On Saturday the Tonbridge Angels’ FA Cup journey begins, but for our hosts, Steyning Town Community, three matches have been won already to reach the Second Qualifying Round.
Steyning’s FA Cup campaign began on 2nd August in the Extra Preliminary Round, a week before they opened their Southern Combination Premier Division season, when they visited Badshot Lea, returning home with a place in the next round after a 6-3 win. Hendon were the visitors to the Shooting Field for the First Qualifying Round where an altogether tighter affair saw Steyning emerge as 2-1 winners. Their league counterparts, Lancing, were put to the sword to the tune of 5-0 to earn their home draw against the Angels.
Steyning’s league form has been equally impressive as three wins and a draw, plus FA Vase progress at Arundel, sees our hosts coming into the game unbeaten and they certainly know where the goal is, having scored 33 goals in all competitions already this season.
Their top scorer is Stan Bridgman with 11 followed by Dion Jarvis with 6. Jarvis’ goals include four in the FA Cup alone this season. Harry Heath will be looking to score in the FA Cup for the fourth round running having scored in every round. Bridgman is the midfield engine and a set-piece specialist as those that witnessed his free-kick against Lancing will confirm.
Craig Nelson spoke to Kent Online: “I think on paper people will assume it’s Step 2 v Step 5 and we will just win it, but it is never as easy as that. That’s the beauty of the FA Cup. The boys need to be on it because Steyning have had some decent results this season, they don’t concede many and score a lot. We won’t go there under-prepared and we cannot go there with the mindset that we are playing a side three steps below us. We need to be professional from minute one and hopefully get the job done and move into the next round. It is going to be about how we impose ourselves on the game.”
The Shooting Fields has a 3G pitch and all of the cover is on one side that houses three stands, two of which can seat around 50 spectators each with the rest of the spectator areas made up of flat standing. The postcode for the satnavs is BN44 3RQ.
The clubhouse and food bar, which it is reported, serve award-winning burgers will be open from 1.30 pm with Sky showing West Ham v Tottenham after the match.
Admission to the game is Adults £10; Concessions £5 with Under-16’s free accompanied by an adult with cash or card on the turnstile.
The hosts advise that the car park at Tanyard Lane (BN44 3RJ), opposite the medical centre should be used. This leaves a short walk through an alley off Breach Close.
Rail users should be aware that the nearest station, Shoreham-by-Sea is five miles away and the No.2 bus from the station is only an hourly service.
Enjoy the game!
