Full Matchday Preview - 7th Nov 2014 (FA Cup preview)

The FA Cup First Round Proper begins this weekend, with three of our teams in cup action. Last night saw Warrington, of the eighth tier, beat Exeter City 1-0, proving anything can happen in the competition. Due to the FA Cup in town, we also preview East Thurrock's game at Hartlepool and Concord's match at Mansfield.

Ipswich v Watford
Ipswich look to build on their midweek win as they host Watford in the Skybet Championship on Saturday.

Mick McCarthy's Ipswich beat his former side Wolves 2-1 on Tuesday, and will look to climb higher in the table if they can beat the Hornets.

Dean Gerkin and Cole Skuse will both be out due to respective injuries and Luke Hyam is suspended, but Johnny Parr, Johnny Williams and Teddy Bishop are available for Town.

Ipswich go into the match in fifth, while promotion-searching Watford, who lost 2-1 to Birmingham in midweek, start in third, two points behind Town. Ipswich have only lost one game in their past twelve matches.

Southend v Chester
Saturday - 3pm - FA Cup First Round Proper - Roots Hall

Southend begin their FA Cup campaign for the 2014-15 season, as they host Conference side Chester at Roots Hall on Saturday.

The Blues reached the fourth proper round last season, after seeing off Morecambe, Chesterfield, Millwall (third round, 4-0) before they lost to Hull (fourth round, 0-2).

Defender Jakub Sokolik and Jerome Binnom-Williams are both available for Phil Brown's side, with David Worrall expected to be assessed prior to tomorrow's game.

14th placed Chester, of the Vanarama Conference, overcame Southport 4-2 in the fourth qualifying round to meet the Shrimpers. Chester lost 3-2 at Eastleigh last weekend, while United beat Mansfield 2-1.

Steve Burr's Chester, who formed four years ago after the wind-up of Chester City, are nicknamed the Blues and the Seals. They play their home games at the Deva Stadium.

Hartlepool v East Thurrock Utd
Saturday - 3pm - FA Cup First Round Proper - Victoria Park

Ryman Premier side East Thurrock United will travel to Hartlepool United in the first round of the FA Cup on Saturday.

The Essex side are one of the lowest ranked sides remaining in the FA Cup, when they travel to the Football League side.

11-goal striker Sam Higgins, and Connor Witherspoon, will both be assessed prior to the trip, while Emmanuel Osei will be out with a ruptured Achilles.

East Thurrock are currently 13th in the Ryman Premier table, and beat AFC Hornchurch, Metropolitan Police, Tooting and Mitcham, and Bath City to reach this stage. Hartlepool enter the cup in this round.

The Rocks have hired out a West Ham United players bus, to give the players a feel of professional footballers.

The Rocks play at Rookery Hill, and are managed by John Coventry. They wear an amber and black kit. Their opponents, nicknamed the Pools, are managed by Paul Murray, and play at Victoria Park.

Mansfield Town v Concord Rangers
Saturday - 3pm - FA Cup First Round Proper - One Call Stadium

Concord Rangers will play their first ever First Round Proper match of the FA Cup on Saturday, when they visit League Two side Mansfield Town.

Goalkeeper Josh Vickers, who joined the Beach Boys on loan from Arsenal this week, and will be available for the tie. Striker Lewis Taaffe is suspended and will miss the meeting.

Concord are currently in the Vanarama Conference South, and sit 11th, and reached this stage by beating Wealdstone, Winchester and St Albans. Paul Cox's side, who were a non-league club two seasons ago, enter the competition at this stage.

Rangers beat Weston-Super-Mare last Saturday by 2 goals to nil, while Mansfield lost 2-1 to Southend in their last outing.

The Stags play at the Field Mill, and wear an all-orange home kit.

Braintree v Chesterfield
Sunday - 2pm - FA Cup First Round Proper - Amlin Stadium

Braintree will look to complete an FA Cup upset on Sunday when they host League One side Chesterfield at the Amlin Stadium.

The Iron fell to a 1-0 defeat at home to Grimsby Town on Tuesday, but will look to field a strong side against their Derbyshire opponents. Chesterfield drew 0-0 at home to Yeovil last Saturday.

15th placed Braintree go into the match after beating Weymouth 5-3 in a fourth qualifying round replay after a 0-0 away draw, while Paul Cook's Chesterfield enter the competition in this round.

The Spireites play at the Proact Stadium, and sport a blue and white kit. Braintree, nicknamed the Iron, play their home games at the Amlin Stadium, and wear an orange and white home kit.

Gosport Borough v Colchester
Sunday - 2pm - FA Cup First Round Proper -

Colchester United are looking to avoid an FA Cup upset, when they travel to Vanarama Conference South side Gosport Borough in the first proper FA Cup round on Sunday (2pm).

The Boro currently sit 10th in the South table, and beat Williand Town, Larkhall Athletic and Maidenhead United in the run-up. League One side Colchester start the competition in this round.

Borough beat Farnborough 4-1 in their last fixture, while the U's lost 2-1 to Port Vale.

George Moncur has been given permission by parent club West Ham to play in the tie.

Kemar Roofe, who recently joined the Weston Homes club, is also available for the trip to the south, while Rhys Healey will be cup tied.