Match Preview

On Saturday 31st August 2019, Fleet Spurs visit Cove Football Club in the first round qualifying of the Buildbase FA Vase. This is the second meeting in successive years with Fleet running out winners exactly 12 months ago with a 0-2 victory after goals from Jonny Gosnell and Karl Dallaway. There is a total prize fund of £825 for this game and both teams will be aiming to win to take away the lion's share.

Indeed, season 2018/19 saw Fleet and Cove compete regularly in both league and cup competitions with Fleet winning both cup ties and each of the two league matches being won by the respective home teams. Current Director of Football and former first-team manager, James Simms said "Last season's rivalry with Cove was a feature of our season. Both teams struggled in the league last season and we kept drawing one another in cup matches." Simms continued "My last competitive visit to Cove was a real low point of our season last year. We lost 3-2 and, at that time, relegation from the league looked a real possibility." However, a great end to the season meant that Fleet were not relegated and, with a stay of execution provided by the FA league allocations, Cove FC likewise remained in the Combined Counties Div 1. But, on Saturday, the league campaigns will take a back seat as both sides strive for a cup win and much needed FA cash bonus for progression.

Joint First Team Manager Adrian Wilson said "Saturday will be an exciting fixture. We will visit Cove not only looking for the win but looking to score goals after a frustrating blank at the Springfield Stadium v Jersey Bulls on Sunday." Wilson went on "We need to get back into the swing of scoring and winning and that will be our aim on Saturday."

Both Cove and Fleet suffered losses in their last league outings. In the case of Fleet, the visit to Jersey was a bridge too far for a team still establishing its playing identity. Joint First Team Manager Alan Reed said "The Jersey game taught us a lot about where we are and how we must improve. It was a valuable lesson and we will look to apply it against Cove."

Squad from:

Mark Appleby, Mike Cadle, Liam Jupp, Doug Noble, Rob Parrott, Naman Nasir, Max Billingham, Jamil Saleh, Jamil Olweny, Vic Mudonhi, Jack Church, James Scott, Adam Bellmaine, Jacob Bellmaine, Ivan Nsimbi, Andre Smith, Jack Billingham, Louis Lindsay, Kye Buckley and Matt Hayler