FA Vase Second Round Preview - Saturday 11 November 2017
Fri 10th November 2017 | FA Challenge Vase | By Martin Fallon
The Second Qualifying Round of the Buildbase FA Vase rolls around this weekend with 128 teams still in the reckoning for a place at Wembley Stadium in the Final next May. Despite this being a national competition, the draw is still regionalised until the Last 16 stage with the draw currently split into five different zones.
Of our remaining six sides, five of them are in Zone 1 which stretches from the Scottish border to Worksop in the south. This is the reason that many of our sides face Northern League competition in the FA Vase early on. In fact the only one of our sides who are not in Zone 1 are Alsager Town, who were moved to Zone 2 following the last round alongside AFC Mansfield. Their Zone stretches from Alsager down to Godmanchester, which is just outside Cambridge.
Racing Club Warwick v Alsager Town
Given that they are the only First Division side left in the competition, it makes sense to start this preview with Alsager Town. They travel to Midland League First Division side Racing Club Warwick.
Warwick have been around since 1919 when they were formed as Saltisford Rovers. They played local football until 1967, changing their name three years after this to Racing Club Warwick because their ground was near to Warwick Racecourse. They progressed through the Midland League into the Southern League in 1989 and they remained in the Southern League until 1988. Following a couple of relegations, they now find themselves in the Midland League First Division.
Alsager sit in 4th position in the First Division, and come into this came on the back of superb run of form that has seen them lose just one of their last sixteen games. They've had a week to prepare since their last game at Holker Old Boys, a goalless draw that saw them extend their time without conceding a goal to 290 minutes. Their defence is amongst the best in the First Divsion this season, whilst only Prestwich Heys have scored more than their 51 goals. The most pleasing for manager Wayne Brotherton would be the fact that those goals have come from all over the pitch, with 17 different players finding the net for Alsager so far this season.
As for Racing Club Warwick, they are in 8th place in their division and like Alsager, come into this game on a great run of form themselves. Five second half goals saw them beat Nuneaton Griff last Saturday, that being their ninth win from the last ten games with the other game being a draw. Defensively Warwick are also strong and have not conceded a goal themselves for 279 minutes, but they also know where the net is having scored 44 goals so far this season in their 17 games. 36 of those goals have come in their last ten games with 14 different players scoring for them. Sean Kavanagh has scored seven, Luke Church six and Luke Dominic Cole five.
This is the second time in three seasons that Alsager have reached the Second Round of the FA Vase, with the last time in 2015/16 being their best ever run in the competition when they reached the Third Round. So far this season they have beaten New Mills (3-2), Nostell Miners Welfare (5-1) and Runcorn Town (5-2). As for Racing Club Warwick, they first entered the Vase 41 years ago, reaching the Fourth Round in their second season, and more recently also reached this round two seasons ago when they lost to Cleethorpes Town. So far they have beaten Leicester Road (4-1), Coventry Copsewood (7-1) and Clipstone (2-0).
Ashton Athletic v Morpeth Town
Morpeth Town are another old North East club who were founded in 1893, and have spent much of their history as a mid-table side in the Northern Football Alliance. They won their league for only the second time in their centenary season, and have played in the Northern League since then. The club almost folded in 2010/11 when they finished bottom of the league but a new committee resurrected the club, and in 2015/16 they had their finest hour when they won the FA Vase at Wembley. So far this season they are flying, and sit proudly on top of the Northern League table.
They travel to Ashton Athletic, who are having a brilliant season so far in both league and cup. The league table sees them in 11th place, but they have up to six games in hand on teams above them, primarily due to their superb FA Cup run that saw them reach the Second Qualifying Round. Ashton’s success has come about with the best attack in the Premier Division, finding the net 56 times in 19 games at an average of just under 3 goals per game. Dale Korie Butler is leading goalscorer with 18 goals, and was recently named League Player of the Month for October. Defensively they are also sound, having the third best defence in the league, conceding just 21 times in their 19 games.
Morpeth currently sit in top spot in Northern League Division One and are on a great run of form, unbeaten in their last 13 games stretching back to the start of September. They have played 21 games so far this season, scoring 57 goals in total and keeping six clean sheets. More recently, they have won their last five games in all competitions, including three of them away from home. Liam Henderson is leading goalscorer with 12 goals so far, with Sean Taylor just behind on ten goals.
Ashton Athletic have beaten Maltby Main (3-1) and Liversedge (4-2) so far in the competition, and are into the Second Round for the first time since their debut in the Vase back in 2007/08. They will be looking to reach the Third Round for the first time. Morpeth are former winners of the competition, and this is the sixth successive season that they have reached the Second Round. They have not played in the competition so far by virtue of reaching the last 32 last season, therefore receiving a bye to this stage.
Ryhope CW v City Of Liverpool
Ryhope CW are one of the oldest clubs in the North East, formed by the Coal Miners of Ryhope in 1892. Their full title is therefore Ryhope Colliery Welfare, and they were founder members of the Wearside League, spending the vast majority of their history in that league. They won the quadruple in 2010/11, and then incredibly retained all four trophies the following year before stepping up to the Northern League, where they have since won promotion again to Division One.
Against this old and historic club are one of the youngest clubs in the competition in City of Liverpool. This is their first ever away game in the Vase, and indications are that they will have a superb following in the North East with several coaches already sold out. The Purples had a great season last season winning two cups plus promotion via the play offs, but will be disappointed that they had no run of note in FA competitions. They put that right in the FA Cup earlier in the season, and have had two great successes in the FA Vase so far, keeping clean sheets in both ties and scoring nine goals. Their form has been a little patchy of late, with just two wins in their last nine games, but any team that has scored 57 goals so far this season is always in with a chance in any game.
Ryhope are 11th in Northern League Division One and are very up and down, both winning and losing eight league games this season. At home they have played six league games, losing four of them but scoring just six goals in the process, which is the lowest in the league. Despite that they are prolific in the FA Vase, and are the competitions leading goalscorers so far! Three games played, all at home, with Ryhope winning them 7-1, 2-0 and 10-1! Since that big victory in the last round though they have struggled, losing four of the five games that they have played. The last two of these were both at home, last Saturday to Team Northumbria and on Tuesday to Penrith, and they lost both of those games 1-0.
This is the third time in four seasons that Ryhope have reached the Second Round of the FA Vase, and they will be looking to reach the Third Round for the first time. City of Liverpool have never reached this stage before with this being only their second Vase campaign, but manager Simon Burton has extensive Vase experience having reached the last 16 before with Runcorn Town. The purples have beaten AFC Liverpool (2-0) and Dronfield Town (7-0) so far.
Runcorn Linnets v Sunderland RCA
Sunderland RCA are less than a mile away from Ryhope CW, the RCA standing for Ryhope Community Association. They were formed as Ryhope Youth Club in 1963, becoming Ryhope Community Association in 1971. After building Meadow Park in the late 1970's, they became founder members of the Northern League Division Two in 1982. They merged with Kennek Roker in 1999 to become Kennek Ryhope and changed name to Sunderland RCA in 2006.
They face a long trip to Runcorn to face the Linnets in what is only their fourth home game in the competition in the last five seasons. Linnets sit second in the Premier Division at present, winning 11 of the 17 games that they have played in the league this season, and they are also the leading goalscorers in the division with 51 league goals scored. At home they are unbeaten so far this season, and in their ten games at home in all competitions, they have scored 35 goals. It’s not all about the attack at Linnets though, with their 23 goals conceded in 22 games giving them the best defence in the Premier Division this season. They have also registered nine clean sheets also, which again is the best in the division.
Sunderland are seventh in Northern League Division One. They have played 24 times this season, primarily due to a fine FA Cup run that saw them reach the Second Qualifying Round. They have lost only one of their last eight games, but that was as recent as last Saturday when they lost 4-3 at Seaham Red Star. And it is on the road where they struggle, with five losses so far this season coming away from home, failing to score in four of those losses. They do know where the net is though, scoring 53 times this season so far, with Nathan O`Neill leading goalscorer with 13 goals.
Its fair to say that Runcorn Linnets have underperformed in the FA Vase so far, and their best is the Third Round which they reached in 2008/09, losing to holders AFC Flyde. Linnets received a bye to the First Round, and beat Team Northumbria (3-2 in a replay). This is Sunderland’s first tie in this season’s FA Vase due to their success in the competition last season. They reached the last 16 for the second year in succession, which is the club’s best ever run in the competition.
Stockton Town v Bootle
Stockton Town were founded in 1979 as Hartburn Juniors, and for much of their life have been primarily a junior football club. They only added a First Team in 2009/10, and after moving to the Wearside League for their second season, have made unbelievable progress since. They won their first league title in 2012/13, and continued to win the title until they achieved promotion to the Northern League in 2016/17. Their first season in the NL last season saw them win the Division Two title, their fifth successive league championship!
Bootle take the coach up to Stockton, with Joe Doran and Phil Stafford’s men no strangers to long coach trips. Incredibly this is their eighth successive away tie in FA Competitions, the FA seemingly unaware that the Bucks have a home ground to play on! Bootle come into this game in fourth place in the Premier Division at present, and are not in the best run of form having lost two of their last three games. But write the Bucks off at your peril, as they will always score goals to see them through matches, finding the net 44 times in 17 league games so far. Striker Ryan Cox is handily placed in the leading goalscorer charts with 14 goals so far this season, but he is ably supported by his teammates with 16 different players scoring so far this season.
Stockton sit 15th in Northern League Division One, an unusual position for them given their recent title successes. They have lost ten of their 18 games in the league so far, which is more losses than they have had in the last four seasons combined! There are signs that they are picking up though, with their 1-0 win at Newton Aycliffe on Tuesday evening being their eighth win in their last ten games. That was also only their third clean sheet of the season, whilst thy have failed to score in just three of their 22 games so far. Jamie Owens is leading goalscorer with ten goals.
Stockton have so far beaten Consett (4-3 AET) and Whickham (2-0) in the Vase, and will be looking to reach the Third Round for the very first time, their best being the Second Round last season in what was only their second ever FA Vase campaign. Bootle received a bye to the First Round, and beat Rossington Main (4-3 AET), whilst their best is the Fourth Round which they have reached on two occasions.
1874 Northwich v Tow Law Town
Tow Law Town are the oldest of all our opponents this weekend, formed in 1890 as Tow Law before adding Town to their name in 1905. They played in a variety of local leagues before joining the Northern League in 1920 and won their first league title in 1924. They have never been promoted or demoted from the Northern League since joining it, and have won five league titles in total. Tow Law reached the Second Round of the FA Cup in 1967, and were drawn against the mighty Arsenal should they overcome Shrewsbury in a replay. Alas they couldn’t, they lost 5-2!
Again it’s a case of very old club against pretty new club, with this only being 1874 Northwich’s fifth season in existence. Like Ashton Athletic, 1874 Northwich’s season has been dominated with cup ties, and of 24 games that they have played this season, 14 of them have come in knockout competitions! 1874 are in 18th place in the league table, but it is something of a false position having played just ten times, seven games less than many in the league. 1874 do come into this game in good form though having won their last four games in all competitions, including a 4-1 win over Macclesfield Town on Tuesday evening. Greg Hall won League Goalkeeper of the Month for September, and he has kept seven clean sheets this season.
Tow Law are the league below 1874 Northwich in Northern League Division Two, however they are currently top of the table and in good form. They have won 15 of the 23 games that they have played so far this season and scored a very impressive 62 goals, with Dean Thexton scoring 14 times and Lewis Teasdale scoring 13 times. However more recently they have only won three of the last six games that they have played. Tow Law’s games are usually entertaining encounters with lots of goals, the Lawyers keeping just two clean sheets this season, but failing to score in just two games also.
1874’s best run in the FA Vase came three seasons ago when they reached the Third Round, whilst this is the fourth successive year that they have reached at least the Second Round. So far this season they have beaten Vauxhall Motors (5-4 AET), Congleton Town (1-0 in a replay) and Irlam (4-1). Tow Law have beaten Crook Town (3-2), Penrith (5-1) and Bridlington Town (2-1) so far, all of which have come at home, but they are seasoned FA Vase campaigners. They reached the Final in 1997/98, the lowest sized Town ever to play at Wembley, losing to Tiverton Town 1-0 underneath the Twin Towers.
FA Vase Second Round Preview - Saturday 11 November 2017
Fri 10th November 2017 | FA Challenge Vase
By Martin Fallon
The Second Qualifying Round of the Buildbase FA Vase rolls around this weekend with 128 teams still in the reckoning for a place at Wembley Stadium in the Final next May. Despite this being a national competition, the draw is still regionalised until the Last 16 stage with the draw currently split into five different zones.
Of our remaining six sides, five of them are in Zone 1 which stretches from the Scottish border to Worksop in the south. This is the reason that many of our sides face Northern League competition in the FA Vase early on. In fact the only one of our sides who are not in Zone 1 are Alsager Town, who were moved to Zone 2 following the last round alongside AFC Mansfield. Their Zone stretches from Alsager down to Godmanchester, which is just outside Cambridge.
Racing Club Warwick v Alsager Town
Given that they are the only First Division side left in the competition, it makes sense to start this preview with Alsager Town. They travel to Midland League First Division side Racing Club Warwick.
Warwick have been around since 1919 when they were formed as Saltisford Rovers. They played local football until 1967, changing their name three years after this to Racing Club Warwick because their ground was near to Warwick Racecourse. They progressed through the Midland League into the Southern League in 1989 and they remained in the Southern League until 1988. Following a couple of relegations, they now find themselves in the Midland League First Division.
Alsager sit in 4th position in the First Division, and come into this came on the back of superb run of form that has seen them lose just one of their last sixteen games. They've had a week to prepare since their last game at Holker Old Boys, a goalless draw that saw them extend their time without conceding a goal to 290 minutes. Their defence is amongst the best in the First Divsion this season, whilst only Prestwich Heys have scored more than their 51 goals. The most pleasing for manager Wayne Brotherton would be the fact that those goals have come from all over the pitch, with 17 different players finding the net for Alsager so far this season.
As for Racing Club Warwick, they are in 8th place in their division and like Alsager, come into this game on a great run of form themselves. Five second half goals saw them beat Nuneaton Griff last Saturday, that being their ninth win from the last ten games with the other game being a draw. Defensively Warwick are also strong and have not conceded a goal themselves for 279 minutes, but they also know where the net is having scored 44 goals so far this season in their 17 games. 36 of those goals have come in their last ten games with 14 different players scoring for them. Sean Kavanagh has scored seven, Luke Church six and Luke Dominic Cole five.
This is the second time in three seasons that Alsager have reached the Second Round of the FA Vase, with the last time in 2015/16 being their best ever run in the competition when they reached the Third Round. So far this season they have beaten New Mills (3-2), Nostell Miners Welfare (5-1) and Runcorn Town (5-2). As for Racing Club Warwick, they first entered the Vase 41 years ago, reaching the Fourth Round in their second season, and more recently also reached this round two seasons ago when they lost to Cleethorpes Town. So far they have beaten Leicester Road (4-1), Coventry Copsewood (7-1) and Clipstone (2-0).
Ashton Athletic v Morpeth Town
Morpeth Town are another old North East club who were founded in 1893, and have spent much of their history as a mid-table side in the Northern Football Alliance. They won their league for only the second time in their centenary season, and have played in the Northern League since then. The club almost folded in 2010/11 when they finished bottom of the league but a new committee resurrected the club, and in 2015/16 they had their finest hour when they won the FA Vase at Wembley. So far this season they are flying, and sit proudly on top of the Northern League table.
They travel to Ashton Athletic, who are having a brilliant season so far in both league and cup. The league table sees them in 11th place, but they have up to six games in hand on teams above them, primarily due to their superb FA Cup run that saw them reach the Second Qualifying Round. Ashton’s success has come about with the best attack in the Premier Division, finding the net 56 times in 19 games at an average of just under 3 goals per game. Dale Korie Butler is leading goalscorer with 18 goals, and was recently named League Player of the Month for October. Defensively they are also sound, having the third best defence in the league, conceding just 21 times in their 19 games.
Morpeth currently sit in top spot in Northern League Division One and are on a great run of form, unbeaten in their last 13 games stretching back to the start of September. They have played 21 games so far this season, scoring 57 goals in total and keeping six clean sheets. More recently, they have won their last five games in all competitions, including three of them away from home. Liam Henderson is leading goalscorer with 12 goals so far, with Sean Taylor just behind on ten goals.
Ashton Athletic have beaten Maltby Main (3-1) and Liversedge (4-2) so far in the competition, and are into the Second Round for the first time since their debut in the Vase back in 2007/08. They will be looking to reach the Third Round for the first time. Morpeth are former winners of the competition, and this is the sixth successive season that they have reached the Second Round. They have not played in the competition so far by virtue of reaching the last 32 last season, therefore receiving a bye to this stage.
Ryhope CW v City Of Liverpool
Ryhope CW are one of the oldest clubs in the North East, formed by the Coal Miners of Ryhope in 1892. Their full title is therefore Ryhope Colliery Welfare, and they were founder members of the Wearside League, spending the vast majority of their history in that league. They won the quadruple in 2010/11, and then incredibly retained all four trophies the following year before stepping up to the Northern League, where they have since won promotion again to Division One.
Against this old and historic club are one of the youngest clubs in the competition in City of Liverpool. This is their first ever away game in the Vase, and indications are that they will have a superb following in the North East with several coaches already sold out. The Purples had a great season last season winning two cups plus promotion via the play offs, but will be disappointed that they had no run of note in FA competitions. They put that right in the FA Cup earlier in the season, and have had two great successes in the FA Vase so far, keeping clean sheets in both ties and scoring nine goals. Their form has been a little patchy of late, with just two wins in their last nine games, but any team that has scored 57 goals so far this season is always in with a chance in any game.
Ryhope are 11th in Northern League Division One and are very up and down, both winning and losing eight league games this season. At home they have played six league games, losing four of them but scoring just six goals in the process, which is the lowest in the league. Despite that they are prolific in the FA Vase, and are the competitions leading goalscorers so far! Three games played, all at home, with Ryhope winning them 7-1, 2-0 and 10-1! Since that big victory in the last round though they have struggled, losing four of the five games that they have played. The last two of these were both at home, last Saturday to Team Northumbria and on Tuesday to Penrith, and they lost both of those games 1-0.
This is the third time in four seasons that Ryhope have reached the Second Round of the FA Vase, and they will be looking to reach the Third Round for the first time. City of Liverpool have never reached this stage before with this being only their second Vase campaign, but manager Simon Burton has extensive Vase experience having reached the last 16 before with Runcorn Town. The purples have beaten AFC Liverpool (2-0) and Dronfield Town (7-0) so far.
Runcorn Linnets v Sunderland RCA
Sunderland RCA are less than a mile away from Ryhope CW, the RCA standing for Ryhope Community Association. They were formed as Ryhope Youth Club in 1963, becoming Ryhope Community Association in 1971. After building Meadow Park in the late 1970's, they became founder members of the Northern League Division Two in 1982. They merged with Kennek Roker in 1999 to become Kennek Ryhope and changed name to Sunderland RCA in 2006.
They face a long trip to Runcorn to face the Linnets in what is only their fourth home game in the competition in the last five seasons. Linnets sit second in the Premier Division at present, winning 11 of the 17 games that they have played in the league this season, and they are also the leading goalscorers in the division with 51 league goals scored. At home they are unbeaten so far this season, and in their ten games at home in all competitions, they have scored 35 goals. It’s not all about the attack at Linnets though, with their 23 goals conceded in 22 games giving them the best defence in the Premier Division this season. They have also registered nine clean sheets also, which again is the best in the division.
Sunderland are seventh in Northern League Division One. They have played 24 times this season, primarily due to a fine FA Cup run that saw them reach the Second Qualifying Round. They have lost only one of their last eight games, but that was as recent as last Saturday when they lost 4-3 at Seaham Red Star. And it is on the road where they struggle, with five losses so far this season coming away from home, failing to score in four of those losses. They do know where the net is though, scoring 53 times this season so far, with Nathan O`Neill leading goalscorer with 13 goals.
Its fair to say that Runcorn Linnets have underperformed in the FA Vase so far, and their best is the Third Round which they reached in 2008/09, losing to holders AFC Flyde. Linnets received a bye to the First Round, and beat Team Northumbria (3-2 in a replay). This is Sunderland’s first tie in this season’s FA Vase due to their success in the competition last season. They reached the last 16 for the second year in succession, which is the club’s best ever run in the competition.
Stockton Town v Bootle
Stockton Town were founded in 1979 as Hartburn Juniors, and for much of their life have been primarily a junior football club. They only added a First Team in 2009/10, and after moving to the Wearside League for their second season, have made unbelievable progress since. They won their first league title in 2012/13, and continued to win the title until they achieved promotion to the Northern League in 2016/17. Their first season in the NL last season saw them win the Division Two title, their fifth successive league championship!
Bootle take the coach up to Stockton, with Joe Doran and Phil Stafford’s men no strangers to long coach trips. Incredibly this is their eighth successive away tie in FA Competitions, the FA seemingly unaware that the Bucks have a home ground to play on! Bootle come into this game in fourth place in the Premier Division at present, and are not in the best run of form having lost two of their last three games. But write the Bucks off at your peril, as they will always score goals to see them through matches, finding the net 44 times in 17 league games so far. Striker Ryan Cox is handily placed in the leading goalscorer charts with 14 goals so far this season, but he is ably supported by his teammates with 16 different players scoring so far this season.
Stockton sit 15th in Northern League Division One, an unusual position for them given their recent title successes. They have lost ten of their 18 games in the league so far, which is more losses than they have had in the last four seasons combined! There are signs that they are picking up though, with their 1-0 win at Newton Aycliffe on Tuesday evening being their eighth win in their last ten games. That was also only their third clean sheet of the season, whilst thy have failed to score in just three of their 22 games so far. Jamie Owens is leading goalscorer with ten goals.
Stockton have so far beaten Consett (4-3 AET) and Whickham (2-0) in the Vase, and will be looking to reach the Third Round for the very first time, their best being the Second Round last season in what was only their second ever FA Vase campaign. Bootle received a bye to the First Round, and beat Rossington Main (4-3 AET), whilst their best is the Fourth Round which they have reached on two occasions.
1874 Northwich v Tow Law Town
Tow Law Town are the oldest of all our opponents this weekend, formed in 1890 as Tow Law before adding Town to their name in 1905. They played in a variety of local leagues before joining the Northern League in 1920 and won their first league title in 1924. They have never been promoted or demoted from the Northern League since joining it, and have won five league titles in total. Tow Law reached the Second Round of the FA Cup in 1967, and were drawn against the mighty Arsenal should they overcome Shrewsbury in a replay. Alas they couldn’t, they lost 5-2!
Again it’s a case of very old club against pretty new club, with this only being 1874 Northwich’s fifth season in existence. Like Ashton Athletic, 1874 Northwich’s season has been dominated with cup ties, and of 24 games that they have played this season, 14 of them have come in knockout competitions! 1874 are in 18th place in the league table, but it is something of a false position having played just ten times, seven games less than many in the league. 1874 do come into this game in good form though having won their last four games in all competitions, including a 4-1 win over Macclesfield Town on Tuesday evening. Greg Hall won League Goalkeeper of the Month for September, and he has kept seven clean sheets this season.
Tow Law are the league below 1874 Northwich in Northern League Division Two, however they are currently top of the table and in good form. They have won 15 of the 23 games that they have played so far this season and scored a very impressive 62 goals, with Dean Thexton scoring 14 times and Lewis Teasdale scoring 13 times. However more recently they have only won three of the last six games that they have played. Tow Law’s games are usually entertaining encounters with lots of goals, the Lawyers keeping just two clean sheets this season, but failing to score in just two games also.
1874’s best run in the FA Vase came three seasons ago when they reached the Third Round, whilst this is the fourth successive year that they have reached at least the Second Round. So far this season they have beaten Vauxhall Motors (5-4 AET), Congleton Town (1-0 in a replay) and Irlam (4-1). Tow Law have beaten Crook Town (3-2), Penrith (5-1) and Bridlington Town (2-1) so far, all of which have come at home, but they are seasoned FA Vase campaigners. They reached the Final in 1997/98, the lowest sized Town ever to play at Wembley, losing to Tiverton Town 1-0 underneath the Twin Towers.
