Dial will be hoping that the weather of good fortune will be on their side today when they host Parkside in the first round of the Surrey FA Saturday Intermediate Cup. 2pm k.o.

Despite riding high in the league, Dial boss Steve Brown is keen for his side to make amends for last season's 4-1 quarter-final county cup exit at the hands of Parkside.

And while the weather will certainly have a big part to play in the proceedings, Brown is determined that his players do not to fall foul again to the Wimbledon & Kingston Football League Premier Division (step 8) side.

The former Tolworth-based club, who relocated to Chessington in the summer, have made another positive start to their 2025/26 league campaign, losing just one of their opening seven games and averaging two (2.29) goals per game at the top of the table.

Similarly, Dial are unbeaten in their past six league outings, sitting hot on the heels of league leaders Battersea Ironsides and with a game in hand.

Notwithstanding being without the goalscoring services of Harry Rice since September, Dial have still managed eight goals in their past two league games in their bid for promotion to the National League System (at step 6) for next season.

But as Brown knows only too well, league form goes out of the window in the cup, acknowledging that today's fixture will be any but a walk in the park.

And not for the first time this season, Dial will need to do it the hard way, with Danny Taylor, Louie Rogers and Darren Xavier all ineligible, and George Frith, Jimmy Norman and Callum Abraham-Barlow unavailable to play in today's cup tie.

The shortfall in personnel could signal a return to the squad for 39-year-old Matt Bunyan, with Michael Burton again expected to lead the line after he opened his account in the 3-1 win (friendly) over Frimley Green in midweek to help boost match fitness.

Midfielder Aidan Doran is also likely to return to the side, despite missing Dial's 5-1 win away at AFC Royal Holloway a fortnight ago.

Speaking to DialSquareFC.com on Friday (31 Oct), Brown said, "Today will be a good test for the players involved.

"Due to player's unavailability and ineligibility, we will be looking to the wider squad to step-up and stake their claim for a regular start.

"I'm hoping that having home advantage will enable us to be more expansive and impressive, which will be in stark contrast to when we played Parkside in the cup last season. Our performance that day can be best forgotten and never repeated.

"We want to do well in the cup competitions, which starts today," added Brown.

For supporters and football enthusiasts travelling to Alwyns Lane by train, the nearest rail station is Chertsey, which is a c. 15-minute walk (via Guildford Street and Windsor Street) to the ground. You can plan your journey here. For those using the M25/A3 to travel, there are road closures (31 Oct, - 3 Nov.) in force at junction 10 (Wisley Interchange).

Alwyns Lane football ground offers very limited parking, which is principally for players and match officials. Therefore, spectators are asked to park with consideration in the neighbouring residential streets.

Admission charges apply: £5 (concessions £3 / U18s are free). For more information, click here.

To view the full list of Dial's fixtures and results, click here.

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