Men United Cup Preview
Fri 28th November 2014 | Macron Cup | By Rob McKay
The Men United Cup returns this week for its Third Round, with 14 of the remaining 16 teams looking to collect the trophy for the first time.
Having already knocked out the holders Ashton Athletic, Atherton Collieries look to claim their 6th higher division scalp of the season away to 2010 winners Abbey Hey.
Colls were 2002 finalists, losing to Prescot Cables in the final and will be looking to go one step further this time, having already beaten beat Cheadle Town at home 4-2 after extra time in Round 1.
Abbey Hey will be full of confidence too having defeated last season’s finalists Maine Road 2-0 at home in the previous round.
In one of the biggest ties of the weekend 1874 Northwich, who held off Barnoldswick Town to win 3-2 in the second round, welcome Colne to Barton Stadium.
Colne, who themselves beat Silsden 1-0 away in the last round, will be looking to win their first major silverware and emulate the now-defunct Colne Dynamoes who were winners in 1987.
Alsager Town take on AFC Liverpool at Woodland Court with the Staffordshire side looking to claim their first trophy since collecting the Leek Cup in 2002. Having won the First Division Trophy in 2009 and 2010 AFC Liverpool will go in search of adding the League Challenge Cup to their collection.
Both sides registered 3-2 victories in the second round with Alsager winning away at Daisy Hill and AFC Liverpool winning at home to 2012 winners Bacup & Rossendale Borough.
At the Delta Taxi's Stadium the 2008 finalists Bootle host AFC Darwen, whose predecessor club, Darwen, were winners in 1983.
Bootle have already defeated lower division opposition having won 2-0 at Oldham Boro in the last round whilst AFC Darwen are becoming somewhat cup specialists, still competing in the FA Vase, the Reusch First Division Trophy and Lancashire Challenge Trophy, as well as the Men United Cup.
They have made an impressive start to the competition, winning 3-0 at Holker Old Boys in round one before receiving a bye in round two at Stockport Sports.
The highest placed team in the league remaining in the competition, Glossop North End, required a penalty shoot out in the last round to overcome AFC Blackpool at home.
Their reward was a home tie against Widnes, who having beaten Barnton in the first round, also required a penalties to St Helens Town after 4-4 draw in which they came from three goals down to reach the third round for the first time.
Another cup specialist team, Runcorn Town, will themselves be looking to go one better than their personal best and reach the final for the first time but they will have to get past the side who upset the league leaders to do so, Cammell Laird 1907. The original Lairds were Cup winners in 2005.
Runcorn Town also recorded an impressive win to reach the second round, winning 4-1 away to Congleton Town.
Squires Gate defeated Nelson 3-1 away in the last round, and face Winsford United, the most recent winners still left in the competition, having won it in 2011. Winsford defeated Irlam 2-1 at home in the last round.
The final game of the weekend see's West Didsbury & Chorlton host Rochdale Town, with the home side having already had to overcome one tough test from the lower division, having gone through at the expense of Ashton Town albeit 5-4 via penalty shoot out after a 3-3 draw.
Rochdale Town have had an impressive route to the third round winning 3-1 away to Eccleshall in Round One followed by beating Hanley Town 5-3 on penalties after 1-1 draw in round two.
The draw for the Fourth Round will take place immediately after the conclusion of the game between Runcorn Town and Cammell Laird 1907, with League Secretary John Deal overseeing matters.
The ties in the Fourth Round will be played on Saturday 14th February 2015.
Men United Cup Preview
Fri 28th November 2014 | Macron Cup
By Rob McKay
The Men United Cup returns this week for its Third Round, with 14 of the remaining 16 teams looking to collect the trophy for the first time.
Having already knocked out the holders Ashton Athletic, Atherton Collieries look to claim their 6th higher division scalp of the season away to 2010 winners Abbey Hey.
Colls were 2002 finalists, losing to Prescot Cables in the final and will be looking to go one step further this time, having already beaten beat Cheadle Town at home 4-2 after extra time in Round 1.
Abbey Hey will be full of confidence too having defeated last season’s finalists Maine Road 2-0 at home in the previous round.
In one of the biggest ties of the weekend 1874 Northwich, who held off Barnoldswick Town to win 3-2 in the second round, welcome Colne to Barton Stadium.
Colne, who themselves beat Silsden 1-0 away in the last round, will be looking to win their first major silverware and emulate the now-defunct Colne Dynamoes who were winners in 1987.
Alsager Town take on AFC Liverpool at Woodland Court with the Staffordshire side looking to claim their first trophy since collecting the Leek Cup in 2002. Having won the First Division Trophy in 2009 and 2010 AFC Liverpool will go in search of adding the League Challenge Cup to their collection.
Both sides registered 3-2 victories in the second round with Alsager winning away at Daisy Hill and AFC Liverpool winning at home to 2012 winners Bacup & Rossendale Borough.
At the Delta Taxi's Stadium the 2008 finalists Bootle host AFC Darwen, whose predecessor club, Darwen, were winners in 1983.
Bootle have already defeated lower division opposition having won 2-0 at Oldham Boro in the last round whilst AFC Darwen are becoming somewhat cup specialists, still competing in the FA Vase, the Reusch First Division Trophy and Lancashire Challenge Trophy, as well as the Men United Cup.
They have made an impressive start to the competition, winning 3-0 at Holker Old Boys in round one before receiving a bye in round two at Stockport Sports.
The highest placed team in the league remaining in the competition, Glossop North End, required a penalty shoot out in the last round to overcome AFC Blackpool at home.
Their reward was a home tie against Widnes, who having beaten Barnton in the first round, also required a penalties to St Helens Town after 4-4 draw in which they came from three goals down to reach the third round for the first time.
Another cup specialist team, Runcorn Town, will themselves be looking to go one better than their personal best and reach the final for the first time but they will have to get past the side who upset the league leaders to do so, Cammell Laird 1907. The original Lairds were Cup winners in 2005.
Runcorn Town also recorded an impressive win to reach the second round, winning 4-1 away to Congleton Town.
Squires Gate defeated Nelson 3-1 away in the last round, and face Winsford United, the most recent winners still left in the competition, having won it in 2011. Winsford defeated Irlam 2-1 at home in the last round.
The final game of the weekend see's West Didsbury & Chorlton host Rochdale Town, with the home side having already had to overcome one tough test from the lower division, having gone through at the expense of Ashton Town albeit 5-4 via penalty shoot out after a 3-3 draw.
Rochdale Town have had an impressive route to the third round winning 3-1 away to Eccleshall in Round One followed by beating Hanley Town 5-3 on penalties after 1-1 draw in round two.
The draw for the Fourth Round will take place immediately after the conclusion of the game between Runcorn Town and Cammell Laird 1907, with League Secretary John Deal overseeing matters.
The ties in the Fourth Round will be played on Saturday 14th February 2015.
