Round 5 of this season’s FA Trophy and Vase will be played tomorrow and four Essex sides remain across both competitions. Aveley are the final Essex team in the FA Trophy and the three that find themselves still in the FA Vase are Tilbury, Great Wakering Rovers and Romford!
Bromley vs Aveley
It has been an incredible few seasons for The Millers, gaining back-to-back promotions in the past two years to climb from the Isthmian North to the heights of National League South. They advanced to the final 16 of the FA Trophy after defeating Conference side, AFC Fylde 1-0 at Parkside. The only goal in the game came courtesy of Nana Kyei as he fired home from Jalen Jones’ flick on.
Aveley have been drawn away to face another National League opponent, Bromley FC. The game could not have come at a better time for the Essex side with their opponents coming off the back of two defeats and failing to win in their last five matches. However, despite their current poor run of results, Bromley still occupy second place in the National League as they fight for a play-off spot and a chance to join League 2.
The Millers also come into this match off the back of two losses, but previously to this, they were unbeaten in six and also sit one point away from a play-off spot in the National League South.
Who should you look out for?
The main man up top for Aveley is Siju Odelusi. The Aveley man has scored a total of twelve goals for his side this season including the winning goal against Eastbourne Borough from the spot. Odelusi will look to keep up his goal scoring form tomorrow, especially against the defence of Bromley who have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last five outings.
Tilbury vs North Greenford United
Moving onto the FA Vase, Tilbury were relegated from the Isthmian North last season and questions were asked if they could find promotion from the Essex Senior at the first time of asking. Despite a shaky start, losing 3-0 on the opening day to Athletic Newham, The Dockers have been absolutely flying. Marc Harrison and Liam Wallace’s side sit top of the league with an 8-point cushion and two games in hand.
Jack McQueen’s poked finish from close range is what saw the Thurrock side advance to the final 16, defeating Waltham-Le-Willows in the previous round. Tilbury have been drawn at home against North Greenford United of the Combined Counties Football League Premier Division North. Going into tomorrow’s fixture, North Greenford have won four of their last five and are just two points adrift of play-offs.
The Dockers on the other hand are having one of the best runs in non-league. Tilbury are unbeaten in the league since August and the only loss in all competitions since then came in the Essex Senior Cup as Brentwood Town’s late winner knocked out The Dockers.
The two sides have also played each other in recent times, with Tilbury coming out on top as convincing victors with a 7-0 win. However, the two sides are in completely different places, and we are expecting a much closer matchup. Just Oli Spooner remains with The Dockers from that day, and he has since become club captain.
Who should you look out for?
Tilbury’s goal threat this season has been their number 9, Roman Campbell. Since the return of the Roman Empire at Chadfields back in September, Campbell has scored seventeen goals in all competitions. Alongside the pace of both Alex Clark and Dan Trendall on the wings, Tilbury are a real force going forward having netted sixty-five league goals this season.
Highworth Town vs Great Wakering Rovers
Great Wakering Rovers took the trip to the border of Wales as they came out 2-1 winners over Whitchurch Alport. The Rovers occupy 7th in the Essex Senior League but are just 7 points behind 2nd placed Woodford Town with three games in hand.
Tomorrow they will travel once again, this time to face Highworth Town. Highworth play their football in the Hellenic Premier Division and also find themselves in 7th place with games in hand over the teams in the play-off places. Highworth are a team that know how to find the net, scoring seventy-eight league goals. However, they have let in a total of fifty.
Much the same as their opponents, Great Wakering have been in fine goalscoring form, netting fifteen in their last five. Since the appointment of Marcus Bowers from Basildon Town back in October, the manager has been able to turn things around from the club’s disappointing start to the season.
Who should you look out for?
The two names that spring to mind when thinking of Great Wakering at the moment are Callum Boylan and Harry Talbot. Between the two of them this season, they have been terrorising defences, scoring thirty-six goals for The Rovers.
Hilltop vs Romford
Romford made the move to Rookery Hill (East Thurrock United’s old ground) this season and having already spent a season in the Essex Senior last year, they hoped to push for promotion back to the Isthmian North. They currently sit 4th in the table, but with a chance of a trip to Wembley, their thoughts will be with their FA Vase fixture tomorrow.
The Boro defeated Stanway Pegasus who were making their FA Vase debut as Romford advanced to the, joint, furthest they’ve gone in the competition, which they initially set 27 years ago (10 campaigns). Finlay Dorrell and Charlie Morris were the goal scorers in a 2-1 win for the Essex side.
Their opponents in the Fifth Round are Hilltop FC who advanced through to this stage on penalties against Erith Town. Hilltop play in the same league as North Greenford United, but currently sit joint bottom on 18 points after seventeen games. However, with multiple games in hand, they will look to climb up the table to safety.
Who should you look out for?
Romford’s top goal scorer this season is Hassan Nalbant who has fifteen goals in twenty-four league appearances for Romford. A physical target man with brilliant technical ability, and the capability of causing problems for any defender, Nalbant will be the man to stop for Hilltop.
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