Sam's Section: City & Cleeve look to keep up good form and history awaits for Hartpury

A huge weekend of football awaits Gloucestershire based teams this weekend with promotion battles commencing and a historic cup run continues.

This week I will be highlighting Hartpury University’s historic FA Vase quarter-final matchup along with Gloucester City and Bishops Cleeve’s promotion bouts.

Hartpury University v Erith & Belvedere (FA Vase Quarter-Final, 4ED Hartpury Stadium, Saturday March 1^st, kick off 3pm)

So, let’s start at the 4ED Hartpury Stadium where Hartpury University play their first ever FA Vase quarter-final as they face London based side, Erith & Belvedere.

Hartpury took a huge step to clinching the Hellenic League Premier title with a 5-1 win over play-off chasing Pershore Town, but attention will be firmly continuing their run to Wembley.

Hartpury are yet to concede in the Vase so far this campaign winning their previous four rounds 1-0 against the likes of VCD Athletic, Farnham Town, Wells City and East Cowes Victoria.

The Hellenic leaders reached this stage with a last gasp winner from Renato Prifti away in south-east London.

Erith & Belvedere have needed penalties to advance in four of their five Vase ties however so might be put right to the test against Martin Longworth’s side.

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Gloucester City v Walton & Hersham (Southern League Premier South, TigerTurf Stadium, Saturday March 1^st, kick off 3pm)

It’s a third v fourth in the Southern League Premier South as Gloucester City host Walton & Hersham as the Tigers look to level points up with second placed, AFC Totton.

Totton face leaders Merthyr Town on Saturday so Gloucester will be hoping to reap the rewards on any slip ups.

Gloucester are currently enjoying a 12 league game unbeaten streak which dates back to Boxing Day.

Walton & Hersham themselves are also enjoying a 10 game unbeaten run in all competitions which makes this matchup one to watch across the county this weekend.

Mousehole v Bishops Cleeve (Southern League Div One South, Interiora Parc, Saturday March 1^st, kick off 3pm)

Probably the longest journey in Bishops Cleeve’s season is this 462-mile round trip to the south-west coast to face Mousehole.

It’s fourth (Mousehole) versus fifth (Cleeve) with three points separating the two sides heading into the clash.

Cleeve could leapfrog Mousehole into fourth with a win and strengthen position for a play-off position come the end of the season.

Mousehole head into the game standing as the league’s second highest scorers (65) but are coming up against the joint best defence in league (24) in Cleeve.

And Cleeve boast an impressive record away from home this season winning all of their last six on the road, a run dating back to early November.

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Cover photo taken and copyright Jamie Brain Photography. Visit his Instagram @jamiebrain_photography