Derby day is back for the Eagles as they make their return to Kempston Rovers but this time, in the Emirates FA Cup. The two sides most recently faced each other in March earlier this year and the game finished 0-5 to Bedford Town.

The Eagles recently lost forward Liam Brooks to his former club Hendon FC. He played six games for Bedford Town before making the move back to his old club.

Bedford have played two games in the last week and these games included a superb 1-2 win away at Hednesford Town and a poor 0-2 home loss against Royston Town.

This will be a tricky game for Bedford against an in-form Kempston Rovers side. The squad will want to bounce back from Monday’s loss against Royston and find their feet again.

Gary Setchell will be urging his team to win this game as the team have big games coming up in the league during September. There will be games against Nuneaton Borough, Hitchin Town, Ilkeston Town and Leiston FC.

Tyrone Lewthwaite will want to get back on the scoresheet after his goal against Hednesford Town. He will be eager to terrorise the Kempston defence as his clinical finishing could be vital for the Eagles.

Kempston Rovers have had a great start to the season after a relegation scare last season. The Walnuts currently sit in fifth place in the Southern League Division One Central on eight points.

They sit in a play-off position and are only one point off of top spot. They beat Waltham Abbey 1-2 and a 5-0 demolition of Welwyn Garden City at home earned them six points in the first two league games.

They drew 1-1 with Highworth Town and then they earned a point in the last minute against Biggleswade Town in a 2-2 draw with Biggleswade Town.

Kempston Rovers have regained some team spirit after a poor 21/22 campaign and have been playing very well this season and could be dark horses in the Southern League Division One Central.

The Walnuts beat Melford Town 2-0 in the Extra Preliminary Round and beat Wisbech Town 2-0 in the Preliminary Round of the Emirates FA Cup.

It looks like it will be a thriller in the Emirates FA Cup at Hillgrounds Leisure as Bedford will look to replicate last season’s result whereas Kempston will want to stop that happening.