Despite having been drawn away, Erith and Belvedere’s Isuzu FA Vase match with Bexhill United will be played at their Acclaim Handling Community Stadium. 

That is as a result of Bexhill United sharing with Bexhill Cricket Club meaning that they are unable to play home games while there is cricket being played. Therefore, they have had to sacrifice home advantage.

It will be three different competitions in three weeks for the Deres. They started with a Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division match at home to Greenwich Borough.

That was a tight match that they lost two-one. Freddie Cray put them ahead one minute before half time but Stefan Payne levelled from the penalty spot in first half stoppage time. It was nip and tuck in the second period until sixteen year old Austin Tanner scored the winner for the visitors with twelve minutes remaining. 

Then last Saturday they started their FA Cup campaign with a home game against Billingshurst and progressed with a comfortable four-one victory. Casey Dudley put them on their way in the seventeenth minute before Freddie Baker and Clarence Tambe put them three goals clear by half time. Although they conceded eight minutes after the restart, their defence wasn’t breached again and Connor French added a fourth goal late on. 

Plying their trade in the Southern Combination Football League, Bexhill started their campaign with a two-one win at Billingshurst, courtesy of goals by Ryan Moir and Ashley Lutuske. They then travelled to Seaford Town and won two-nil. Although the Pirates had Jack Mison sent off, an own goal followed by a Jack Shonk penalty guided them through.

Last Saturday, their home FA Cup tie against East Grinstead Town was played at their visitors home ground and they were knocked out following a three-nil defeat. 

If looking for a form guide, the fact that both clubs have beaten Billingshurst this season suggests that it will be a tight match in a tie that has to be decided on the day.

Pictures supplied by Keith Gillard.