CUP COUNTDOWN #1 – UNBEATEN WALLINGFORD LIE IN WAIT FOR ASCOT

Ascot United travel to Wallingford Town this Saturday in the Buildbase FA Vase First Round Proper (Hithercroft Road, Wallingford, OX10 9RB).  Wallingford are currently unbeaten in the Combined Counties Football League Division One (Step six, one below Ascot) having won six and drawn four of their league games. And, with their FA Vase and County Cup successes plus having not entered the FA Cup they are unbeaten all season in all competitions (13 matches), making this a tough proposition for the Yellamen.

Manager Jamie Tompkins is missing a few players with minor injuries – last weekend’s defeat at Windsor not helping – although is hopeful they will be back before the weekend. However, Rory Merrick is expected to return to the squad after a lengthy layoff, whilst Louis Bouwers played 45 minutes for tenants Lyne FC last weekend and is poised to feature as his rehabilitation nears completion.

Ascot previously played Wallingford twice in league cup action in 17/18 when The Yellamen were in the Hellenic League Premier Division and Wallingford were in the league below. Ascot won the first outing 2-0 in October’s Bluefin Sport Premier Cup tie, before needing extra time to win 3-2 at Hithercroft in the following January’s Supplementary Cup tie.

The full list of ties is on the FA’s website and commences with a couple of ties on Friday night, including league rivals Southall v Erith and Belvedere, before concluding with four ties on Sunday. All teams will be vying for a place on Round 2, which takes place on the weekend of Saturday 20^th November.

Key matches facing Combined Counties League sides are below, which includes a tasty league clash between Wembley and Hanworth Villa, whereas Wokingham and Emmbrook’s resurgence may help them cause an FA Vase shock in the New Forest: