Two Isthmian League Premier division teams meet in the London Senior Cup first round tonight when Cray Valley PM host Welling United in a local derby. 

Both teams have won the trophy within the last ten years. The Millers won it in 2016/17 by beating Metropolitan Police two-one with goals by Ben Francis and Aaron Rhule. They were then beaten four-one by Balham in the final in the following season. 

One year after that, Welling beat Brentford B in the final one-nil with Mo Bettamer on the score-sheet for their first success since seeing off Boreham Wood twenty-nine years earlier.

Neither side’s manager is likely to look at this trophy as a priority as both will be more concerned about seeing their teams ease their way up the league table. Welling are currently twentieth in the table with nine points from twelve games while the Millers’ have two points more, having played one match fewer.

On Saturday, Cray Valley needed an equaliser from Sonny Black with five minutes remaining to claim a point at home to bottom of the league Canvey Island. Meanwhile, the Wings went down two-one at St. Albans City.

Managers Steve McKimm of Cray Valley, and Welling’s Rod Stringer, may use the match as an opportunity to give squad members some playing time to give them the opportunity to stake a claim for a starting berth. They will expect their teams to be competitive and will want to progress to the second round, and a home tie against Queen’s Park Rangers under 21s. 

Picture supplied by Keith Gillard.