Canterbury City step aside from league action this Saturday and turn their attention to the Isuzu FA Vase with a Second Qualifying Round tie against Corinthian FC at Hartsdown Park.
Corinthian currently sit second in the SCEFL Premier Division having won five and drawn two of their eight games so far. Two of those victories have come against fellow top five sides Faversham Town and Erith Town, while their only defeat was away at Glebe who are currently heading the table albeit by just a point but who themselves remain unbeaten in the league so far this season.
Couple all that with the fact that Corinthian have just spent two seasons in the Isthmian East Division and only got relegated back to the SCEFL last term, it has all the hallmarks of a very tough fixture for City.
But it is a cup tie, and cup ties are often great levellers and throw up unexpected results and surprises and City and Corinthian both have FA Vase history – twice meeting recently in the competition with the winners on both occasions eventually making the semi-final before both falling just one step short of a Wembley final!
The first of those was in the early stages of City’s memorable and inspiring Vase run of 2018-19 when despite trailing by two goals and down to ten men, strikes from James Turner and Jordan Casey dragged the tie into extra-time before Rob Lawrence wrote himself into City folklore with a brace either side of the hundred and twentieth minute mark to give City the tie 4-2.
Unfortunately for City, when the two sides met at the same stage the following season, their much changed side were well beaten by Corinthian 0-2 ending City’s new Vase dream before it had barely started!
After a mixed start to their league season, City will be looking to get a decent Cup (or Vase) run going so please get down to Hartsdown on Saturday and give the team some support…
Canterbury City vs Corinthian FC in the FA Vase will be played at Hartsdown Park on Saturday 23rd September with a 3pm kick-off.