FA Trophy · Third Qualifying Round
Saturday 26 September, kickoff 15:00
Correction — 26 September 2026: An earlier version of this preview, published on 24 September, described this match as the FA Trophy final. It was a third qualifying round tie. The round was mislabelled in the data feed used to compile the preview. The preview has been amended. The error is recorded on our Corrections page.
Ramsgate travel to Leatherhead on Saturday 26 September for an FA Trophy third qualifying round tie, with kick-off scheduled for 15:00 BST. The winners will go into the draw for the first round proper, which is scheduled for Saturday 24 October, and B. Smith’s side will be looking to end a run of defeats against the Surrey club.
The form guide
With no recent form data available for either side, it is difficult to draw firm conclusions from form alone, and the two sides go into Saturday’s tie on something of an equal footing in that regard.
The head-to-head record
| Date | Competition | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Oct 2025 | FA Trophy | Leatherhead | 4-1 | Ramsgate |
| 8 Aug 2026 | Non League Premier – Isthmian | Ramsgate | 1-2 | Leatherhead |
The recent history between these two sides favours Leatherhead. The clubs have met twice in the meetings listed, and Leatherhead won both: 2-1 at Ramsgate in August 2026, and 4-1 at home in the FA Trophy in October 2025. That record gives Leatherhead a psychological edge, and Ramsgate will need to break a pattern that has not gone in their favour.
The men in the dugout
Leatherhead
RamsgateIn the Ramsgate dugout, B. Smith will be preparing his side for the challenge of facing a Leatherhead side that has proved difficult to overcome in recent meetings. Leatherhead’s manager was not confirmed in the data available ahead of the fixture.
Players to watch
With no standout individual scorers identified from either side’s recent data, Saturday’s tie may well be decided by collective effort and team shape rather than a single individual. Ramsgate supporters will be hoping someone in B. Smith’s squad can produce a defining moment, whether from a set piece or a well-worked move.
The prediction
Bookmaker advice: Double chance : Leatherhead or draw
The data paints a cautious picture for Ramsgate. The head-to-head record favours Leatherhead, and the prediction engine points to a home win or a draw as the most likely outcome. Knockout ties can be difficult to predict, however, and Ramsgate should not be written off. A narrow Leatherhead win or a closely contested draw appears the most probable outcome.
Preview data via api-football. Form, head-to-head, standings, manager and prediction figures sourced live at the time of compilation; squad and team-news availability subject to last-minute change.