FA VASE SECOND ROUND DRAW: HERNE BAY GOING INTO THE UNKNOWN - SAYS CHAIRMAN

Monday 05th October 2009

HERNE BAY chairman John Bathurst says his club will be going into the unknown as this morning’s FA Carlsberg Vase second round draw sees Barry Morgan’s side welcome Flackwell Heath to Winch’s Field next month, writes Stephen McCartney.

Herne Bay are one of only four Bulmers Cider Kent League sides left in the last 128 and will be looking to progress against midtable Hellenic League opposition.

Flackwell Heath are at present in eleventh place in the Hellenic League top flight with four wins and two draws from their opening seven league outings.

But Mr Bathurst, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk after the draw was made, doesn’t know what to expect against the Buckinghamshire outfit.

“They are a totally unknown quantity,” he said. “I don’t believe Herne Bay have ever met them before.

“The only team I recall playing from the Hellenic League were Didcot. If their standard is anything to go by then it will be a tough game.”

Morgan’s men have knocked out Farnham Town and Hythe Town, who going into the game had taken full-time Blue Square South giants Woking to a replay in the second qualifying round of the FA Cuo, to reach this stage of the competition.

BECKENHAM TOWN chairman Chris McCarthy, meanwhile, is pleased with his club’s draw - at home to Carterton Town.

Carterton also play in the top-flight of the Hellenic League and are at present sitting in the bottom four with a record of one win and four draws from their nine games.

Jason Huntley’s men have defeated Wealden and Banstead Athletic at Eden Park Avenue and came away from Mole Valley with a win at the weekend.

“Great draw for us,” Mr McCarthy told www.kentishfootball.co.uk. “I just wanted anyone at home and we’ve got our wish.

“Let’s hope our form continues after a good start to the season.”

After what was described as a disastrous campaign at Eden Park Avenue last season, Beckenham are presently sitting in second place in the Bulmers Cider Kent League table with a record of five wins and a draw from seven games and are six points behind the leaders.

FAVERSHAM TOWN, meanwhile, travel to Badshot Lea, a Surrey side that are in fifteenth place in the premier division of the Combined Counties League, with a record of two wins and a draw from their five league games, although they do have games in hand on all other 21 league rivals.

Faversham are at present unbeaten at the top of the Kent League table, having accumulated 22 points from eight games.

The Lilywhites began their FA Vase campaign in the first round proper and two goals from striker Michael Smissen sealed a 2-1 win at Sussex County League side Wick at the weekend.

ERITH & BELVEDERE, in fifth place in the table, will travel to Hellenic League outfit Witney United.

The Oxfordshire side are in tenth place at present with a record of four wins and two draws from their nine league games.

The Deres have beaten Sidley United, Horley Town and Pagham to progress into the second round proper and have banked a much-needed £2,700 in prize money.

Should any of our Kent sides win their second round ties (14th November), they will bank a further £1,200 in prize money from the Football Association.

For the full draw visit www.thefa.com/TheFACup/FACompetitions/TheFAVase/Fixtures.aspx