Witham Town to face Brentwood Town in FA Trophy first qualifying round

Victory over last season’s Division One North beaten play-off finalists would earn Witham a prize cheque of £1,500 and the prospect of another derby clash with Maldon & Tiptree two weeks later if the Jammers win their home tie with Ware.

Witham player-manager Chris Taylor knows his side will need to avenge the 4-0 home defeat by Brentwood in last season’s North Division clash.

Taylor was encouraged by last Saturday’s 4-1 friendly win at Ipswich club Whitton United and hopes for similar results at Buckhurst Hill in midweek and at Halstead Town on Saturday (3pm).

Witham will travel to London Colney in the FA Cup extra preliminary round on August 6 (3pm) with the winners banking a £1,125 cheque and booking an away tie at Brantham or Basildon United.

Another derby clash will see Witham travel to Heybridge Swifts in this season’s Essex FA Tolleshunt D’Arcy Memorial Cup quarter-finals.

Victory at the Aspen Waite Arena would give Witham home advantage in the D’Arcy semi-finals and that could mean an attractive visit from Chelmsford City in the New Year if the Clarets overcome Stansted in the quarters.

In the bottom half of the D’Arcy draw, Little Oakley or Wivenhoe Town will play Halstead or Saffron Walden with all quarter-final ties to be played by December 25.

Monday night’s club annual meeting was called off just minutes before it was due to take place because of a power failure in the clubhouse.

A new date will be set as soon as possible but the club’s friendly at home to Hackney Wick is set for the Simarco Stadium on Saturday week (3pm) with all profits going to MacMillan Cancer Support.

Town’s Under-18s will be competing in the FA Youth Cup and the Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties this season.

Witham have been drawn at home to Potters Bar Town or Aveley in the FA competition.

Trials will be held at Rickstones Academy next Wednesday (6pm) and interested players can contact coach Ryan Oates on 07464 937010.