Non-League and Academy football writer

The draw for the third round proper of this seasons FA Vase, was made on Monday afternoon. For those London clubs (there are five London based sides still involved in the FA Vase) still involved in this very prestigious competition, it would have been a proud moment, as for a number of those sides, it represents their club best in the FA Vase.

Lymore Gardens v Halesworth Town: Not many people could have predicted that Lymore Gardens’ debut season at step 6 of the non-League pyramid would have gone so outstandingly well, so far. However, aside from the east London club’s excellent form in the Thurlow Nunn League First Division South, a league which I think they could win this season, their debut FA Vase campaign has been just as remarkable. Having defeated the likes of Woodford Town and Frenford in the early rounds of this season’s FA Vase, they just haven’t looked back. And the confidence, quality and belief within their squad could see their FA Vase journey last a lot longer this season, despite being one of not very many step 6 sides still left in the competition.

Up next for Lymore Gardens in the FA Vase, is Halesworth Town. This is only the second time during this season’s competition that they have drawn a step 6 side. And for Halesworth Town, the side who like Lymore Gardens, only won promotion to step 6 (from the Suffolk & Ipswich League) at the end of last season, they have certainly defied the odds against some very good sides to reach this stage of the FA Vase. A really interesting cup tie awaits at Redbridge FC, next month.

Cockfosters v Soul Tower Hamlets: For both sides this is their best ever season in the FA Vase. Both doing really well in their respective step 5 leagues (the Spartan South Midlands Premier Division, and the Essex Senior League), this is the first ever meeting between the two sides in this famous old competition. Gavin Kelsey’s Cockfosters side were a team who I predicted to really challenge for their league title this season, and they are right up there in the Premier Division of the Spartan South Midlands League, so far this season. 

Soul Tower Hamlets are having a great season in the Essex Senior League, and I reckon that they could win that league this season, and in the process earn promotion to step 4 for the very first time. Both Cockfosters and Soul Tower Hamlets have very good squads, and this tie at Chalk Lane will be a very difficult game to predict, but it should also be a very good and competitive game of cup football.

Harpenden Town v Haringey Borough: Looking to win promotion straight back up to step 4 of the Isthmian League at the first attempt this season, north London side Haringey Borough have so far shown that they could well achieve that feat. The club who play their home games at Coles Park, are just outside of the play-off positions in the Premier Division of the Spartan South Midlands League after 15 league matches played. And Haringey Borough are three points off top place in that step 5 league. They will face a team from the same league as them in the third round proper of the FA Vase, in Harpenden Town, who are currently in 11th place in the league table.

Harpenden Town (away) in the next round of the FA Vase will be a tough test for Haringey Borough, with Harpenden being a strong team. However, that will be another good game, and I think that it will be a very close game of football.

Fisher v Fleet Town: South London club Fisher are currently in 12th place in the SCEFL Premier Division (step 5). A well supported club, Fisher overcame Balham FC in the last round of the FA Vase, and another home tie awaits them in the next round of the competition, as they host Fleet Town, of the Combined Counties Football League Premier Division South. Fleet Town are currently in the play-off positions in their league table, and it will be another tough game for Fisher, but also one in which they will be very much looking forward to.