FA Vase draws shape the week across the Southern Combination
The FA Vase First Round Proper draw gave several Southern Combination clubs something to plan around this week. Roffey, who beat Guernsey in the previous round, have been handed a home tie against Kingstonian, due to be played at the Fusion Aviation Stadium on Friday 9 October, with the club urging supporters to "pack the Fusion" for the visit. Forest Row will also be at home, drawn against Ash United on Saturday 10 October at Jubilee Field. Hassocks face a trip to Bearsted the same day, and have already arranged a supporters' coach from the Beacon at 11am, priced at £20 a seat. AFC Varndeanians will travel to face Ascot, with the exact date still to be confirmed.
Elsewhere in cup competition, Pagham continue to reflect on their FA Cup run, the club's best in 36 years, after featuring on ITV News. The chairman's programme notes ahead of their tie asked supporters to "make Nyetimber Lane a place that our visitors remember" and create "an atmosphere worthy of the occasion."
In league fixtures, Haywards Heath Town won 0-2 away at Bexhill United, Towning following up a Shooman header off the post before Meehan added a second. Lingfield maintained their good form with a 4-1 win over Seaford Town, having earlier beaten Eastbourne Albion 8-0, and added a new signing in Reuel, of whom the club said simply, "goals and assists incoming." Hassocks took two wins from two matches at Little Common, with Lewis Croal among the goals and named starman for his efforts. Their scheduled home game against Midhurst, however, was postponed after the visitors could not raise a team, prompting the club to redirect attention towards its Hassocks Goes Gold fundraising event for childhood cancer research.
At East Grinstead Town, an unbeaten run of six matches ended with a 0-2 defeat away at league leaders Eastbourne United. Little Common drew 0-0 with Horsham having lost 3-1 to Hassocks in midweek, with Oli McDonald scoring their goal. Newhaven ended a run of three straight defeats with a 2-1 win, describing it as "not a classic" but one they would take.
