By Matt Harris
More than 100 teams remain in the FA Vase as the competition reaches its second round this weekend and while Hereford FC of the Midland Football League remain clear tournament favourites, there's a long way yet to go before the final is played out at Wembley on May 22nd.
Return to former glories?
Following the winding up of the former Hereford United club, manager Peter Beadle has the task of guiding the Bulls to their ultimate aim of a return to the Football League and early results have shown promise. Hereford eased past Rocester by two goals to nil in the previous round and a home tie against Haughmond this weekend should signify an easy progression.
Until recently, Salisbury City were a Conference side before financial issues heralded demotion and a reformation at the start of this campaign. The Whites retain a strong squad however and as second favourites for the Vase they may be a more credible candidate than Hereford for the trophy.
Beyond the top two, the bookmakers can't separate South Shields and Alvechurch in the outright tournament markets. Those with less than a passing interest in Alvechurch may be surprised considering the side finished just 15th in the Midland League last season but they are a considerably stronger prospect this time around. As for South Shields, they reached the quarter finals of this competition in its second year – 1975/76 – and Jon King's side will make the short trip across to Consett this weekend.
The challengers
AFC Dunstable currently head the table in the Spartan Premier League and the league leaders are considered a decent outside option to lift the trophy next May. It's been a positive season so far for Steve Heath's men who face an away trip to Spartan rivals Stotfold on Saturday.
Aside from those two teams, the division is well represented at this stage of the competition. Berkhamsted and Hertford Town are also battling for promotion and both teams will be hopeful of progressing, having been handed home ties against AFC Kempston Rovers and Barking respectively.
Elsewhere, Broxbourne Borough are favourites to make the third round as they host Greenhouse Sports while Biggleswade United are drawn at home to Saffron Walden Town.
The Essex Senior League is on the same level of the ladder as the Spartan Prem and as Barking travel to Hertford, FC Romania make the trip to Gorleston while Sporting Bengal United are at home to Sleaford Town.
Moving East
Across country the Eastern Counties League provides some strong teams but none are given much chance by the odds setters in the lead up to the second round ties. Kirkley and Pakefield are expected to edge past Edgware Town but perhaps the division's best hopes lie with the reigning champions Norwich United. The Planters are hot favourites to overcome visitors Hullbridge Sports in round 2 and Damien Hilton's men look set to match their best performance in this competition – they last appeared in the third round back in the 2002/03 campaign.
In total there are 60 second round ties to be played this weekend starting with Sutton Common Rovers v Beckenham Town on Friday night and finishing with Canterbury City against Erith and Belvedere on Sunday afternoon. That's a lot of football and at this early stage of the Vase, it is tough to pick an outright winner but the three days will doubtless produce plenty of goals and drama as the race to Wembley takes another twist.
