FA VASE AND ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE: Hullbridge Sports get their long-awaited FA Vase campaign under way in style tomorrow.

Sports host AFC Rushden & Diamonds in the Second Round of the competition, with a big crowd expected at Lower Road for the hotly anticipated clash.

Hundreds of visiting fans are expected for the clash, with the Northamptonshire based club averaging more than 530 for home matches this season.

The only remaining Essex Senior League side in the competition, Sports have a bye to this stage of the competition after they reached the fourth round last term.

The visitors were formed as a community club after Rushden & Diamonds went out of business in 2010/11 and has been run effectively by a supporters trust ever since.

They are currently sitting pretty at the top of the United Counties League Premier Division but Mark Bliss says Sports are confident of causing an upset.

“Nobody expected us to get as far as we did last season,” he said. “A club like AFC Rushden & Diamonds won’t relish coming here.”

“We would have liked to have given Rob Hodgson 60 minutes against Bowers last Tuesday, but with that game being off due to a waterlogged pitch, it wasn’t possible.”

In the Essex Senior League Basildon United travel to Newham, looking to continue their recent good form.

Craig Gillam’s side had won four on the trot before a defeat and a draw in the last two outings. And Gillam says his side are eager to bounce back from last weekend’s 3-3 draw against Sawbridgeworth Town, in which they conceded twice in the dying moments.

Newham have won eight and lost eight of their opening 16 games, and sit eight points above the Bees having played two games more.

George Whitby, George Smith and Russell Harley are doubtful for the match, while Terry Griffiths is suspended.

Bowers & Pitsea have played six fewer league games than their opponents Sawbridgeworth but know a win would take them to within four points of them.

Rob Small’s men still sit an impressive 12th and can focus on the league, with a run of games coming up.

Southend Manor face a tough tie with Tower Hamlets, with nothing between the sides before kick-off.

Both on 15 points, Manor are only below their opponents on goal difference, with a win potentially good enough to lift them to 12th.