Non-League and Academy football writer

Lymore Gardens defeated two step 5 teams, in Woodford Town and Frenford, on route to this first round proper FA Vase tie, which takes place between themselves and Framlingham Town, on Saturday afternoon at Redbridge FC. For me, this is without doubt one of the standout FA Vase first round proper ties taking place within southern England on Saturday. As Lymore Gardens, FA Vase debutants and the current Thurlow Nunn League First Division South league leaders in their first ever season at step 6, take on Framlingham Town, a club which has been going for over 138 years.

Framlingham Town (the club are based in Suffolk), who play in the Thurlow Nunn League First Division, and who are currently in third place in the league standings, overcame Yaxley and Lakenheath to get to this stage of the FA Vase, and they will be another tough test for Lymore. However, Lymore Gardens, lead by Lee Benjamin and his experienced coaching staff, won’t fear anyone in this competition. Following their promotion to step 6 last summer, they have been absolutely superb as a team. A real footballing team who play their football in style, Lymore have already shown in the very prestigious FA Vase this season, that they are more than capable of bettering teams who play their football at a higher level than them in the non-League pyramid.

Lymore Gardens collectively as a squad, have all played their part in the club’s excellent start to the season. Club legend Dylan Roberts has played a big part in the forward areas of the pitch, in the previous two rounds of the FA Vase. But, having attended both of those games, as well as a number of their games in other competitions so far this season, everyone involved in the club, both players and non-playing staff, has helped to get the first team to where are they now. The club whose first team started in the lower divisions of the Essex Alliance Football League, have really used their first team squad so far this season, with so many players from that squad, having slotted in so well to the first team. 

Saturday’s FA Vase tie in east London should be a great game of cup football, between two very good sides, who have both made impressive starts to the season in their respective leagues. For those in attendance at Redbridge FC on Saturday, as well as those who have yet to see the home side, Lymore Gardens, they could well see the east London club create yet another piece of club history this season. As Lymore look to extend their run in the FA Vase by at least another round in this, my highlighted FA Vase tie of the first round proper.