FA Cup Preview - Preliminary Qualifying Round 2015-16
Fri 28th August 2015 | FA Challenge Cup | By Martin Fallon
The Emirates FA Cup reaches the Preliminary Round stage this weekend, with clubs knowing that they have to negotiate just 12 more rounds before they reach the Final.
The North West Counties League are guaranteed a side in the First Qualifying Round as Silsden have been drawn against Padiham. The game represents a quick turnaround for the two teams, who faced each other in league action on Tuesday evening with Joseph Mitchell’s 72nd minute penalty giving Silsden a 3-2 win after Padiham had battled back from 2-0 down.
Danny Bolton has got his Silsden team on a good run, winning their last three matches, and will be looking to reach the First Qualifying Round for only the second time in their history, the last coming back in 2004/05.
Padiham meanwhile have lost two of their three games since the win over Whickham in the last round, and Steve Wilkes will no doubt have his team focussed to reach the next round which they have reached three times previously.
As with the last round, this weekend’s cup action starts on Friday evening with AFC Liverpool hosting Radcliffe Borough at the Marine Travel Arena. AFC Liverpool have enjoyed a terrific start to the season and cruised through to this round with a 9-2 win at Chadderton. They have scored 20 goals in their five games and will be confident of reaching the First Qualifying Round for the first time in their history.
This is the third year that Radcliffe have faced a NWCFL side in this round, having been ran so close by Atherton Collieries in the last two seasons. They have had a poor start to the season having lost all four of their opening Evostik League games and they will not be relishing this tie.
Onto Saturday’s games, and there are several eye catching ties. Last season’s FA Cup heroes were Evo-Stik League side Warrington Town, who reached the Second Round Proper and knocked out League Two side Exeter City live on BBC1 en-route. Having had a taste of the spotlight, they will be eager for a repeat performance.
This season they start their campaign away at an Abbey Hey side who have enjoyed a good start to the season. Having won their opening two league games, they produced a stunning 3-1 victory over much fancied Worksop Town in the last round of the Cup, and they will be hoping for a repeat performance on Saturday.
Colne have made a high scoring start to their season, scoring 22 goals in their five games in which they have won four and drew one. After winning 5-0 away at Barnoldswick Town in the last round, they will be looking to reach the First Qualifying Round for the first time since 2008/09, but they face a tough prospect with an away trip to Northern Counties East League (NCEL) side Tadcaster Albion.
Like Colne, Tadcaster have also found the net this season, scoring 24 goals in their seven games, and they currently lead the Premier Division having finished third last season. Tadcaster had a 3-1 away win at Hebburn Town in the last round, and they will want a repeat of their 2012/13 when they reached the Third Qualifying Round.
Also travelling across the Pennines for a hotly anticipated game is Atherton Collieries, who face Evo-Stik North side Brighouse Town. After promotion last season, Colls have shown that they haven’t forgotten that winning mentality by winning four of their six games, including a 2-0 win at Bootle in the last round and a 4-3 win at Squires Gate midweek.
Brighouse have had a solid start to the season, picking up seven points from their opening four games, with Ernest Boafo scoring four goals so far. They have had something of a meteoric rise over the last couple of seasons and will be looking to emulate their run of two years ago when they reached the Second Qualifying Round, before bowing out away at former Football League side Stockport County.
The two Runcorn sides are both at home on Saturday and both have good FA Cup pedigree in recent seasons.
Runcorn Town face something of a local derby when they entertain Northwich Victoria for the first ever meeting at Pavilions. Town are still looking for their first league win of the season but come into the game on the back of two successive 2-2 draws at Colne and Cammell Laird, and were the last surviving NWCFL side in last season’s competition when they reached the Third Qualifying Round.
Vics lie joint top of Evo-Stik North with a 100% record after four games, with Stuart Cook and Iain Howard high in the early goalscoring charts. They have a rich FA Cup history, reaching the Quarter Finals in its early years, but more recently facing the likes of Sunderland (2005/06), Oxford United (2007/08) and most recently knocking out Charlton Athletic in 2009/10.
Runcorn Linnets, who also reached the Third Qualifying Round in 2013/14, have had a terrific couple of seasons and showed on Saturday that they still have that “never give up” attitude with a last minute winner against Maine Road. Linnets reached this stage after a 6-1 replay win over Glasshoughton Welfare, including a five goal haul for striker Kurl Sherlock, and face Pontefract Collieries at home.
Colls (Pontefract not Atherton!) beat Penistone Church in the last round and had a poor start to the season in the NCEL Premier Division having suffered lost their opening two games including a morale sapping 7-1 reverse against Worksop Town. However they have bounced back and beat Athersley 3-0 at home in midweek.
Maltby Main are no strangers to NWCFL teams, having played six of our teams in the Cup in the last four seasons, including Ashton Athletic in the last round. Maltby have made a good start to their season, with their only defeat coming on the opening day of the season when they lost at league leaders Tadcaster.
They travel to face an 1874 Northwich side who have made an unbeaten start to the season, having won four and drew one of their opening five games, dropping points only in their midweek game against Alsager Town. This is only 1874’s second ever FA Cup campaign, and they will be looking to reach the First Qualifying Round for the first time.
Alsager meanwhile are at this stage for the first time in nine seasons, having broken their long running FA Cup hoodoo in the last round when they beat Athersley Recreation. The FA Cup win is their only win of the season for far, and they will be looking to reach the First Qualifying Round for only the third time, the last coming back in 2006/07.
They have a tough task though with a home tie against last season’s NCEL Premier Division Champions Shaw Lane Aquaforce. Shaw Lane, from Barnsley, have made a good start to their first season in the Evo-Stik South and are seventh in having picked up seven points so far. This will be an historic tie as it is Shaw Lane’s first ever FA Cup tie.
Also in their first ever FA Cup campaign are Hanley Town, who came from behind to beat Shawbury United in the last round. Having lost their opening game of the season, Hanley have won their last four matches scoring 11 goals in the process, and are living up to their billing as one of the favourites for Division One.
Tividale, which is a village near to Dudley in the West Midlands, currently lie 19th in Evostik South having lost three of their opening four games. They finished mid-table last season after promotion from the Midland Alliance, and reached the Second Qualifying Round before going out to Leek Town.
The Yorkshire town of Ossett has two teams in the FA Cup and both of them have been drawn against NWCFL sides. Ossett Town have won just once in the Evostik North this season and have suffered big home defeats against Spennymoor (5-1) and Northwich Victoria (4-0). They will be thankful they are on the road as they visit the seaside to play AFC Blackpool.
Blackpool defeated Winsford United after a replay in the last round, and they have been in decent form since the first game, winning two and drawing two including a fine 1-0 away win at Ashton Athletic in midweek. Blackpool will be looking to reach the First Qualifying Round for only the third time, the last coming back in 2004/05 when they were still Blackpool Mechanics.
Ossett Albion have a home tie against a Maine Road side whose form has been black or white so far. They have played six games having won three and lost three, although they have found the net in every single one of their games. Maine Road have reached the First Qualifying Round in two of the last four years and will be looking for a repeat.
Albion are 12th after four games having lost just once, however they have drew both of their home games including a goalless draw against our reigning Premier Division Champions Glossop North End. Albion have a good Cup record, reaching the Final Qualifying Round in 2012/13, although they went out at home to Runcorn Linnets the season after.
Congleton Town needed a replay against Nostell Miners Welfare to get through to this round, eventually winning 4-0, and they will be in confident mood to progress. Their warm up for the game wasn’t ideal, with an abandonment against Runcorn Linnets in midweek, although they will be encouraged that they were 2-0 up in that game, and it would have meant a four game unbeaten run.
They face Handsworth Parramore at home, with the Worksop based team having a fine start to the season including a 6-0 win in the last round of the FA Cup. Strangely though they started with four home games, with their only away result ending in a loss at Bridlington Town on Tuesday evening. This is Handsworth’s second ever Cup campaign having reached the First Qualifying Round last season.
The final game sees Holker Old Boys entertain Northern League side Dunston UTS at Rakesmoor. Holker have had a good start to the season, opening with four successive victories until last Saturday’s defeat at home to Barnton, with Jamie Pattinson and David Swarbrick both in fine goalscoring form. They defeated Liversedge in the last round 4-0 which was their biggest ever FA Cup win.
They face 2012 FA Vase winners Dunston UTS at home, with Dunston having an identical record to them this season. They opened the season with four wins, including a 6-0 win in the last round of the Cup, but lost 1-0 at home to Washington in their last game on Tuesday evening. Dunston have a good recent Cup pedigree, reaching at least the First Qualifying Round in four of the last five seasons.
Good luck to all our teams in the cup this weekend.
FA Cup Preview - Preliminary Qualifying Round 2015-16
Fri 28th August 2015 | FA Challenge Cup
By Martin Fallon
The Emirates FA Cup reaches the Preliminary Round stage this weekend, with clubs knowing that they have to negotiate just 12 more rounds before they reach the Final.
The North West Counties League are guaranteed a side in the First Qualifying Round as Silsden have been drawn against Padiham. The game represents a quick turnaround for the two teams, who faced each other in league action on Tuesday evening with Joseph Mitchell’s 72nd minute penalty giving Silsden a 3-2 win after Padiham had battled back from 2-0 down.
Danny Bolton has got his Silsden team on a good run, winning their last three matches, and will be looking to reach the First Qualifying Round for only the second time in their history, the last coming back in 2004/05.
Padiham meanwhile have lost two of their three games since the win over Whickham in the last round, and Steve Wilkes will no doubt have his team focussed to reach the next round which they have reached three times previously.
As with the last round, this weekend’s cup action starts on Friday evening with AFC Liverpool hosting Radcliffe Borough at the Marine Travel Arena. AFC Liverpool have enjoyed a terrific start to the season and cruised through to this round with a 9-2 win at Chadderton. They have scored 20 goals in their five games and will be confident of reaching the First Qualifying Round for the first time in their history.
This is the third year that Radcliffe have faced a NWCFL side in this round, having been ran so close by Atherton Collieries in the last two seasons. They have had a poor start to the season having lost all four of their opening Evostik League games and they will not be relishing this tie.
Onto Saturday’s games, and there are several eye catching ties. Last season’s FA Cup heroes were Evo-Stik League side Warrington Town, who reached the Second Round Proper and knocked out League Two side Exeter City live on BBC1 en-route. Having had a taste of the spotlight, they will be eager for a repeat performance.
This season they start their campaign away at an Abbey Hey side who have enjoyed a good start to the season. Having won their opening two league games, they produced a stunning 3-1 victory over much fancied Worksop Town in the last round of the Cup, and they will be hoping for a repeat performance on Saturday.
Colne have made a high scoring start to their season, scoring 22 goals in their five games in which they have won four and drew one. After winning 5-0 away at Barnoldswick Town in the last round, they will be looking to reach the First Qualifying Round for the first time since 2008/09, but they face a tough prospect with an away trip to Northern Counties East League (NCEL) side Tadcaster Albion.
Like Colne, Tadcaster have also found the net this season, scoring 24 goals in their seven games, and they currently lead the Premier Division having finished third last season. Tadcaster had a 3-1 away win at Hebburn Town in the last round, and they will want a repeat of their 2012/13 when they reached the Third Qualifying Round.
Also travelling across the Pennines for a hotly anticipated game is Atherton Collieries, who face Evo-Stik North side Brighouse Town. After promotion last season, Colls have shown that they haven’t forgotten that winning mentality by winning four of their six games, including a 2-0 win at Bootle in the last round and a 4-3 win at Squires Gate midweek.
Brighouse have had a solid start to the season, picking up seven points from their opening four games, with Ernest Boafo scoring four goals so far. They have had something of a meteoric rise over the last couple of seasons and will be looking to emulate their run of two years ago when they reached the Second Qualifying Round, before bowing out away at former Football League side Stockport County.
The two Runcorn sides are both at home on Saturday and both have good FA Cup pedigree in recent seasons.
Runcorn Town face something of a local derby when they entertain Northwich Victoria for the first ever meeting at Pavilions. Town are still looking for their first league win of the season but come into the game on the back of two successive 2-2 draws at Colne and Cammell Laird, and were the last surviving NWCFL side in last season’s competition when they reached the Third Qualifying Round.
Vics lie joint top of Evo-Stik North with a 100% record after four games, with Stuart Cook and Iain Howard high in the early goalscoring charts. They have a rich FA Cup history, reaching the Quarter Finals in its early years, but more recently facing the likes of Sunderland (2005/06), Oxford United (2007/08) and most recently knocking out Charlton Athletic in 2009/10.
Runcorn Linnets, who also reached the Third Qualifying Round in 2013/14, have had a terrific couple of seasons and showed on Saturday that they still have that “never give up” attitude with a last minute winner against Maine Road. Linnets reached this stage after a 6-1 replay win over Glasshoughton Welfare, including a five goal haul for striker Kurl Sherlock, and face Pontefract Collieries at home.
Colls (Pontefract not Atherton!) beat Penistone Church in the last round and had a poor start to the season in the NCEL Premier Division having suffered lost their opening two games including a morale sapping 7-1 reverse against Worksop Town. However they have bounced back and beat Athersley 3-0 at home in midweek.
Maltby Main are no strangers to NWCFL teams, having played six of our teams in the Cup in the last four seasons, including Ashton Athletic in the last round. Maltby have made a good start to their season, with their only defeat coming on the opening day of the season when they lost at league leaders Tadcaster.
They travel to face an 1874 Northwich side who have made an unbeaten start to the season, having won four and drew one of their opening five games, dropping points only in their midweek game against Alsager Town. This is only 1874’s second ever FA Cup campaign, and they will be looking to reach the First Qualifying Round for the first time.
Alsager meanwhile are at this stage for the first time in nine seasons, having broken their long running FA Cup hoodoo in the last round when they beat Athersley Recreation. The FA Cup win is their only win of the season for far, and they will be looking to reach the First Qualifying Round for only the third time, the last coming back in 2006/07.
They have a tough task though with a home tie against last season’s NCEL Premier Division Champions Shaw Lane Aquaforce. Shaw Lane, from Barnsley, have made a good start to their first season in the Evo-Stik South and are seventh in having picked up seven points so far. This will be an historic tie as it is Shaw Lane’s first ever FA Cup tie.
Also in their first ever FA Cup campaign are Hanley Town, who came from behind to beat Shawbury United in the last round. Having lost their opening game of the season, Hanley have won their last four matches scoring 11 goals in the process, and are living up to their billing as one of the favourites for Division One.
Tividale, which is a village near to Dudley in the West Midlands, currently lie 19th in Evostik South having lost three of their opening four games. They finished mid-table last season after promotion from the Midland Alliance, and reached the Second Qualifying Round before going out to Leek Town.
The Yorkshire town of Ossett has two teams in the FA Cup and both of them have been drawn against NWCFL sides. Ossett Town have won just once in the Evostik North this season and have suffered big home defeats against Spennymoor (5-1) and Northwich Victoria (4-0). They will be thankful they are on the road as they visit the seaside to play AFC Blackpool.
Blackpool defeated Winsford United after a replay in the last round, and they have been in decent form since the first game, winning two and drawing two including a fine 1-0 away win at Ashton Athletic in midweek. Blackpool will be looking to reach the First Qualifying Round for only the third time, the last coming back in 2004/05 when they were still Blackpool Mechanics.
Ossett Albion have a home tie against a Maine Road side whose form has been black or white so far. They have played six games having won three and lost three, although they have found the net in every single one of their games. Maine Road have reached the First Qualifying Round in two of the last four years and will be looking for a repeat.
Albion are 12th after four games having lost just once, however they have drew both of their home games including a goalless draw against our reigning Premier Division Champions Glossop North End. Albion have a good Cup record, reaching the Final Qualifying Round in 2012/13, although they went out at home to Runcorn Linnets the season after.
Congleton Town needed a replay against Nostell Miners Welfare to get through to this round, eventually winning 4-0, and they will be in confident mood to progress. Their warm up for the game wasn’t ideal, with an abandonment against Runcorn Linnets in midweek, although they will be encouraged that they were 2-0 up in that game, and it would have meant a four game unbeaten run.
They face Handsworth Parramore at home, with the Worksop based team having a fine start to the season including a 6-0 win in the last round of the FA Cup. Strangely though they started with four home games, with their only away result ending in a loss at Bridlington Town on Tuesday evening. This is Handsworth’s second ever Cup campaign having reached the First Qualifying Round last season.
The final game sees Holker Old Boys entertain Northern League side Dunston UTS at Rakesmoor. Holker have had a good start to the season, opening with four successive victories until last Saturday’s defeat at home to Barnton, with Jamie Pattinson and David Swarbrick both in fine goalscoring form. They defeated Liversedge in the last round 4-0 which was their biggest ever FA Cup win.
They face 2012 FA Vase winners Dunston UTS at home, with Dunston having an identical record to them this season. They opened the season with four wins, including a 6-0 win in the last round of the Cup, but lost 1-0 at home to Washington in their last game on Tuesday evening. Dunston have a good recent Cup pedigree, reaching at least the First Qualifying Round in four of the last five seasons.
Good luck to all our teams in the cup this weekend.
