Step 6 preview: Hellenic League clubs kick off Challenge Cup

Wokingham & Emmbrook's Joe Cummusky. Photo: Graham Tabor.
Wokingham & Emmbrook's Joe Cummusky. Photo: Graham Tabor.

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For teams in all Divisions of the Hellenic League, the First Round of the Bluefin Sports Challenge Cup takes centre stage this weekend, with local Step 6 sides Holyport and Wokingham & Emmbrook both involved.

Wokingham & Emmbrook welcome New College Swindon to Larges Lane. The College have not had the best start to their season and currently sit bottom of the Hellenic League Division One West having lost all their five league games. The Sumas are undefeated in their last three games and will look to continue that run with a win on Saturday.

Speaking to the Wokingham Paper this week, Sumas manager Dan Bateman – who will be without the suspended Joe Cummuskey – spoke about the competitive nature of Division 1 East this season. He said: “I’ve been involved in Hellenic Division One football for a really long time and I don’t remember a strength in depth like there is now.

“I’m looking at it now and I can pick probably eight sides that have got a realistic chance of winning the league.”

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Holyport host fellow Hellenic League Division One East side Didcot Town Development at Summerleaze Village. After a thumping 6-0 win against Woodley United in the Hellenic League Division One Subsidary Cup in midweek Holyport are going into the game in high spirits. The two sides have already met in league action this season with Port coming away from Didcot’s Loop Meadow with a 2-0 victory.

Woodley United play their First Round tie at home to Cirencester Town Development in two weeks’ time due to fixture congestion at Scours Lane. AFC Aldermaston have a bye into the Second Round.

Binfield Reserve team manager Ellis Woods.
Ellis Woods.

In the Combined Counties Division One Eversley & California have a tough assignment as they entertain league leaders Farnham Town at the ESA Ground. Farnham were relegated from the Combined Counties Premier Division at the end of last season but have started strongly at Step 6, taking twenty-two points from nine league games.

The Boars are on a disappointing run of form in the league but getting a result at the weekend would be a big achievement and give them a platform for the coming weeks.

Sandhurst Town travel into Surrey to face Kensington Borough. Borough sit in 17th in the league with three points from eight games and currently groundshare at Isthmian Premier Division Leatherhead’s Fetcham Grove ground.

The two sides met in the FA Vase earlier this season, with Kensington getting a 2-1 victory at Bottom Meadow. The Fizzers will be looking for some measure of revenge on Saturday afternoon.

Bluefin Sport Hellenic League Challenge Cup First Round

  • Holyport vs Didcot Town Development
  • Wokingham & Emmbrook vs New College Swindon

Combined Counties League Division 1

  • Eversley & California vs Farnham Town
  • Kensington Borough vs Sandhurst Town

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