Leatherhead vs Croydon Athletic

FA Cup · Sep 5, 2026 · 14:00

Match preview

The FA Cup provides its usual early-round drama this Saturday as Leatherhead host Croydon Athletic on September 5, 2026. Leatherhead enter the tie with a balanced start to their season, recording one win, one draw, and one loss in their opening three fixtures, scoring five while conceding three. Their recent form mirrors this, indicating a side still finding consistent rhythm.

Croydon Athletic, despite playing one less game, boast a slightly better win rate at 50%, with one win and one loss from two matches. They’ve found the net four times but have been more porous at the back, shipping five goals. This suggests their matches tend to be more open affairs. The key narrative for this encounter will revolve around Leatherhead's solid defensive base against Croydon's more adventurous, yet potentially vulnerable, approach. Watch for Leatherhead’s ability to exploit any defensive lapses from the visitors, while Croydon will aim to test the Tanners’ backline with their attacking intent. The first goal could prove crucial in what is expected to be a tightly contested cup clash.