- Team odds: Aldershot Town FC are 1.16 favorites for a home win against their FA Cup qualification opponents.
- Tadley position: Tadley Calleva are 11th in the Cherry Red Records Combined Counties Premier Division South with 16 points from 9 league games (+8 goal difference).
- Aldershot position: Aldershot Town are 12th in the National League with 18 points from 13 games.
Aldershot are the likelier winners
All things being equal, the level of football played by Aldershot Town and Tadley Calleva should tell over 90 minutes on Saturday with the National League outfit favoured to record a comfortable cup win.
The Shots have been average so far this season with an inconsistent start to the new season (L-L-W-L-L) leaving them 12th in the 5th division standings.
But last week's 5-1 National League Cup victory over Tamworth, in which Marcus Dinanga hit a hat-trick, was a reminder of what Aldershot are capable of when they play with a cup-like intensity.
The Romans are in good shape
Recent form
Tadley arrive in strong shape for this and will be full of confidence after posting W-W-D-W-W competitive results. The Romans' biggest scalp to date has been Dartford, whom they beat 2-1 in the FA Cup third qualifying round – a real giant-killing act that has put them firmly on the map.
The FA Cup has been a great boost to Tadley's season, which has seen them sit 11th in the Combined Counties. Joe Lawner has drilled the underdogs into a well-organised, set piece-heavy side who like to frustrate and can strike on the counter.
Key players
Charlie Barlow is a game-changing impact substitute for the visitors, as he proved against Dartford when his equaliser set up a 2-1 victory. But Tadley's winner was scored by Brad Passfield and Donnacha Burke has been a colossus between the sticks, so those are the names to watch out for.
Tadley could make it tricky for The Shots
This clash has the feel of a control versus chaos matchup about it with Aldershot looking to control the game with possession and Tadley likely to sit deep and look for second balls and free-kick opportunities.
- Just one senior head-to-head is listed for these clubs – Tadley Calleva 1-6 Aldershot Town, 4th February 2025 (county/cup) – so the rivalry is very much in its infancy, but this fixture could be a regular one for years to come.
- We think Aldershot are the likely winners here and that the gap in levels should tell over the 90 minutes, with a home victory our only selection.
- Tristan Abrahams' pacey runs off the ball and end-product should make life difficult for the Tadley defence on Saturday.
