FA Cup · 2nd Round Qualifying
Saturday 19 September, kickoff 15:00
Chatham Town will look to continue their FA Cup adventure when they travel to face Slough Town in the Second Round Qualifying on Saturday 19 September, with a 3pm kickoff. A place in the next round of the world’s oldest cup competition is on the line, and manager K. Hake will be hoping his side can produce a performance to match the occasion and keep their Wembley dream — however distant — very much alive.
The form guide
Chatham Town head into this tie in confident mood, having recorded a win in their most recent outing to give them a 100% form rating heading into the weekend. The Chats have shown defensive solidity in that result, keeping a clean sheet to post a perfect defensive rating, and will draw encouragement from the fact that they arrive at this fixture with momentum behind them. It is, however, worth noting that their attacking output has been modest, with an attack rating of just 27%, meaning Hake’s side may need to be at their clinical best if chances are to be converted against a Slough side on home turf.
Slough Town, by contrast, arrive at this fixture with no recorded competitive results in the recent data window, making it difficult to assess their current rhythm and sharpness. That uncertainty cuts both ways — Chatham cannot be sure what to expect from their hosts, but equally, Slough will be heading into the tie without the benefit of recent competitive match sharpness to draw upon. It is a curious situation, and one that could make the opening exchanges particularly telling as both sides find their footing.
The head-to-head record
| Date | Competition | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Sept 2024 | FA Cup | Chatham Town | 0-3 | Slough Town |
| 16 Nov 2024 | FA Trophy | Slough Town | 1-1 | Chatham Town |
| 4 Jul 2026 | Friendlies Clubs | Chatham Town | 2-2 | Slough Town |
The recent history between these two clubs makes for intriguing reading. The sides have met three times in recent memory, and the results suggest a closely contested rivalry. Slough Town claimed the most emphatic victory in the sequence, winning 3-0 at Chatham’s ground in September 2024, before the two sides played out a 1-1 draw at Slough the following November. The most recent meeting, in July 2026, ended 2-2 at Chatham, suggesting that neither side has been able to establish lasting dominance over the other. The head-to-head data gives Slough a slight edge at 71% to Chatham’s 29%, reflecting that home win in 2024 as the standout result of the series. Chatham will need to buck that trend if they are to progress.
The men in the dugout
Slough Town
Chatham TownSlough Town are guided by S. Davies, who will be looking to use home advantage to steer his side into the next round. With limited recent form data available, Davies will need to ensure his squad is well-prepared and sharp from the first whistle. For Chatham Town, K. Hake takes charge of a side that has shown encouraging signs in their most recent match. Hake will be tasked with setting up his team to be defensively resolute — as they have been — while finding a way to unlock a greater attacking threat than their recent rating suggests.
Players to watch
With no standout individual scorers identified from either side heading into this fixture, the match may well be decided by collective effort and tactical discipline rather than individual brilliance. For Chatham, the players who contributed to their recent clean sheet will be key, as defensive organisation is likely to be central to any positive result. In the absence of a recognised goal threat from the data available, set pieces and moments of individual quality could prove decisive in what promises to be a tight, competitive cup tie.
The prediction
Bookmaker advice: Combo Double chance : Slough Town or draw and +1.5 goals
The prediction engine points toward a cautious outlook, with Slough holding a 50% home win probability and the draw rated equally at 50% — leaving Chatham with no statistical expectation of a victory based on the available data. The head-to-head record leans toward Slough, and home advantage is a factor that should not be underestimated at this level. The recommended combination of a Slough win or draw alongside over 1.5 goals suggests an open enough game, even if Chatham’s defensive record hints they may make life difficult. On balance, a draw or narrow Slough win looks the most likely outcome, though Chatham’s recent form and determination to progress in the cup means this tie is far from a foregone conclusion.
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.