Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round Preview - Saturday 20th August 2016
Fri 19th August 2016 | FA Challenge Cup | By Martin Fallon
League Results Co-Ordinator, Martin Fallon reviews this weekends games in the Preliminary Round of the Emirates FA Cup.
It's the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup this weekend with 13 of our sides in action aiming to reach the First Qualifying Round and secure £1800 prize money.
As a league we are guaranteed two sides going through as there are two all Hallmark Security League ties. The first of these comes in a leafy suburb of Manchester as West Didsbury & Chorlton take on Squires Gate. Its an intruiging tie with both sides getting off to great starts so far.
West beat AFC Liverpool after a replay and have picked up four points in the league against Runcorn Linnets and Nelson. Squires Gate won away at Maltby Main in the last round, and have also four points after an impressive 4-1 win against 1874 Northwich was followed up by a 1-1 draw at Atherton Collieries.
Its a first ever Cup meeting between the two sides. West will be aiming to reach the First Qualifying Round for the first time with Gate last reaching the next round in 2014/15.
The other tie where we are guaranteed a side through is First Division v Premier Division as Alsager Town take on Winsford United. After relegation from the Premier last season, Alsager have hit the ground running this season, scoring four times in three of their four games including a 4-1 win at home to Barton Town Old Boys in the last round.
Winsford had a 2-1 win at Staveley Miners Welfare in the last round to open their season then lost 2-0 in their season opener at home to Abbey Hey. However they showed they have the class in their side on Tuesday evening with a 2-0 win away at Runcorn Linnets.
This is not the first time these sides have met in the Cup, the previous meeting coming in 2005/06 in an Extra Preliminary Round tie. Winsford won that tie 1-0 after a replay and will be hoping for a repeat. Alsager have reached the next round on three occassions, the last time coming last season, whilst Winsford have a long and proud FA Cup history. They have gone as far as the First Round Proper three times in the past, but they have not reached the First Qualifying Road since 2004/05.
Of the ties against outside opposition, the one that stands out for me sees 1874 Northwich travel to our reigning Premier Division Champions Colne. 1874 have won three of their four games so far, including a 2-1 win against Barnton in the last round, and will fancy their chances. Colne's season started a week later than ours, and they picked up their first win since promotion on Tuesday, winning 2-1 at Bamber Bridge.
As a relatively new club, 1874 will be playing only their third season in the FA Cup. The two previous campaigns have seen them lose 2-1 at this same stage. Colne involvement goes back to 2002 but they have reached the next round only three times including last season when they lost to Consett.
Its a first ever meeting in the Cup between the two sides, but the fixture will hold strong memories in both camps as Daniel Boyle's goal in the final game of last season secured Colne the Premier Division title.
After Alsager (above), the only other remaining First Division side in the Cup is Cheadle Town. Their league start has been stuttery, picking up one point from six although that was their "stoppage time comeback" against St Helens. In the last round of the Cup they won 3-1 at Penistone Church.
Cheadle will travel to Northwich Victoria on Saturday in a first Cup meeting between the sides. Last season saw Vics beat Runcorn Town and AFC Blackpool before going on a great run to the Second Round Proper where they lost narrowly at Northampton Town. Cheadle are playing in the FA Cup for the first time in three years, and their best is the Second Qualifying Round in 2007/08.
Currently top of the early Premier Division tables are Padiham, who have won three and drawn one of their four games. The last round of the competition saw them register a great 1-0 home win over North East side - Team Northumbria, and they face a similar prospect on Saturday against Newcastle Benfield.
If their name seems unfamiliar, its because they haven't faced a Hallmark Security League side in the Cup since St Helens beat them in 2004/05. Newcastle's best in the competition is the Fourth Qualifying Round in 2006/07, whilst Padiham have reached the First Qualifying Round on four occassions, most recently last season when they lost to Lancaster City.
Bootle are just behind Padiham in the table after a decent start. They beat Abbey Hey in the last round and have won two of their opening three league games. They travel to Pontefract Collieries, who knocked out Runcorn Town in the last round.
Its another first meeting between the two sides. Bootle have reached the Third Qualifying Round in the past but that was in 1990/91, and they will be seeking a place in the First Qualifying Round for the first time since 2013/14. Pontefract have only reached the next round twice, the last back in 1997/98, and that win over Runcorn was their first against a Hallmark Security League side.
Cammell Laird 1907 have had a disappointing start to the new season in the league, losing both of their opening two games, but they have done well in the FA Cup. They came from 3-1 down to force a replay at AFC Darwen which they then won 3-2, and they have been rewarded with a tie at Hyde United.
Hyde have had a strained couple of seasons in the league, just avoiding a third straight relegation last season, but they will provide a stern test for Lairds. Last season saw them lose to Northwich Vics in a rare reordered FA Cup game, but they have a long and proud FA Cup history. Lairds on the other hand are in their first ever FA Cup campaign.
Another side with a long FA Cup history are Bishop Auckland, who first entered the competition in 1891/92. They have reached the Fourth Round Proper in the past, but more recently have reached the First Qualifying Round in three of the last four years. They travel to Nelson, who themselves first entered the FA Cup in 1896/97. Their 2-1 win at Ashington in the last round was their first Cup win since 2002 when they lost to... Bishop Auckland!. Since that Cup win, things havent gone too well as they have lost their three league games since without scoring a goal, but they will fancy their chances at home.
Atherton Collieries have estalished themselves as one of the hardest teams to beat in recent years, and they are unbeaten this season so far. A 3-2 win over Bacup Borough in the last round was followed up by a win and a draw, and they face Witton Albion at home on Saturday.
It will be the third meeting in the FA Cup between the two sides. Witton won the 2000/01 meeting 1-0 and followed it up with a 4-0 win the following season. Witton have a long Cup history and reached the Second Qualifying Round last season before losing to FC United. Colls will be looking to reach the First Qualifying Round for the first time since 2012/13.
Congleton Town had a superb run in the FA Cup last season, losing in the Second Qualifying Round at Whitley Bay, and they will be looking for a repeat this season. They beat New Mills 3-0 in the last round, and have won one and lost one of their opening two games. They host Farsley Celtic on Saturday in another first ever meeting. Farsley are in only their fifth FA Cup campaign and they will be looking to replicate last season when they reached the First Qualifying Round before losing to Witton Albion.
Our final game involves Maine Road, who take on AFC Emley. Maine Road beat Nostell Miners Welfare after a replay in the last round, and have picked up just a point from their opening two games. They last reached the First Qualifying Round in 2012/13 when they lost to Warrington Town. AFC Emley are in their tenth FA Cup campaign and have yet to reach the First Qualifying Round. They finished fourth last season in NCEL Division One, but the man to watch out for is undoubtedly the hottest striker in football, Ashley Flynn, who hit an incredible 74 goals for the club last season, 50 of which came before Christmas!
Good luck to all our clubs in the competition on Saturday. Lets hope we can get eleven sides through
Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round Preview - Saturday 20th August 2016
Fri 19th August 2016 | FA Challenge Cup
By Martin Fallon
League Results Co-Ordinator, Martin Fallon reviews this weekends games in the Preliminary Round of the Emirates FA Cup.
It's the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup this weekend with 13 of our sides in action aiming to reach the First Qualifying Round and secure £1800 prize money.
As a league we are guaranteed two sides going through as there are two all Hallmark Security League ties. The first of these comes in a leafy suburb of Manchester as West Didsbury & Chorlton take on Squires Gate. Its an intruiging tie with both sides getting off to great starts so far.
West beat AFC Liverpool after a replay and have picked up four points in the league against Runcorn Linnets and Nelson. Squires Gate won away at Maltby Main in the last round, and have also four points after an impressive 4-1 win against 1874 Northwich was followed up by a 1-1 draw at Atherton Collieries.
Its a first ever Cup meeting between the two sides. West will be aiming to reach the First Qualifying Round for the first time with Gate last reaching the next round in 2014/15.
The other tie where we are guaranteed a side through is First Division v Premier Division as Alsager Town take on Winsford United. After relegation from the Premier last season, Alsager have hit the ground running this season, scoring four times in three of their four games including a 4-1 win at home to Barton Town Old Boys in the last round.
Winsford had a 2-1 win at Staveley Miners Welfare in the last round to open their season then lost 2-0 in their season opener at home to Abbey Hey. However they showed they have the class in their side on Tuesday evening with a 2-0 win away at Runcorn Linnets.
This is not the first time these sides have met in the Cup, the previous meeting coming in 2005/06 in an Extra Preliminary Round tie. Winsford won that tie 1-0 after a replay and will be hoping for a repeat. Alsager have reached the next round on three occassions, the last time coming last season, whilst Winsford have a long and proud FA Cup history. They have gone as far as the First Round Proper three times in the past, but they have not reached the First Qualifying Road since 2004/05.
Of the ties against outside opposition, the one that stands out for me sees 1874 Northwich travel to our reigning Premier Division Champions Colne. 1874 have won three of their four games so far, including a 2-1 win against Barnton in the last round, and will fancy their chances. Colne's season started a week later than ours, and they picked up their first win since promotion on Tuesday, winning 2-1 at Bamber Bridge.
As a relatively new club, 1874 will be playing only their third season in the FA Cup. The two previous campaigns have seen them lose 2-1 at this same stage. Colne involvement goes back to 2002 but they have reached the next round only three times including last season when they lost to Consett.
Its a first ever meeting in the Cup between the two sides, but the fixture will hold strong memories in both camps as Daniel Boyle's goal in the final game of last season secured Colne the Premier Division title.
After Alsager (above), the only other remaining First Division side in the Cup is Cheadle Town. Their league start has been stuttery, picking up one point from six although that was their "stoppage time comeback" against St Helens. In the last round of the Cup they won 3-1 at Penistone Church.
Cheadle will travel to Northwich Victoria on Saturday in a first Cup meeting between the sides. Last season saw Vics beat Runcorn Town and AFC Blackpool before going on a great run to the Second Round Proper where they lost narrowly at Northampton Town. Cheadle are playing in the FA Cup for the first time in three years, and their best is the Second Qualifying Round in 2007/08.
Currently top of the early Premier Division tables are Padiham, who have won three and drawn one of their four games. The last round of the competition saw them register a great 1-0 home win over North East side - Team Northumbria, and they face a similar prospect on Saturday against Newcastle Benfield.
If their name seems unfamiliar, its because they haven't faced a Hallmark Security League side in the Cup since St Helens beat them in 2004/05. Newcastle's best in the competition is the Fourth Qualifying Round in 2006/07, whilst Padiham have reached the First Qualifying Round on four occassions, most recently last season when they lost to Lancaster City.
Bootle are just behind Padiham in the table after a decent start. They beat Abbey Hey in the last round and have won two of their opening three league games. They travel to Pontefract Collieries, who knocked out Runcorn Town in the last round.
Its another first meeting between the two sides. Bootle have reached the Third Qualifying Round in the past but that was in 1990/91, and they will be seeking a place in the First Qualifying Round for the first time since 2013/14. Pontefract have only reached the next round twice, the last back in 1997/98, and that win over Runcorn was their first against a Hallmark Security League side.
Cammell Laird 1907 have had a disappointing start to the new season in the league, losing both of their opening two games, but they have done well in the FA Cup. They came from 3-1 down to force a replay at AFC Darwen which they then won 3-2, and they have been rewarded with a tie at Hyde United.
Hyde have had a strained couple of seasons in the league, just avoiding a third straight relegation last season, but they will provide a stern test for Lairds. Last season saw them lose to Northwich Vics in a rare reordered FA Cup game, but they have a long and proud FA Cup history. Lairds on the other hand are in their first ever FA Cup campaign.
Another side with a long FA Cup history are Bishop Auckland, who first entered the competition in 1891/92. They have reached the Fourth Round Proper in the past, but more recently have reached the First Qualifying Round in three of the last four years. They travel to Nelson, who themselves first entered the FA Cup in 1896/97. Their 2-1 win at Ashington in the last round was their first Cup win since 2002 when they lost to... Bishop Auckland!. Since that Cup win, things havent gone too well as they have lost their three league games since without scoring a goal, but they will fancy their chances at home.
Atherton Collieries have estalished themselves as one of the hardest teams to beat in recent years, and they are unbeaten this season so far. A 3-2 win over Bacup Borough in the last round was followed up by a win and a draw, and they face Witton Albion at home on Saturday.
It will be the third meeting in the FA Cup between the two sides. Witton won the 2000/01 meeting 1-0 and followed it up with a 4-0 win the following season. Witton have a long Cup history and reached the Second Qualifying Round last season before losing to FC United. Colls will be looking to reach the First Qualifying Round for the first time since 2012/13.
Congleton Town had a superb run in the FA Cup last season, losing in the Second Qualifying Round at Whitley Bay, and they will be looking for a repeat this season. They beat New Mills 3-0 in the last round, and have won one and lost one of their opening two games. They host Farsley Celtic on Saturday in another first ever meeting. Farsley are in only their fifth FA Cup campaign and they will be looking to replicate last season when they reached the First Qualifying Round before losing to Witton Albion.
Our final game involves Maine Road, who take on AFC Emley. Maine Road beat Nostell Miners Welfare after a replay in the last round, and have picked up just a point from their opening two games. They last reached the First Qualifying Round in 2012/13 when they lost to Warrington Town. AFC Emley are in their tenth FA Cup campaign and have yet to reach the First Qualifying Round. They finished fourth last season in NCEL Division One, but the man to watch out for is undoubtedly the hottest striker in football, Ashley Flynn, who hit an incredible 74 goals for the club last season, 50 of which came before Christmas!
Good luck to all our clubs in the competition on Saturday. Lets hope we can get eleven sides through
