Wantage Town are back in FA Cup action this coming Saturday 13th September when they travel to Flackwell Heath of the Hellenic League Premier Division - 3pm kick off in the First Qualifying Round.

Once again under boss Graham Malcolm the Heathens are a force to be reckoned with in their division and have started their campaign very brightly and sit 3rd in the table but with a game in hand on leaders Highmoor Ibis.

To reach this stage Flackwell defeated Bracknell Town at home 4-0 and North Leigh 2-1 away and as those results show they will be no pushovers in spite of being from a lower division. They did lost on Wednesday night in the Floodlit Cup 3-1 to Brackley Development but put out a weakened side. Key man for the hosts is Dan Rapley with 8 goals in 8 games already this season - the Freds will have to watch out for the pact forward. Gavin James has also hit 4 in just 5 starts and is also one to watch.

Last season the three sides met on three occasions strangely all in the space of nine days in April. Wantage won in the home league game 1-0 before losing the away match on the Saturday also by 1 goal. Then on the following Thursday Wantage won the away Floodlit Cup match 3-0 with Richie Guy grabbing one of the goals.

It is interesting to note that 4 of the first 8 games this season for the Freds have been against teams who currently sit in the top 5 and in the majority of these games the side has more than held its own before being undone by lapses in concentration and quality finishes from some very strong opposition. With some squad strengthening in some key areas to bring competition and depth to the squad it looks very much like the side can kick on for the rest of the season.

Team news for the Freds is that Jimmy Deabill, Richie Guy and Brad Shaw return to the squad having missed the midweek trip to Stratford through work and injury. Loanee Lee Henderson has not been given permission to play in the FA Cup by his parent club Oxford City so misses out along with Karl Roberts who begins a 3 match suspension for his red card in the last round. Johnny Haist is also in the squad having made an impressive debut on Tuesday night. However centre back Jack Smith has joined from Conference side Eastleigh on loan again and is named in the squad.

Squad from - Farrow Tucker Sadler Steedman Smith Cattell Lachacz Melledew Johns Riccio Barder Guy Deabill Shaw Haist Allmond and Pearce

The match takes place at the lovely Wilks Park Ground, Magpie Lane, Heath End Road, Flackwell Heath HP10 9EA.

Directions - Junction 4 of M40 - Follow signs A404 (High Wycombe) - Turn right at traffic lights halfway down Marlow Hill, signposted Flackwell Heath. Ground is 3 miles on left. Tel No - 01628 523892

Be great to see a load of you down there for this massive Cup tie.

COME ON YOU FREDS!

** The Reserves are not in action this weekend **

OTHER WEEKEND FIXTURES

FA CUP 1st Qual Round

AFC Totton v Swindon Supermarine
Abingdon Utd v Milton Utd
Bishops Cleeve v Banbury
Bodmin Town v Bridgwater Town
Evesham Utd v Redditch Utd
Frome Town v Wimborne
Knaphill v Fleet Town
Mangotsfield Utd v Weymouth
Paulton Rovers v Taunton Town
Sholing v Chippenham Town
Shortwood v Cirencester Town
Tiverton v Bideford
Truro v Larkhall
Yate v Dorchester

SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTH WEST

North Leigh v Stratford

DIV 1 WEST

Cirencester Dev v New College
Fairford v North Leigh Utd
Longlevens v Carterton
Lydney v Purton
Tuffley v Clanfield
Tytherington Rocks v Shortwood Res