FA Cup Preview - Saturday 19th August 2017
Fri 18th August 2017 | FA Challenge Cup | By Martin Fallon
The Preliminary Round of the Emirates FA Cup comes around this weekend, with 14 of our sides looking for a place in the next round. We are guaranteed three sides through due to all-Hallmark Security League ties, but the competition starts early for one of our sides as City of Liverpool travel to Prescot Cables this evening (7.45pm kick off).
The Purples have had a good start to the season after promotion last time out, winning the Reusch Champions Cup before progressing to this stage with a 2-1 away win at Padiham in the last round. In the league, they started with a thumping 5-0 home victory over Irlam in their opening league game, but went down to their first loss on Tuesday with Northwich Victoria getting the better of them in a five goal thriller at Townfield.
Jamie McDonald is their main goal threat with five goals so far this season, with Karl Noon not far behind with three. This is their first ever FA Cup campaign, and they have never met Prescot Cables before, although they have played at Valerie Park before, twice against St Helens Town last season and in a pre-season tournament earlier this year.
Prescot have played twice so far this season, both ending in 2-1 defeats. Their opener saw Jordan Southworth score a late consolation in a home defeat to Ossett Town, whilst they lost at Hyde United on Tuesday evening, Lloyd Dean hitting what was again a late consolation. Prescot's have twice reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup - the last coming in 1959/60 - whilst most recently they have gone out at this stage in four of the last eight years, including the last two seasons.
Onto Saturday's games, and one of the better games could come at the St Luke's Barton Stadium as 1874 Northwich take on West Didsbury & Chorlton. Both sides have had good starts to the season and both are unbeaten after three games, so something has to give in this encounter.
1874 beat rivals Northwich Victoria in the last round after a replay, and after overcoming Burscough in their opening league game, played out a thrilling 3-3 draw at home to Barnton on Tuesday evening. Scott McGowan hit a hat-trick in that tie, bringing his total for the season to five goals in four games played, whilst Adam Whitlock has also scored a couple.
West have scored 11 goals in their three games so far, a thumping 5-0 victory at Athersley Recreation being followed up with a 3-1 home win over Widnes on the opening day of the season. They also showed they can fightback however, recovering from 1-0 and 3-1 down to draw 3-3 at Bootle on Tuesday evening. Nic Evangelinos and ex-1874 striker Tom Bailey seem to have gelled well for West, both sitting on three goals, but West have had seven different scorers so far which shows their veritility.
Somebody will make the First Qualifying Round for the first time in this tie. 1874 have exited the FA Cup at this stage in each of their three seasons in it, whilst West have played in four previous Cup campaigns and gone out at this stage in three of them. The only time they didn't was when they lost 3-0 at 1874 in 2015, their only previous Cup meeting. Looking at all previous meetings, its a similar story, with 1874 winning all seven previous meetings between the sides, scoring 18 goals and conceding five.
Ashton Athletic host Runcorn Linnets in another intruiging tie, with both sides keeping two clean sheets so far in their three ties. Ashton won 4-0 at Squires Gate in the last round before losing their opening league game at home to Bootle 1-0. They recovered on Wednesday with another 4-0 away win, this time at AFC Darwen. Joel Brownhill is the man in form for Ashton, scoring a hat-trick against Gate before taking his tally for the season to five with a double on Wednesday.
Linnets overcame their Hemsworth Miners Welfare hoodoo in the last round, progressing comfortably with a 2-0 win, and this was followed up by a great start to the league season with another clean sheet in 4-0 win away at Abbey Hey. Their winning start came to an end on Tuesday evening though with Irlam holding them to a draw at home. Linnets' strength is that they can score from anywhere, and that is highlighted in their stats, with six different scorers on target for their seven goals.
The two sides have never met in the FA Cup before, although Linnets did win 2-0 at Ashton in the FA Vase in 2012. The other two Cup meetings have gone Ashton's way though, winning at Linnets in 2012/13 and last season. In the league they have met 20 times, Linnets winning 13, Ashton winning 6 with just one draw. As for the Cup, Linnets' best run came in 2013/14 when they reached the Third Qualifying Round, whilst Ashton's best was last season when they reached the Second Qualifying Round.
Our last all-Hallmark Security League tie sees Abbey Hey take on Maine Road. It's a fascinating game with Abbey yet to win at home and Maine Road yet to win on the road. Abbey had a good start to the season as they won 2-1 at Irlam in the last round, but their league campaign could not have got off to a worse start as they have conceded seven goals without reply in home losses to Runcorn Linnets and Widnes. Rhys Webb and Adam Farrand have scored their two goals so far.
As for Maine Road, they scored a 90th minute winner in the last round of the FA Cup as they overcame Winsford United, before losing their opening league game of the season by conceding a 90th minute goal at Runcorn Town. On Monday evening, they got their first win of the league campaign by coming from behind to beat Congleton Town 2-1. Road are another who have goals from anywhere, with six different goalscorers on target for their eight goals so far.
The two sides have met 21 times in the past, with Maine Road winning eleven times to Abbey Hey's six. All meetings have come in the league with the exception of a League Cup encounter that Abbey Hey won 2-0 in October 2014. Abbey Hey's best FA Cup run is the Second Qualifying Round which they have reached twice in the last five years, whilst Maine Road's best is also the Second Qualifying Round which they have reached five times, the last coming in 2001/02.
Of the seven ties against outside opponents, the draw has been unkind to us with only one facing a home tie. That comes at the Silentnight Stadium as Barnoldswick Town entertain Northern League side Dunston UTS. The two teams actually met last season in the FA Cup, drawing 2-2 in the Extra Preliminary Round before Dunston won 4-0 up in the North East, whilst they have also drawn each other in this season's FA Vase opener!
Barnoldswick had a good season last time out as they reached the Final of the Macron Cup, and they have strengthened ell over the summer. This recruitment paid off in the last round with Barlick securing their first ever FA Cup win by beating Jarrow Roofing 3-1, and after a 1-0 loss at Winsford United in their opening league game, they beat Burscough 5-2 on Tuesday evening.
Dunston won 3-0 at Washington in the last round of the Cup with Liam Thear grabbing all three goals, before they lost their opening league match of the season 4-2 at home to Shildon. However they have bounced back with two successive 2-0 wins, at home to Consett last Saturday and away at Washington on Tuesday night. In the FA Cup, Dunston have reached the Second Qualifying Round in two of the last three seasons, with their best being the Fourth Qualifying Round back in 2003/04.
Litherland REMYCA's debut FA Cup season continues as they travel to Northern Counties East League (NCEL) side Penistone Church. After missing out in the Play Off Final last season, REMYCA's season could not have got off to a better start with three wins from three games and no goals conceded. In the league so far, they opened with a 4-0 home win over Stockport Town before a 2-0 away win at Sandbach United on Wednesday night. As with others, their goals are spread around with seven players scoring their eight goals so far.
Penistone play in the First Division of the NCEL and scraped into the Cup as one of the lowest qualifiers as they finished sixth last season. That was just enough to get them into the Play Off's and they stunned the league with two great away victories to claim an unlikely promotion. They opened their season with a 6-2 home win over Rainworth Miners Welfare with Nathan Keightley grabbing a hat-trick. However they have lost their last two league games without scoring a goal, at Athersley Rec last Saturday and Garforth Town on Tuesday.
REMYCA qualified for the Cup by virtue of their third place finish last season, and they beat AFC Liverpool in the last round in front of the BBC TV cameras. Penistone are in their third season in the FA Cup, and they got their first ever Cup victory in the last round when they beat Charnock Richard. It's unknown territory for both sides, with one reaching the First Qualifying Round for the first time.
Our remaining sides all face tough looking trips away at Evostik League sides, with perhaps the most difficult task being that of Runcorn Town who travel to Frickley Athletic. Frickley have spent the last 30 successive years playing in the Evostik Premier, but were relegated to Step 4 for the first time in their history at the end of last season, and will be looking to bounce straight back. They opened their season with a 1-0 win away at Newcastle Town, but lost 2-1 at home to Cleethorpes Town on Tuesday evening.
Runcorn Town's season so far would be quite different if matches lasted 89 minutes, as they have won all three of their games so far this season with 90th minute goals! They reached this stage with a 3-2 win over AFC Darwen with Craig Cairns scoring a hat-trick, with Cairns also hitting the winner in Town's opening league game, a 4-3 win at home to Maine Road. They then came from behind on Tuesday evening to win 2-1 at AFC Liverpool, who else but Cairns hitting their stoppage time penalty.
Due to their previous level, this is first time Frickley have entered the Cup at the Preliminary Round stage since 1982/83, with their best ever Cup run coming in 1985/86 when they reached the Third Round Proper. They have also reached at least the First Round Proper on ten other occassions. As for Town, their best FA Cup run came in 2013/14 when they reached the Third Qualifying Round, that after three "giantkilling" acts en-route.
Congleton Town have face a trip to Hyde United, a tie with an animal theme as the Tigers meet the Bears. Hyde opened their season last Saturday with a goalless draw, a great result in what was Scarborough Athletic's first ever game at their new ground with an attendance of 1,385 at that game! They followed that up with a 2-1 home win over Prescot Cables on Tuesday, with Thomas Pratt scoring twice. Congleton got their season off to a great start with a 4-2 home win over New Mills in the last round, with Premier Division Player of the Year Declan Fletcher scoring twice. Fletcher then hit a hat-trick in their league opener, a 6-2 win over AFC Darwen, before they lost 2-1 at Maine Road on Monday evening.
This is actually the seventh FA Cup meeting between these two sides. In 1953/54 they played out a 5-5 draw in the First Qualifying Round, with Congleton winning the replay 1-0. Two seasons later Hyde won 3-1 at the same stage, before they were paired with each other again at the same stage the year after! This time they drew 3-3, with Hyde winning the replay 6-2. The sixth meeting came in 1973/74, Congleton winning 2-0. The best Cup runs for both these sides is the First Round Proper, Congleton's coming back in 1989/90 when they lost at Crewe Alexandra, whilst Hyde United's most recent (they have reached that stage twice) was five years later when they lost at Darlington.
Hanley Town travel to Alvechurch having reached the Preliminary Round stage for the second time in three Cup campaigns. Hanley are unbeaten so far this season, having recorded their biggest Cup win two weeks ago when they beat Atherstone Town 4-1, with Dan Cope scoring the clubs first hat-trick in FA Competitions. They then hit another four as they opened their league campaign with a 4-0 win over Squires Gate before drawing 1-1 with Winsford United on Wednesday evening.
Alvechurch won the Midland League last season which is the equivalent to our Premier Division, and achieved promotion to the Evostik League First Division South. In their league opener last Saturday they beat Leek Town 3-1 and continued their unbeaten start with a 1-1 draw at Gresley on Tuesday evening. Joshua Marsh is their leading scorer having scored two of their four goals so far.
Hanley's debut in the Cup came two seasons ago and they will be looking to progress past this round for the very first time. This will be the first time that they have played a higher ranked side in the FA Cup. Alvechurch have played in 14 previous Cup campaigns with the First Qualifying Round being their best run having reached that stage twice, the last in 2011/12.
Interestingly the old Alvechurch, who folded in 1993, hold two FA Cup records. The first was the longest ever FA Cup tie against Oxford City which lasted 11 hours in 1971/72 season. This was won 1-0 by Alvechurch in the FIFTH replay in a tie held at Aston Villa, the scoring sequence being 2-2, 1-1, 1-1, 0-0, 0-0, 1-0! The second record was their Third Round Proper tie against Bradford City in the 1973/74 season was the first ever FA Cup tie to be played on a Sunday, something that is commonplace these days.
Cammell Laird 1907 travel to Leek Town, with Lairds in confident mood having won two of their opening three games. Their first was in the last round of the Cup when they beat Maltby Main 4-1 whilst their other came on Tuesday night when they came from behind to beat FC Oswestry Town 3-1. Their other game, which was sandwiched in between these, was a 3-0 loss at Prestwich Heys.
Leek Town lost to Alvechurch on the opening day of their Evostik League season as we mentioned above, and they are still looking for that first win having drew 0-0 at home to Belper Town on Tuesday night. Timothy Grice is the scorer of their solitary goal this season.
Lairds are a relatively new side to the FA Cup with this being only their second season. Last year they went out at this stage losing 4-0 at Hyde United. Leek have reached the Second Round Proper once in their history, losing away at Chester City after a replay in 1990/91. They also reached the First Round Proper three seasons after that, losing at Wigan Athletic after a replay. More recently they reached the Fourth Qualifying Round two seasons ago but have gone out at the First Qualifying Round in each of the last two years.
Our final game sees Burscough travel to Radcliffe Borough. Burscough had a good pre-season and got their season off to a good start with a 3-0 win away at AFC Emley. However their league season has seen two defeats so far, a 1-0 home loss to 1874 Northwich on the opening day and a 5-2 loss at Barnoldswick Town on Tuesday night. They have had five different goalscorers though for their five games so far.
Radcliffe have had two games so far in the Evostik League and they have lost both of these which will give Burscough some confidence. Their opener last Saturday saw them lose 2-1 at home to Bamber Bridge whilst they lost 3-1 at Drolsden on Tuesday evening. Both of Radcliffe's goals so far have been scored by ex-Bootle and Runcorn Linnets striker Kurt Sherlock.
The history between these two sides is lengthy and in the FA Cup alone, they have met five times. The first was in 1971/72 when Burscough won 3-2, with Burscough also getting the better of Radcliffe in their next meeting in 1998/99. Two seasons later they met in the Final Qualifying Round, Radcliffe progressing this time by two goals to one after a replay. The final meeting was in 2013/14 when Burscough again won, 2-1 again the score this time.
Burscough's best run is reaching the Second Round Proper in 2005/06, a run that included knocking out League side Gillingham en-route. They have also reached the First Round Proper on four other occassions. Radcliffe have reached the First Round Proper once, that coming in 2000/01 season when they were beaten 4-1 by York City in a game that was played at Bury FC.
FA Cup Preview - Saturday 19th August 2017
Fri 18th August 2017 | FA Challenge Cup
By Martin Fallon
The Preliminary Round of the Emirates FA Cup comes around this weekend, with 14 of our sides looking for a place in the next round. We are guaranteed three sides through due to all-Hallmark Security League ties, but the competition starts early for one of our sides as City of Liverpool travel to Prescot Cables this evening (7.45pm kick off).
The Purples have had a good start to the season after promotion last time out, winning the Reusch Champions Cup before progressing to this stage with a 2-1 away win at Padiham in the last round. In the league, they started with a thumping 5-0 home victory over Irlam in their opening league game, but went down to their first loss on Tuesday with Northwich Victoria getting the better of them in a five goal thriller at Townfield.
Jamie McDonald is their main goal threat with five goals so far this season, with Karl Noon not far behind with three. This is their first ever FA Cup campaign, and they have never met Prescot Cables before, although they have played at Valerie Park before, twice against St Helens Town last season and in a pre-season tournament earlier this year.
Prescot have played twice so far this season, both ending in 2-1 defeats. Their opener saw Jordan Southworth score a late consolation in a home defeat to Ossett Town, whilst they lost at Hyde United on Tuesday evening, Lloyd Dean hitting what was again a late consolation. Prescot's have twice reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup - the last coming in 1959/60 - whilst most recently they have gone out at this stage in four of the last eight years, including the last two seasons.
Onto Saturday's games, and one of the better games could come at the St Luke's Barton Stadium as 1874 Northwich take on West Didsbury & Chorlton. Both sides have had good starts to the season and both are unbeaten after three games, so something has to give in this encounter.
1874 beat rivals Northwich Victoria in the last round after a replay, and after overcoming Burscough in their opening league game, played out a thrilling 3-3 draw at home to Barnton on Tuesday evening. Scott McGowan hit a hat-trick in that tie, bringing his total for the season to five goals in four games played, whilst Adam Whitlock has also scored a couple.
West have scored 11 goals in their three games so far, a thumping 5-0 victory at Athersley Recreation being followed up with a 3-1 home win over Widnes on the opening day of the season. They also showed they can fightback however, recovering from 1-0 and 3-1 down to draw 3-3 at Bootle on Tuesday evening. Nic Evangelinos and ex-1874 striker Tom Bailey seem to have gelled well for West, both sitting on three goals, but West have had seven different scorers so far which shows their veritility.
Somebody will make the First Qualifying Round for the first time in this tie. 1874 have exited the FA Cup at this stage in each of their three seasons in it, whilst West have played in four previous Cup campaigns and gone out at this stage in three of them. The only time they didn't was when they lost 3-0 at 1874 in 2015, their only previous Cup meeting. Looking at all previous meetings, its a similar story, with 1874 winning all seven previous meetings between the sides, scoring 18 goals and conceding five.
Ashton Athletic host Runcorn Linnets in another intruiging tie, with both sides keeping two clean sheets so far in their three ties. Ashton won 4-0 at Squires Gate in the last round before losing their opening league game at home to Bootle 1-0. They recovered on Wednesday with another 4-0 away win, this time at AFC Darwen. Joel Brownhill is the man in form for Ashton, scoring a hat-trick against Gate before taking his tally for the season to five with a double on Wednesday.
Linnets overcame their Hemsworth Miners Welfare hoodoo in the last round, progressing comfortably with a 2-0 win, and this was followed up by a great start to the league season with another clean sheet in 4-0 win away at Abbey Hey. Their winning start came to an end on Tuesday evening though with Irlam holding them to a draw at home. Linnets' strength is that they can score from anywhere, and that is highlighted in their stats, with six different scorers on target for their seven goals.
The two sides have never met in the FA Cup before, although Linnets did win 2-0 at Ashton in the FA Vase in 2012. The other two Cup meetings have gone Ashton's way though, winning at Linnets in 2012/13 and last season. In the league they have met 20 times, Linnets winning 13, Ashton winning 6 with just one draw. As for the Cup, Linnets' best run came in 2013/14 when they reached the Third Qualifying Round, whilst Ashton's best was last season when they reached the Second Qualifying Round.
Our last all-Hallmark Security League tie sees Abbey Hey take on Maine Road. It's a fascinating game with Abbey yet to win at home and Maine Road yet to win on the road. Abbey had a good start to the season as they won 2-1 at Irlam in the last round, but their league campaign could not have got off to a worse start as they have conceded seven goals without reply in home losses to Runcorn Linnets and Widnes. Rhys Webb and Adam Farrand have scored their two goals so far.
As for Maine Road, they scored a 90th minute winner in the last round of the FA Cup as they overcame Winsford United, before losing their opening league game of the season by conceding a 90th minute goal at Runcorn Town. On Monday evening, they got their first win of the league campaign by coming from behind to beat Congleton Town 2-1. Road are another who have goals from anywhere, with six different goalscorers on target for their eight goals so far.
The two sides have met 21 times in the past, with Maine Road winning eleven times to Abbey Hey's six. All meetings have come in the league with the exception of a League Cup encounter that Abbey Hey won 2-0 in October 2014. Abbey Hey's best FA Cup run is the Second Qualifying Round which they have reached twice in the last five years, whilst Maine Road's best is also the Second Qualifying Round which they have reached five times, the last coming in 2001/02.
Of the seven ties against outside opponents, the draw has been unkind to us with only one facing a home tie. That comes at the Silentnight Stadium as Barnoldswick Town entertain Northern League side Dunston UTS. The two teams actually met last season in the FA Cup, drawing 2-2 in the Extra Preliminary Round before Dunston won 4-0 up in the North East, whilst they have also drawn each other in this season's FA Vase opener!
Barnoldswick had a good season last time out as they reached the Final of the Macron Cup, and they have strengthened ell over the summer. This recruitment paid off in the last round with Barlick securing their first ever FA Cup win by beating Jarrow Roofing 3-1, and after a 1-0 loss at Winsford United in their opening league game, they beat Burscough 5-2 on Tuesday evening.
Dunston won 3-0 at Washington in the last round of the Cup with Liam Thear grabbing all three goals, before they lost their opening league match of the season 4-2 at home to Shildon. However they have bounced back with two successive 2-0 wins, at home to Consett last Saturday and away at Washington on Tuesday night. In the FA Cup, Dunston have reached the Second Qualifying Round in two of the last three seasons, with their best being the Fourth Qualifying Round back in 2003/04.
Litherland REMYCA's debut FA Cup season continues as they travel to Northern Counties East League (NCEL) side Penistone Church. After missing out in the Play Off Final last season, REMYCA's season could not have got off to a better start with three wins from three games and no goals conceded. In the league so far, they opened with a 4-0 home win over Stockport Town before a 2-0 away win at Sandbach United on Wednesday night. As with others, their goals are spread around with seven players scoring their eight goals so far.
Penistone play in the First Division of the NCEL and scraped into the Cup as one of the lowest qualifiers as they finished sixth last season. That was just enough to get them into the Play Off's and they stunned the league with two great away victories to claim an unlikely promotion. They opened their season with a 6-2 home win over Rainworth Miners Welfare with Nathan Keightley grabbing a hat-trick. However they have lost their last two league games without scoring a goal, at Athersley Rec last Saturday and Garforth Town on Tuesday.
REMYCA qualified for the Cup by virtue of their third place finish last season, and they beat AFC Liverpool in the last round in front of the BBC TV cameras. Penistone are in their third season in the FA Cup, and they got their first ever Cup victory in the last round when they beat Charnock Richard. It's unknown territory for both sides, with one reaching the First Qualifying Round for the first time.
Our remaining sides all face tough looking trips away at Evostik League sides, with perhaps the most difficult task being that of Runcorn Town who travel to Frickley Athletic. Frickley have spent the last 30 successive years playing in the Evostik Premier, but were relegated to Step 4 for the first time in their history at the end of last season, and will be looking to bounce straight back. They opened their season with a 1-0 win away at Newcastle Town, but lost 2-1 at home to Cleethorpes Town on Tuesday evening.
Runcorn Town's season so far would be quite different if matches lasted 89 minutes, as they have won all three of their games so far this season with 90th minute goals! They reached this stage with a 3-2 win over AFC Darwen with Craig Cairns scoring a hat-trick, with Cairns also hitting the winner in Town's opening league game, a 4-3 win at home to Maine Road. They then came from behind on Tuesday evening to win 2-1 at AFC Liverpool, who else but Cairns hitting their stoppage time penalty.
Due to their previous level, this is first time Frickley have entered the Cup at the Preliminary Round stage since 1982/83, with their best ever Cup run coming in 1985/86 when they reached the Third Round Proper. They have also reached at least the First Round Proper on ten other occassions. As for Town, their best FA Cup run came in 2013/14 when they reached the Third Qualifying Round, that after three "giantkilling" acts en-route.
Congleton Town have face a trip to Hyde United, a tie with an animal theme as the Tigers meet the Bears. Hyde opened their season last Saturday with a goalless draw, a great result in what was Scarborough Athletic's first ever game at their new ground with an attendance of 1,385 at that game! They followed that up with a 2-1 home win over Prescot Cables on Tuesday, with Thomas Pratt scoring twice. Congleton got their season off to a great start with a 4-2 home win over New Mills in the last round, with Premier Division Player of the Year Declan Fletcher scoring twice. Fletcher then hit a hat-trick in their league opener, a 6-2 win over AFC Darwen, before they lost 2-1 at Maine Road on Monday evening.
This is actually the seventh FA Cup meeting between these two sides. In 1953/54 they played out a 5-5 draw in the First Qualifying Round, with Congleton winning the replay 1-0. Two seasons later Hyde won 3-1 at the same stage, before they were paired with each other again at the same stage the year after! This time they drew 3-3, with Hyde winning the replay 6-2. The sixth meeting came in 1973/74, Congleton winning 2-0. The best Cup runs for both these sides is the First Round Proper, Congleton's coming back in 1989/90 when they lost at Crewe Alexandra, whilst Hyde United's most recent (they have reached that stage twice) was five years later when they lost at Darlington.
Hanley Town travel to Alvechurch having reached the Preliminary Round stage for the second time in three Cup campaigns. Hanley are unbeaten so far this season, having recorded their biggest Cup win two weeks ago when they beat Atherstone Town 4-1, with Dan Cope scoring the clubs first hat-trick in FA Competitions. They then hit another four as they opened their league campaign with a 4-0 win over Squires Gate before drawing 1-1 with Winsford United on Wednesday evening.
Alvechurch won the Midland League last season which is the equivalent to our Premier Division, and achieved promotion to the Evostik League First Division South. In their league opener last Saturday they beat Leek Town 3-1 and continued their unbeaten start with a 1-1 draw at Gresley on Tuesday evening. Joshua Marsh is their leading scorer having scored two of their four goals so far.
Hanley's debut in the Cup came two seasons ago and they will be looking to progress past this round for the very first time. This will be the first time that they have played a higher ranked side in the FA Cup. Alvechurch have played in 14 previous Cup campaigns with the First Qualifying Round being their best run having reached that stage twice, the last in 2011/12.
Interestingly the old Alvechurch, who folded in 1993, hold two FA Cup records. The first was the longest ever FA Cup tie against Oxford City which lasted 11 hours in 1971/72 season. This was won 1-0 by Alvechurch in the FIFTH replay in a tie held at Aston Villa, the scoring sequence being 2-2, 1-1, 1-1, 0-0, 0-0, 1-0! The second record was their Third Round Proper tie against Bradford City in the 1973/74 season was the first ever FA Cup tie to be played on a Sunday, something that is commonplace these days.
Cammell Laird 1907 travel to Leek Town, with Lairds in confident mood having won two of their opening three games. Their first was in the last round of the Cup when they beat Maltby Main 4-1 whilst their other came on Tuesday night when they came from behind to beat FC Oswestry Town 3-1. Their other game, which was sandwiched in between these, was a 3-0 loss at Prestwich Heys.
Leek Town lost to Alvechurch on the opening day of their Evostik League season as we mentioned above, and they are still looking for that first win having drew 0-0 at home to Belper Town on Tuesday night. Timothy Grice is the scorer of their solitary goal this season.
Lairds are a relatively new side to the FA Cup with this being only their second season. Last year they went out at this stage losing 4-0 at Hyde United. Leek have reached the Second Round Proper once in their history, losing away at Chester City after a replay in 1990/91. They also reached the First Round Proper three seasons after that, losing at Wigan Athletic after a replay. More recently they reached the Fourth Qualifying Round two seasons ago but have gone out at the First Qualifying Round in each of the last two years.
Our final game sees Burscough travel to Radcliffe Borough. Burscough had a good pre-season and got their season off to a good start with a 3-0 win away at AFC Emley. However their league season has seen two defeats so far, a 1-0 home loss to 1874 Northwich on the opening day and a 5-2 loss at Barnoldswick Town on Tuesday night. They have had five different goalscorers though for their five games so far.
Radcliffe have had two games so far in the Evostik League and they have lost both of these which will give Burscough some confidence. Their opener last Saturday saw them lose 2-1 at home to Bamber Bridge whilst they lost 3-1 at Drolsden on Tuesday evening. Both of Radcliffe's goals so far have been scored by ex-Bootle and Runcorn Linnets striker Kurt Sherlock.
The history between these two sides is lengthy and in the FA Cup alone, they have met five times. The first was in 1971/72 when Burscough won 3-2, with Burscough also getting the better of Radcliffe in their next meeting in 1998/99. Two seasons later they met in the Final Qualifying Round, Radcliffe progressing this time by two goals to one after a replay. The final meeting was in 2013/14 when Burscough again won, 2-1 again the score this time.
Burscough's best run is reaching the Second Round Proper in 2005/06, a run that included knocking out League side Gillingham en-route. They have also reached the First Round Proper on four other occassions. Radcliffe have reached the First Round Proper once, that coming in 2000/01 season when they were beaten 4-1 by York City in a game that was played at Bury FC.
