FA Cup Preview - Saturday 3rd September 2016
Fri 2nd September 2016 | FA Challenge Cup | By Martin Fallon
Saturday afternoon sees the return of the FA Cup as the competition reaches the First Qualifying Round stage. And after playing two rounds to get this far, five Hallmark Security League sides survive what is billed as the World's Oldest Knockout Competition.
Of course none of our sides will win the FA Cup. It's all about progressing as far as possible and writing club history as we go. Last season two of our sides - Abbey Hey and Congleton Town - reached the Second Qualifying Round, and we have to go back to 1996/97 for the last time one of our sides reached the First Round Proper as Newcastle Town lost 2-0 to Notts County in a game played at Stoke City's ground.
None of those sides are in Cup action on Saturday, so we will start with the lowest ranked side in the competition, Cheadle Town. In case you ever wondered, clubs in Non-League's Step 1 to 5 are guaranteed FA Cup football, with the remaining spaces filled by Step 6 clubs having the best Points per Game ratio (PPG) in the previous season.
The First Division side finished in 6th place last season, their 56 points from 34 games giving them 1.647 PPG, just above the cut off of 1.639 PPG which went to Blaby & Whetstone Athletic. It was the first time in three seasons that Cheadle have played in the Cup, and it's safe to say that they have grasped their opportunity in the Cup with both hands.
They started off with a 3-1 win at Penistone Church, coming from behind to win thanks to goals from Michael Sherrington, James Dunn and Luke Hincks, before a stunning 4-2 win away at Evostik South side Northwich Victoria in the last round. In that game they fell behind again, with Samuel Noar equalising and Sherrington scoring twice to make it 3-1. It stayed that way until the last minute when Thabiso Magida wrapped up the game, rendering Vics' last minute penalty meaningless.
That win put Cheadle into the First Qualifying Round for the fourth time in their history. On three of those occassions they have bowed out at this stage but nine years ago - the last time they reached this stage - they continued their Cup progress when they beat Atherton Collieries 5-2 and they will be hoping for a repeat of that.
On Saturday Cheadle are away for the third round running as they travel to Shawe View to face another Evostik League side in Trafford. The 2007/08 NWCFL Champions won 1-0 at Prescot Cables in the last round, and they have done well in the FA Cup having reached a club record Third Qualifying Round in two of the last four seasons. However that Prescot win was their first in the Cup for two seasons.
It will not be the first meeting in the FA Cup between the two sides, Trafford winning the only previous meeting in 2011/12 when Tom Benson's double helped them on their way to a 3-0 win. But after the win at Vics, who would bet against Cheadle coming up with another famous win.
Trafford have won just once in four Evostik North games this season, that coming on the opening day of the season, with Aaron Burns looking the danger man, scoring four times in their five games. Cheadle games this season have proved great value, 33 goals coming in their six games, with Samuel Noar already on six goals and Michael Sherrington on five.
One of the performances of the last round for me was by Ashton Athletic who overcame NCEL side Worksop Town. Their FA Cup adventure actually started with a 1-0 win at AFC Blackpool thanks to Joel Brownhill's goal, with Brownhill putting them ahead at Worksop early on in the next round. The home side turned it around to lead but Daniel Smith's penalty ensured a replay at Brocstedes Park last midweek.
In that replay, Worksop led twice, Adam Gilchrist equalising the first goal before Danny Regan struck SIX MINUTES into stoppage time to force extra time. The extra 30 couldn't separate them with penalties the outcome. Ashton converted every one of theirs with Martin Pearson saving Worksop's second and third penalties to put his side through to this round.
Their reward for that victory is a home game over another EvoStik side, Mossley. They lie sixth at present in Evostik North having won two of their four matches. In the last round of the Cup they beat Hemsworth Miners Welfare 4-0, Michael Fish scoring twice. Fish has scored four times this season, the same as strike partner Andrew Keogh, with the Lilywhites scoring 14 times so far in their five games.
Ashton also know where the net is though, with Isaac Kusaloka hitting a hat-trick last Saturday to take his goal tally for the season to five, and it promises to be a great encounter on Saturday.
Mossley last reached this stage in 2010/11 when they went on to the Final Qualifying Round where defeat by Darlington cost them a home tie against Bristol Rovers. But since then, they failed to win a single game in the Cup until the win over Hemsworth two weeks ago. Ashton have already set a record regardless of the result as they have never reached this stage of the competition before, but they will certainly be looking to continue setting records with a win on Saturday.
Also at home on Saturday is Squires Gate, who entertain Northern Counties East Premier Division side Handsworth Parramore. You could be forgiven for thinking Gate have the easiest passage with Handsworth playing at the same level, but they are one of the favourites for promotion having finished as runners up last season.
So far this season they have lost just once and sit in third place in the table. Away from home they are superb, winning all three games, scoring thirteen goals and not conceding. Goals is certainly their forte, with an incredible 32 goals scored so far in their eight games, with Thomas Dugdale, Jon Froggatt and Kieran Wells all scoring six, and 15 different players on target so far!
However they have conceded nine times so far, with Squires Gate more than capable of scoring goals themselves. Ric Seear has scored six so far after his switch from AFC Blackpool in the summer, with Ryan Tanser and Joe Noblet also in good form.
This will be Gate's first home game this season in the Cup having won 1-0 at Maltby Main and 4-3 at West Didsbury & Chorlton in the previous two rounds. Gate last reached this round two years ago before losing to Bamber Bridge in a replay, and they will be looking to reach the Second Qualifying Round for the first time since 2001/02, the only previous time they have got that far.
Hemsworth won 2-0 at Armthorpe Welfare in their first Cup game before stunning Evostik side Stocksbridge Park Steels in the last round 4-1. This is the further they have ever reach since forming two seasons ago, however Worksop Parramore - one of the teams who merged to form Handsworth - reached this round once two years ago before losing to Cammell Laird.
Maine Road face the trip to Burcough, one of the North West Counties League's founder clubs and runners up in 1997/98. The Linnets sit second bottom of Evostik North at present having failed to win a league game so far, but they did have a 4-1 win away at Parkgate in the last round. They have a long and proud FA Cup history, reaching the Second Round Proper as recently as 2005/06 when they knocked out League side Gillingham.
Maine Road sit 17th in the Premier Division but they are fourth in the form table due to their FA Cup results, and they showed what they are capable of last Saturday with a 2-1 win at AFC Liverpool. And looking through their goalscorers so far it is noticable that they can score goals from anywhere this season.
Maine Road have had an exciting Cup journey so far and will certainly attract some neutrals if previous games are anything to go off! A 3-3 draw at Nostell Miners Welfare in the first round saw a replay which they won 3-2, and in the last round they also won 3-2 against AFC Emley. They will be looking to reach the Second Qualifying Round for the seventh time, the last coming in 2001/02.
This will be the third meeting between the two sides in the FA Cup. In 1989/90 - Maine Road's first in the FA Cup - they beat Burscough 2-1 at this stage before losing to Colwyn Bay in the next round. And the very next season they met in the Preliminary Round stage with Maine Road winning 3-0. Again they reached the Second Qualifying Round before losing narrowly to Altrincham.
Our final game is the most eye catching to me personally as Winsford United travel to Whitby Town, members of the Evostik Premier Division since 1998/99. Both clubs have and a long FA Cup pedigree, Winsford first playing in the competition in 1924/25 and Whitby two seasons later.
Whitby currently sit in fourth place in the league and are unbeaten this season, with the best defensive record in the league. They have won both of their home games in the league so far, including a 4-0 home win over Frickley Athletic on Monday. This is their first FA Cup game of the season.
As for Winsford, they lie in 19th place in the Premier Division but they showed their capabilities a few weeks ago by winning 2-0 at Runcorn Linnets. This was followed up four days later with a 6-1 win at Alsager Town in the FA Cup, Nathan Cotterell's double making it five goals for the season. Travelling won't worry Lee Duckworth's men though, the Alsager game coming on the back of a 2-1 win away at Staveley Miners Welfare in the Extra Preliminary Round.
Winsford's success in the FA Cup has seen them reach the First Round Proper on three occassions, the most recent in 1997/98 when played Whitby en-route! Success has been hard to come by since then though, and this is their first appearance at this stage since 2004/05 when they reached the next round.
Whitby have been even more successful than Winsford, reaching the First Round Proper on eight occassions and the Second Round Proper twice (the first of which was a 1-0 loss to Wigan Athletic in 1983 which denied them an away trip to West Ham United). More recently though they haven't won a Cup game since 2012.
Like the last game, this will be the third meeting between the two sides in the FA Cup. In 1997/98 Winsford travelled up to the North East and returned having won 4-1. Six years later and another meeting in the North East. This time Whitby won 3-0 and they went on to reach the First Round Proper where they lost to Hartlepool.
So five clubs survive at present. How many will be left in at 5.00pm Saturday? All of them face tough games but all of the clubs will feel that they are winnable. Good luck to all five.
FA Cup Preview - Saturday 3rd September 2016
Fri 2nd September 2016 | FA Challenge Cup
By Martin Fallon
Saturday afternoon sees the return of the FA Cup as the competition reaches the First Qualifying Round stage. And after playing two rounds to get this far, five Hallmark Security League sides survive what is billed as the World's Oldest Knockout Competition.
Of course none of our sides will win the FA Cup. It's all about progressing as far as possible and writing club history as we go. Last season two of our sides - Abbey Hey and Congleton Town - reached the Second Qualifying Round, and we have to go back to 1996/97 for the last time one of our sides reached the First Round Proper as Newcastle Town lost 2-0 to Notts County in a game played at Stoke City's ground.
None of those sides are in Cup action on Saturday, so we will start with the lowest ranked side in the competition, Cheadle Town. In case you ever wondered, clubs in Non-League's Step 1 to 5 are guaranteed FA Cup football, with the remaining spaces filled by Step 6 clubs having the best Points per Game ratio (PPG) in the previous season.
The First Division side finished in 6th place last season, their 56 points from 34 games giving them 1.647 PPG, just above the cut off of 1.639 PPG which went to Blaby & Whetstone Athletic. It was the first time in three seasons that Cheadle have played in the Cup, and it's safe to say that they have grasped their opportunity in the Cup with both hands.
They started off with a 3-1 win at Penistone Church, coming from behind to win thanks to goals from Michael Sherrington, James Dunn and Luke Hincks, before a stunning 4-2 win away at Evostik South side Northwich Victoria in the last round. In that game they fell behind again, with Samuel Noar equalising and Sherrington scoring twice to make it 3-1. It stayed that way until the last minute when Thabiso Magida wrapped up the game, rendering Vics' last minute penalty meaningless.
That win put Cheadle into the First Qualifying Round for the fourth time in their history. On three of those occassions they have bowed out at this stage but nine years ago - the last time they reached this stage - they continued their Cup progress when they beat Atherton Collieries 5-2 and they will be hoping for a repeat of that.
On Saturday Cheadle are away for the third round running as they travel to Shawe View to face another Evostik League side in Trafford. The 2007/08 NWCFL Champions won 1-0 at Prescot Cables in the last round, and they have done well in the FA Cup having reached a club record Third Qualifying Round in two of the last four seasons. However that Prescot win was their first in the Cup for two seasons.
It will not be the first meeting in the FA Cup between the two sides, Trafford winning the only previous meeting in 2011/12 when Tom Benson's double helped them on their way to a 3-0 win. But after the win at Vics, who would bet against Cheadle coming up with another famous win.
Trafford have won just once in four Evostik North games this season, that coming on the opening day of the season, with Aaron Burns looking the danger man, scoring four times in their five games. Cheadle games this season have proved great value, 33 goals coming in their six games, with Samuel Noar already on six goals and Michael Sherrington on five.
One of the performances of the last round for me was by Ashton Athletic who overcame NCEL side Worksop Town. Their FA Cup adventure actually started with a 1-0 win at AFC Blackpool thanks to Joel Brownhill's goal, with Brownhill putting them ahead at Worksop early on in the next round. The home side turned it around to lead but Daniel Smith's penalty ensured a replay at Brocstedes Park last midweek.
In that replay, Worksop led twice, Adam Gilchrist equalising the first goal before Danny Regan struck SIX MINUTES into stoppage time to force extra time. The extra 30 couldn't separate them with penalties the outcome. Ashton converted every one of theirs with Martin Pearson saving Worksop's second and third penalties to put his side through to this round.
Their reward for that victory is a home game over another EvoStik side, Mossley. They lie sixth at present in Evostik North having won two of their four matches. In the last round of the Cup they beat Hemsworth Miners Welfare 4-0, Michael Fish scoring twice. Fish has scored four times this season, the same as strike partner Andrew Keogh, with the Lilywhites scoring 14 times so far in their five games.
Ashton also know where the net is though, with Isaac Kusaloka hitting a hat-trick last Saturday to take his goal tally for the season to five, and it promises to be a great encounter on Saturday.
Mossley last reached this stage in 2010/11 when they went on to the Final Qualifying Round where defeat by Darlington cost them a home tie against Bristol Rovers. But since then, they failed to win a single game in the Cup until the win over Hemsworth two weeks ago. Ashton have already set a record regardless of the result as they have never reached this stage of the competition before, but they will certainly be looking to continue setting records with a win on Saturday.
Also at home on Saturday is Squires Gate, who entertain Northern Counties East Premier Division side Handsworth Parramore. You could be forgiven for thinking Gate have the easiest passage with Handsworth playing at the same level, but they are one of the favourites for promotion having finished as runners up last season.
So far this season they have lost just once and sit in third place in the table. Away from home they are superb, winning all three games, scoring thirteen goals and not conceding. Goals is certainly their forte, with an incredible 32 goals scored so far in their eight games, with Thomas Dugdale, Jon Froggatt and Kieran Wells all scoring six, and 15 different players on target so far!
However they have conceded nine times so far, with Squires Gate more than capable of scoring goals themselves. Ric Seear has scored six so far after his switch from AFC Blackpool in the summer, with Ryan Tanser and Joe Noblet also in good form.
This will be Gate's first home game this season in the Cup having won 1-0 at Maltby Main and 4-3 at West Didsbury & Chorlton in the previous two rounds. Gate last reached this round two years ago before losing to Bamber Bridge in a replay, and they will be looking to reach the Second Qualifying Round for the first time since 2001/02, the only previous time they have got that far.
Hemsworth won 2-0 at Armthorpe Welfare in their first Cup game before stunning Evostik side Stocksbridge Park Steels in the last round 4-1. This is the further they have ever reach since forming two seasons ago, however Worksop Parramore - one of the teams who merged to form Handsworth - reached this round once two years ago before losing to Cammell Laird.
Maine Road face the trip to Burcough, one of the North West Counties League's founder clubs and runners up in 1997/98. The Linnets sit second bottom of Evostik North at present having failed to win a league game so far, but they did have a 4-1 win away at Parkgate in the last round. They have a long and proud FA Cup history, reaching the Second Round Proper as recently as 2005/06 when they knocked out League side Gillingham.
Maine Road sit 17th in the Premier Division but they are fourth in the form table due to their FA Cup results, and they showed what they are capable of last Saturday with a 2-1 win at AFC Liverpool. And looking through their goalscorers so far it is noticable that they can score goals from anywhere this season.
Maine Road have had an exciting Cup journey so far and will certainly attract some neutrals if previous games are anything to go off! A 3-3 draw at Nostell Miners Welfare in the first round saw a replay which they won 3-2, and in the last round they also won 3-2 against AFC Emley. They will be looking to reach the Second Qualifying Round for the seventh time, the last coming in 2001/02.
This will be the third meeting between the two sides in the FA Cup. In 1989/90 - Maine Road's first in the FA Cup - they beat Burscough 2-1 at this stage before losing to Colwyn Bay in the next round. And the very next season they met in the Preliminary Round stage with Maine Road winning 3-0. Again they reached the Second Qualifying Round before losing narrowly to Altrincham.
Our final game is the most eye catching to me personally as Winsford United travel to Whitby Town, members of the Evostik Premier Division since 1998/99. Both clubs have and a long FA Cup pedigree, Winsford first playing in the competition in 1924/25 and Whitby two seasons later.
Whitby currently sit in fourth place in the league and are unbeaten this season, with the best defensive record in the league. They have won both of their home games in the league so far, including a 4-0 home win over Frickley Athletic on Monday. This is their first FA Cup game of the season.
As for Winsford, they lie in 19th place in the Premier Division but they showed their capabilities a few weeks ago by winning 2-0 at Runcorn Linnets. This was followed up four days later with a 6-1 win at Alsager Town in the FA Cup, Nathan Cotterell's double making it five goals for the season. Travelling won't worry Lee Duckworth's men though, the Alsager game coming on the back of a 2-1 win away at Staveley Miners Welfare in the Extra Preliminary Round.
Winsford's success in the FA Cup has seen them reach the First Round Proper on three occassions, the most recent in 1997/98 when played Whitby en-route! Success has been hard to come by since then though, and this is their first appearance at this stage since 2004/05 when they reached the next round.
Whitby have been even more successful than Winsford, reaching the First Round Proper on eight occassions and the Second Round Proper twice (the first of which was a 1-0 loss to Wigan Athletic in 1983 which denied them an away trip to West Ham United). More recently though they haven't won a Cup game since 2012.
Like the last game, this will be the third meeting between the two sides in the FA Cup. In 1997/98 Winsford travelled up to the North East and returned having won 4-1. Six years later and another meeting in the North East. This time Whitby won 3-0 and they went on to reach the First Round Proper where they lost to Hartlepool.
So five clubs survive at present. How many will be left in at 5.00pm Saturday? All of them face tough games but all of the clubs will feel that they are winnable. Good luck to all five.
