First Team
FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round Sat 19 October N/A
Bowers & Pitsea
  • Cornhill (90')
1
Chichester City
  • Axell (16')
  • Haitham (23')
2
1-2

The prize for the winners will be a place in the first round proper for the first time in either club’s history, along with the £18,750 windfall from the FA.

Chi’s FA Cup journey started way back on August 10th with the extra preliminary round win over Erith Town and they are the only club left standing that entered at that stage.

It’s been widely reported that City have played as many games in the competition that a Premier League club would have in order to win the trophy this season.

Having been promoted to step 3 just last season Bowers only entered the competition one round later making hard work of overcoming step 6 Barkingside; two late goals eventually securing a 4-2 win.

They fell behind early on at home to Brentwood Town in the following round but recovered to win 2-1 before an impressive 2-1 away win at fellow Isthmian League Premier Division side Lewes.

While Chi were overcoming Enfield Town in the last round Bowers were having a titanic battle with local rivals Canvey Island, eventually progressing on penalties after two 1-1 draws.

Bowers & Pitsea play their home games at the Len Salmon Stadium in Pitsea, roughly 100 miles North East of Chichester in Essex.

The ground features an artificial 3G playing surface installed just last year. Chi’s last outing on a similar surface was the 1-0 defeat to Bognor Regis Town in the Sussex Community Shield played at Sussex County FA Headquarters in August.

They had a formidable home record last season as they stormed to the Isthmian League North Division title, winning 15 of 19 games at the Len Salmon Stadium, losing just once.

Bowers have an average attendance of 255 in the three home ties they’ve played in the competition so far, however the replay with rivals Canvey Island in the last round attracted a significantly higher crowd of 452 than the previous two (156 and 158).

Chi will have to be aware of forward Bradley Warner who has scored six times this season, three of which have come in the FA Cup, including both their goals in the two games of the last round.

Chichester boss Miles Rutherford will be without Callum Overton who suffered a setback in his recovery from a knee injury in the recent win over Three Bridges, the forward could be sidelined for several weeks.

Jimmy Wild may be on hand to replace him in the squad having been missing in recent weeks following an operation to have his tonsils removed.

Other than that Rutherford has a fully fit squad to choose from with full-back Ryan Davidson back available having missed Saturday’s FA Trophy defeat at Barton Rovers.

The match will kick-off at 3pm at the Len Salmon Stadium with admission prices confirmed as £12 for adults, £6 for concessions, £3 for children (aged 12-16), while under-12’s go free with a paying adult.

A roundup of travel information is available here.