FA Vase 2025/26
FIFTH ROUND PROPER
Ties due to be played on Saturday 7th February
Hallen v Gornal Athletic
Bilston Town v Droylsden
Coventry United v North Shields
West Didsbury & Chorlton v Winsford United
PUNJAB UNITED v Windsor & Eton or FISHER
Downton v Lymore Gardens
Great Yarmouth Town or Haywards Heath Town v AFC Stoneham
WHITSTABLE TOWN v Cockfosters
The draw has been made for the fifth round of the FA Vase, with clubs now just three ties away from Wembley.
Holders Whitstable Town remain in the hunt to retain the trophy and have been handed a home tie against Cockfosters. The Oystermen booked their place with a 4-1 win at Harpenden Town on Saturday and now face a Cockfosters side sitting fourth in the Spartan South Midlands Premier Division, just three points off the top with only four defeats in 21 league games.
Fellow SCEFL sides Punjab United and Fisher were also included in the draw — and could yet meet in the last 16.
Fisher began their Vase journey in the first qualifying round and have already survived two penalty shoot-outs. Their fourth-round tie at Windsor & Eton was postponed last weekend due to a waterlogged pitch and will be replayed this Saturday.
The winners will travel to Punjab United, who impressed with a 2-0 victory at Benfleet in round four.
It already marks a best-ever FA Vase run for both Punjab United and Fisher, while Windsor & Eton could yet face a fourth SCEFL opponent this season, having already seen off Bearsted and Tunbridge Wells on their route to this stage.
FOURTH ROUND PROPER
Saturday 17th January
Benfleet 0-2 Punjab United
Harpenden Town 1-4 Whitstable Town
Windsor & Eton P-P Fisher
Three SCEFL sides are still standing in the FA Vase, with the road to Wembley very much alive for Punjab United, Whitstable Town and Fisher.
Fisher’s place in the last 16 isn’t sealed just yet after their trip to Windsor & Eton fell victim to postponement. They’ll have to do it the hard way next week, but the opportunity remains firmly in their hands.
Whitstable Town, Vase veterans at this stage, produced another statement performance away at Harpenden. A ruthless display saw Javaun Splatt strike twice (17’, 62’), before Nathan Jeche (80’) and Bradley Schafer (89’) put the result beyond doubt. Harpenden’s consolation came through Conor Clarke on 74 minutes, but by then Whitstable were already cruising.
Punjab United’s fairytale run rolls on after a composed 2–0 win at Benfleet. Goals from Jack Hopkins (18’) and Will Johnson-Cole (42’) did the damage as Punjab continue to smash club records and refuse to blink on the big stage.
Three teams through, one more to follow — and Wembley still very much in sight – again.
THIRD ROUND PROPER
Saturday 6th December
Burnham 1-2 Punjab United
(Roman Campbell x2)
Fisher 2-2 Fleet Town (7-6 pens)
(Kesna Clarke, Lorenzo Duncan)
Reading City 3-1 Snodland Town
(Reggie Rye)
Whitstable Town 3-0 Eastbourne United
(Javaun Splatt, Nathan Jeche, Jayden Boulton)
Sunday 7th December
Faversham Strike Force 1-2 Crawley Down Gatwick
(Khayrie Harris)
Saturday 13th December
Tunbridge Wells 1-3 Windsor & Eton
(Rory Ward)
Punjab United, Fisher and Whitstable Town move into Round Four following wins on Saturday.
Holders Whitstable showed their class in the second half against Eastbourne United, with Javaun Splatt (48′), Nathan Jeche (63′) and Jayden Boulton (70) all on target in a 3-0 win.
Punjab United returned from Burnham as 2-1 winners thanks to an early double from Roman Campbell.
With goals from Kesna Clarke and Lorenzo Duncan, Fisher led 2-0 at home to Fleet Town but two late finishes from Hadif Darwysh took the game to penalties. It was a tense shoot-out but Fisher held their nerve best, coming through 7-6.
Snodland Town exited the competition at the third round stage following a 3-1 loss at Reading City. Reggie Rye had given Snodland the lead but the hosts came back well in the second half to turn the tie.
The round continued on Sunday when Faversham Strike Force welcomed Crawley Down Gatwick to the Belmont. The match went to the Southern Combination side 2-1, leaving us with 4 SCEFL teams in Monday’s Fourth Round Draw.
Combined Counties side Windsor & Eton beat Tunbridge Wells 3-1 in a match that was delayed by a week due to a waterlogged pitch.
SECOND ROUND PROPER
Friday 7th November
Berks County 0-0 (4-3p) Sutton Athletic
Saturday 8th November
Crawley Down Gatwick 3-2 Kennington
(Unknown, Tom Brisley)
Faversham Strike Force 5-0 SE Dons
(Alex Willis x2, Hayden Wood, Harry Taylor, Khayrie Harris)
Fisher 2-1 Balham
(Rafael Garcia, Tom Jones)
Fleet Town 3-1 Corinthian
(Jamie Billings)
Hythe Town 1-1 (3-4p) Burnham
(Steadman Callender)
Infinity 1-2 Whitstable Town
(Joe Healy, Dean Grant)
Punjab United 2-1 Tadley Calleva
(Will Johnson-Cole, Roman Campbell)
Reading City 1-0 Erith & Belvedere
Snodland Town 4-2 Guernsey
(Emmanuel Shoderu, Harry Hudson, James Teodorescu, Nathaniel Olawole)
Tunbridge Wells 4-0 Sheerwater
(Rory Ward, Regan Corke, Christian Lawal, D’Armando Lawrence)
Six SCEFL sides have booked their places in Monday’s FA Vase Third Round draw after another dramatic weekend of cup football.
Friday night saw Sutton Athletic bow out on penalties at Berks County after a goalless 90 minutes. The hosts won 4-3 in the shoot-out, ending Sutton’s Vase run at the Second Round stage.
Saturday’s ties brought plenty of goals — and a few emphatic statements. None more so than at Salters Lane, where Faversham Strike Force thrashed fellow SCEFL side SE Dons 5-0. Alex Willis led the way with a first-half brace, while Hayden Wood, Harry Taylor and Khayrie Harris added the gloss in a ruthless display.
Whitstable Town, the current holders, kept their defence of the trophy alive with a late show at Infinity. Joe Healy opened the scoring, before Dean Grant struck deep into stoppage time to seal a 2-1 win.
There was also a comfortable home victory for Tunbridge Wells, who brushed aside Sheerwater 4-0. Rory Ward, Regan Corke, Christian Lawal and D’Armando Lawrence were all on target as the Wells cruised through.
Fisher continued their strong cup form, coming from behind to beat Balham 2-1 at St Paul’s. Second-half goals from Rafael Garcia and Tom Jones sent them through.
Punjab United held firm to defeat Tadley Calleva 2-1. Will Johnson-Cole and Roman Campbell (pen) scored either side of a Tadley equaliser to take Punjab into Round Three.
And rounding off the SCEFL successes, Snodland Town impressed in a 4-2 win over Guernsey. Emmanuel Shoderu, Harry Hudson, James Teodorescu and Nathaniel Olawole all found the net in a thrilling encounter at Potyns.
Elsewhere, Hythe Town suffered a heartbreaking exit on penalties to Burnham after a 1-1 draw — a match that also proved to be the final one in charge for manager Ira Jackson Jr. Kennington, Corinthian, Erith & Belvedere and Bearsted also fell at this stage.
So, it’s six through — with Whitstable Town, Faversham Strike Force, Tunbridge Wells, Fisher, Punjab United and Snodland Town all flying the SCEFL flag into the Third Round.
FIRST ROUND PROPER
Saturday 18th October
SE Dons 7-3 Bedfont
(Eric De Melo, Aaron Watson x2, Zak Ansah x2, Palace Francis, Joedon Gugas-Cowin)
Bearsted 1-0 Cowes Sports
(Jake Embery)
Punjab United 1-0 Wembley
(Jack Hopkins)
AFC Varndeanians 0-5 Sutton Athletic
(Joel Wakefield x2, Conor Evans, Louis Lovell, Luke Mercer)
Cove 0-2 Snodland Town
(Nathaniel Olawole, Paul Lee)
Berks County 1-0 Phoenix Sports
Faversham Strike Force 2-1 Greenways
(Alex Willis, Kane Taylor – Dan Ashton)
Eastbourne United 4-2 SC Thamesmead
(Abdou Jobe, George Dennis)
Guernsey 3-0 Staplehurst Monarchs
Rusthall 0-1 Tunbridge Wells
(Regan Corke)
Kennington 5-1 Rochester United
(Liam Middleton, Ryan Philpott, Euan Biggleston, Rajan Sahni x2 – Jack Nelson)
Corinthian 7-1 Staines & Lammas
(Tom Mitcham x3, Jack Billings, Jamie Billings)
Hythe Town 1-0 Peacehaven & Telscombe
(Tomi Adegbulugbe)
Fisher 0-0 Steyning Town Community
(Fisher win 3-1 on pens)
Corinthian produced the performance of the day to see off Staines & Lamas 7-1. There were hat-tricks for both Tom Mitcham and Jack Billings as the hosts stormed to a 5-1 half-time lead, with Jamie Billings having opened the scoring inside ten minutes.
At The Belmont, a stoppage-time strike from Kane Taylor sent Faversham Strike Force through with a 2-1 win over lower-league Greenways. Dan Ashton had given the visitors a first-half lead, but Alex Willis levelled on 73 minutes before Taylor’s late winner avoided the need for penalties.
There was late drama at Reachfields too, where Tomi Adegbulugbe netted the only goal with three minutes left to seal victory for Hythe Town over Peacehaven & Telscombe.
Snodland Town advanced with a 2-0 win at Cove, thanks to goals from Nathaniel Olawole and substitute Paul Lee.
Kennington produced a five-star performance to brush aside lower-league Rochester United. Liam Middleton and Ryan Philpott put them in control before the prolific Jack Nelson pulled one back, but strikes from Euan Biggleston and a Rajan Sahni brace sealed Kennington’s passage into Monday’s draw.
Jack Hopkins struck the decisive goal as Punjab United edged out Wembley, while a Regan Corke goal settled the derby at Jockey Farm, where Tunbridge Wells beat hosts Rusthall 1-0.
After a goalless draw, Fisher held their nerve to win 3-1 on penalties against Steyning Town, but Staplehurst Monarchs bowed out after a 3-0 defeat at Guernsey.
Despite second-half goals from Abdou Jobe and George Dennis, SC Thamesmead were beaten 4-2 at Eastbourne United.
Elsewhere, Sutton Athletic cruised to a 5-0 win at AFC Varndeanians with a double from Joel Wakefield and further goals from Conor Evans, Louis Lovell, and Luke Mercer, while Bearsted’s Jake Embery held his nerve from the spot deep into stoppage time to snatch a 1-0 victory over Cowes Sports.
In the late kick-offs, Phoenix Sports lost at Berks County, while SE Dons breezed past Bedfont in a highly entertaining 10-goal game where Aaron Watson and Zak Ansah each scored twice, with Joedon Gugas-Cowin, Eric De Melo and Palace Francis also chipping in.
Whitstable Town and Erith & Belvedere enter the competition at the Second Round Proper stage for which the draw will take palce on Monday lunchtime.
SECOND ROUND QUALIFYING
Saturday 20th September
(Matches are clickable)
AFC Varndeanians 2-2 Lydd Town
(Varndeanians win 5-4 on pens)
(Charlie Gill, Tyler Sterling)
Bearsted 2-2 Tooting Bec
(Bearsted win 4-3 on pens)
(Michael Hagan, Jake Embery – Buruk Tedros, Ed Mbango)
Camberley Town 1-1 SC Thamesmead
(Thamesmead win 4-2 on pens)
(Wale Odedoyin)
Corinthian 3-0 Reigate Priory
(Gurpreet Benning, James Billings, Tom Mitcham)
Eastbourne United 2-0 Halls Athletic
Fisher 4-1 Sutton Common Rovers
(Festos Kamara x4)
Greenways 3-2 Chipstead
(Steve Karkari, Timmy Babington, Simon Walton)
Hollands & Blair 0-5 SE Dons
(Aaron Watson x2, Zak Ansah, Joedon Gugas-Cowin, Temi Alaka)
Holmesdale 1-2 Rochester United
(Malachi Hudson – Tom Loynes, Mack Reilly)
Horsham YMCA 0-1 Snodland Town
(Nathaniel Olawole)
Hythe Town 4-3 Athletic Newham
(Richie Keil x2, Armani-Jordan Martin, Ikye Dalton)
Kennington 4-1 FC Elmstead
(Charlie Owen, Tom Scorer, Ryan Philpott x2 – Jamie Fearn)
Molesey 2-0 Chessington & Hook United
Newhaven 1-3 Faversham Strike Force
(Harry Taylor, Khayrie Harris, Jack Smith)
Phoenix Sports 4-1 Sporting Bengal United
(Harry Smart x2, Lyle Della-Verde, Kristian Campbell)
Punjab United 3-1 Wick
(Own Goal, Jack Hopkins, Wayne Bushell)
Rusthall 4-1 Seaford Town
(Josh Reid, Charlie Clover x2, Jack Low)
Soul Tower Hamlets 2-0 Bridon Ropes
Staplehurst Monarchs 2-0 Shoreham
(Toby Sargeant, Oliver Lankshear)
Sutton Athletic 2-1 Corinthian Casuals
(Namory Kane, Taylor Fisher)
16 SCEFL clubs made it safely through Saturday’s 22 FA Vase ties, marking an excellent day for the league.
Four all-SCEFL clashes were settled in favour of Bearsted, SE Dons, Rochester United and Kennington, with the Dons pulling off a stunning 5-0 victory at Hollands & Blair.
Elsewhere, Taylor Fisher struck late to fire Sutton Athletic past Corinthian Casuals, while Richie Keil’s winner earned Hythe Town victory over Athletic Newham.
There were emphatic home wins for Rusthall, Phoenix Sports and Fisher, all by 4-1 scorelines, with Corinthian cruising to a 3-0 success and Staplehurst Monarchs claiming a 2-0 triumph over Shoreham.
Greenways built a strong first half to edge Chipstead 3-2, Faversham Strike Force won 3-1 away at Newhaven, and Snodland Town progressed courtesy of a Nathaniel Olawole strike against Horsham YMCA.
Punjab United also advanced, beating Wick 3-1, while SC Thamesmead held their nerve from the spot to oust Camberley Town on penalties.
Whitstable Town and Erith & Belvedere enter the competition at the Second Round Proper stage, with Tunbridge Wells coming in at the First Round Proper – the draw for which takes place Tuesday afternoon.
FIRST ROUND QUALIFYING
Saturday 23rd August
Chislehurst Glebe 1-3 Faversham Strike Force
(Rolex Buiti – Tom Carter, Cian McCormack, Khayrie Harris)
Corinthian 2-0 Horley Town
(Tobi Johnson, Tom Mitcham)
Hollands & Blair 3-0 Lordswood
(Ian Draycott, Joe Thomas, Vincent Bowman)
Larkfield & New Hythe 0-2 Peacehaven & Telscombe
Mile Oak 0-0 Lewisham Borough
(Lewisham win 5-4 on pens)
Oakwood 0-2 Punjab United
(Roman Campbell, Ethan Okechukwu)
Phoenix Sports 3-0 Lancing
(Will Efambe, Jerson Dos Santos, Harry Smart)
Redhill 0-1 Fisher
(Don Macauley)
Rochester United 1-1 Colliers Wood United
(Rochester win 6-5 on pens)
(Luis Dos Santos)
Saltdean United 1-5 FC Elmstead
(Luke Alliband, Jamie Fearn x2, Jack Hyslop, Daniel Kommu)
Sheerwater 6-1 Banstead Athletic
(Luke Gormley)
Soul Tower Hamlets 4-0 Sheppey Sports
Worthing United 0-2 Tooting Bec
(Ed Mbango x2)
Sunday 24th August
Stansfeld 1-2 Rusthall
(Adam Wallis – Jack Kirby, Charlie Clover)
It was a strong day for SCEFL clubs in the FA Vase, with 10 of our sides progressing from the 14 games with each keeping alive their dream of emulating last season’s run from Whitstable Town.
In the all-SCEFL clashes, Faversham Strike Force hit back from a goal down to defeat Glebe 3-1, with Tom Carter, Cian McCormack and Khayrie Harris on target after Rolex Buiti’s opener for the Foxes. Hollands & Blair also advanced in style, sweeping aside Lordswood 3-0 thanks to Ian Draycott, Joe Thomas and Vincent Bowman.
There were efficient 2-0 victories for Corinthian, Tooting Bec and Punjab United. Tobi Johnson and Tom Mitcham struck for Corinthian against Horley Town; Ed Mbango netted twice to send Tooting through at Worthing United; and Roman Campbell and Ethan Okechukwu sealed Punjab’s win at Oakwood.
The day’s biggest win came from FC Elmstead, who stormed to a 5-1 triumph at Saltdean United. Jamie Fearn bagged a brace, with Luke Alliband, Jack Hyslop and Daniel Kommu also on the scoresheet.
Two ties went all the way to penalties. Lewisham Borough edged out Mile Oak 5-4 after a goalless draw, while Rochester United held their nerve to beat Colliers Wood United 6-5 in a shootout.
Elsewhere, Phoenix Sports saw off Lancing 3-0 with goals from Will Efambe, Jerson Dos Santos and Harry Smart, while Fisher booked their place with Don Macauley’s strike at Redhill.
The round concluded on Sunday when Stansfeld hosted Rusthall beat Stansfeld 2-1 at the Artic Stadium – with all 3 goals coming in a frantic 5 minutes in the second half. Jack Kirby put Rusthall ahead, Adam Wallis then quickly responded before Charlie Clover put Rusthall into the next round, where they will host Seaford Town.
There were Byes for Whitstable Town, Erith & Belvedere, Tunbridge Wells, Chessington & Hook, Halls, Staplehurst Monarchs, Hythe, Croydon, Holmesdale, Sutton Athletic, Bearsted, Kennington, SC Thamesmead, Snodland Town, Greenways, Lydd, Bridon Ropes and SE Dons.
FA Vase Dates
First Round Qualifying – Sat 23 August 2025
Second Round Qualifying – Sat 20 September 2025
First Round Proper – Sat 18 October 2025
Second Round Proper – Sat 8 November 2025
Third Round Proper – Sat 6 December 2025
Fourth Round Proper – Sat 17 January 2026
Fifth Round Proper – Sat 7 February 2026
Sixth Round Proper – Sat 28 February 2026
Semi Final 1st Leg – Sat 28 March 2026
Semi Final 2nd Leg – Sat 4 April 2026
Final – Sat 10 or Sun 17 May 2026