Dewberry scoring all four of their goals. Redbridge were handed an exemption until this round and had a dress rehearsal of sorts as they recently beat Southend Manor 3-2 in a league fixture.
Takeley have been drawn at home to Wodson Park from the Spartan South Midlands Division One. Takeley play at a higher level and sit near the top of the ESL Premier Division table. But Wodson Park booked their 1st Round place by beating Barkingside on penalties, having also needing to dig deep to find an equaliser after falling behind to a Jacob Dingli goal. That suggests that Wodson Park have some resolve but Takeley have home advantage and have also shown a bit of fire power this term.
West Essex face Thurlow Nunn Premier outfit Godmanchester Rovers who have made a good start to their league campaign. West Essex have started to get some form going, but with The Vase being what it is means that anyone can win this if they bring their A game to the encounter. Sawbrigdeworth Town had an away day at Coggeshall United in the last round; they came through that one with a 4-0 win and they now go on the road again, this time to Leverstock Green. The hosts ply their trade in the Spartan South Midland Premier Division and the respective league tables see both teams currently just under the midway point. This is another cracking Vase tie that could go either way
Enfield travel to Eastern Senior League South outfit Little Oakley; the hosts make their maiden bow in the 1st Round and are currently riding high in their league as well. Enfield’s league form has picked up and they are currently 10th in the ESL table. However the ESL side will need resolve as Little Oakley are buzzing at the moment and will be up for this one. Newbury Forest, who beat Clapton last time out, are also embarking on their best ever Vase run. Their reward for reaching the 1st Round for the first time is a home tie with Newport Pagnell Town. Meanwhile May & Baker reached the 1st Round after stunning Saffron Walden Town in the last qualifying round; they won that one 4-1 and in the 1st Qualifying Round they breezed past Burnham Ramblers with an 8-1 victory. Not bad going for a team embarking on their first ever FA Vase campaign and the 1st Round draw paired them off with North Greenford United. The visitors have played in the Southern League as recently as 2015/16 season, but now play their football in the Premier Division of the Combined Counties League. May & Baker have stepped out of Intermediate football to become a Step 6 club and will fight tooth and nail to make sure their dream Vase debut continues when the draw for the 2nd Round is made on Monday 15th October.
Saturday 13th October
Buildbase FA Vase 1st Round
Leverstock Green v Sawbridgeworth Town
Little Oakley v Enfield
May & Baker E.C. v North Greenford United
Newbury Forest v Newport Pagnell Town
Southend Manor v Redbridge
Takeley v Wodson Park
Sunday 14th October
Buildbase FA Vase 1st Round
West Essex v Godmanchester Rovers
