Buildbase FA Vase First Qualifying Round Preview - 31st Aug./1st Sept. 2018
Fri 31st August 2018 | FA Challenge Vase | By Patrick Burke
After an eventful week of league and FA Cup action, it’s the Buildbase FA Vase’s turn to take centre stage on Saturday as 26 First Qualifying Round ties involve at least one of our sides (plus another on Friday night).
There are seven all-Hallmark Security League battles, and perhaps none will be more hotly-contested than Congleton Town against Bootle.
This is a re-run of the league fixture on Bank Holiday Monday, which saw the Bears triumph 3-0 to extend their winning start to six matches – all without conceding!
The teams sit 3rd and 7th respectively in the Premier Division, so will hope for a decent cup run to supplement what looks set to be a strong league campaign from the pair of them.
Burscough of the Premier Division entertain Alsager Town of the First Division South, whilst West Didsbury & Chorlton will also be in action against a team in our league, although their trip to First Division North outfit Lower Breck will see them face new opposition.
Whitchurch Alport are the other top tier side involved in such a tie, however their visit to First Division South side Abbey Hulton United will pit them against more familiar faces.
Ashton Town against St Helens Town has all the ingredients of a cup classic – it’s a local derby between two clubs sitting 16th and 10th respectively in the First Division North, with the visitors having won the competition back in 1987.
After giving a decent account of themselves in a live-streamed FA Cup tie last weekend against Radcliffe, Prestwich Heys will hope to end a run of three consecutive defeats as they go to fellow First Division North side Holker Old Boys, who picked up their first point of the campaign on Monday, albeit after blowing a 3-0 lead against Daisy Hill.
The only First Division North vs First Division South contest sees two well-fancied sides go head-to-head as Longridge Town entertain Vauxhall Motors. Both were promoted last season and have taken the step up in their stride as they sit 3rd and 5th respectively.
The Vase is such a well-loved competition at this level as it sets up meetings between clubs who would otherwise be very unlikely to ever compete against each other, allowing for new footballing friends and rivalries to be forged.
Our clubs are frequently drawn against their counterparts from the Northern Counties East League, and the same applies again this year with no fewer than 13 journeys being made one way or the other over the Pennines.
The first of those is on Friday night, with Litherland REMYCA, 16th in our Premier Division, travelling to West Yorkshire to face AFC Emley, who are 10th in the NCEL First Division.
Abbey Hey go to South Yorkshire as the higher-ranked outfit to face Swallownest – 12th in NCEL First Division – whilst both Winsford United and Liversedge compete in their respective Premier Divisions, although the visitors from just over 10 miles south-west of Leeds have enjoyed a better start to this campaign as they sit 5th in their table.
Maltby Main lead the way in NCEL Premier Division, so they will hope to build on a fantastic August when they host Ashton Athletic. The Yellows are currently bottom of our top flight, but knocked out Maltby in the Second Qualifying Round last year and defeated Evo-Stik League outfit Skelmersdale United in the FA Cup last Saturday. This promises to be one of the games to watch!
It’s the opposite story for the step five clash between Harrogate Railway Athletic and Silsden. The Cobbydalers are our highest-ranked side entering at this stage as they sit 2nd after a flying start following promotion last term, whilst their hosts sit third from bottom.
The final Premier Division encounter between the two leagues sees Barnoldswick Town (10th) on the road eastbound to Goole AFC (17th).
We have three First Division sides hoping to cause something of an upset against NCEL opposition plying their trade in a higher division.
AFC Liverpool sit 6th in the First Division North, but must cross almost the width of the country when they visit Barton Town, who are based just south of the Humber Bridge and have made a good start to their season as they sit 7th in their Premier Division.
The other two do at least have home advantage – Shelley are 14th in the First Division North ahead of the visit of a Penistone Church side ranked 11th in their league, and Sandbach United also occupy 14th place in the First Division South as they welcome Athersley Recreation, who have lost all five games so far in 2018/19 and sit bottom of the standings.
There are four all-step six clashes between the Hallmark Security League and NCEL, the most eye-catching of which sees AFC Blackpool host Nostell Miners Welfare. The Fylde Coast outfit are currently 4th in the First Division North, whilst their West Yorkshire visitors are top of their division.
New Mills have also had a fine opening few weeks, and they are 2nd in the First Division South ahead of a trip to Nottinghamshire to face Ollerton Town.
Chadderton returned to winning ways on Monday, beating 3-2 St Helens Town, so they will hope to follow that up at Parkgate, who are second from bottom in the NCEL First Division but have already knocked Sandbach out of the FA Cup this season.
And Cammell Laird 1907 will hope to ignite their campaign when Harworth Colliery arrive at Kirklands. Lairds are searching for the first win of the season and sit in 19th place in the First Division South, whilst their newly promoted opponents lie 15th in their league.
There are seven other matches to cover which pit our sides against teams from six other leagues.
Four are up against step six outfits, with the West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division providing two opponents: Pershore Town are the hosts for Hanley Town, 11th in our Premier Division, and Wellington entertain St Martins with the visitors 4th in the First Division South.
Eccleshall are on the road to Coventry Copeswood of the Midland Football League First Division in an all-step six affair, and the same applies to Ellesmere Rangers’ home tie against Birstall United of the United Counties League First Division.
Three Hallmark Security League clubs find themselves up against step 7 opposition. Charnock Richard sit 6th in our Premier Division going into their trip to the North East to face Alnwick Town, who now participate in the Northern Alliance Premier Division following their relegation from the Northern League Second Division in 2017/18.
Stone Old Alleynians of our First Division South will hope to continue their unbeaten start to the campaign at West Midlands (Regional) League First Division side Gornal Athletic, and conversely Daisy Hill seek their first win as they welcome Whitehaven of the West Lancashire League Premier Division.
So there’s something for everyone at this stage of the Buildbase FA Vase, and we’d like to wish the best of luck to all of our clubs who embark on the road to Wembley Way this weekend.
Buildbase FA Vase First Qualifying Round Preview - 31st Aug./1st Sept. 2018
Fri 31st August 2018 | FA Challenge Vase
By Patrick Burke
After an eventful week of league and FA Cup action, it’s the Buildbase FA Vase’s turn to take centre stage on Saturday as 26 First Qualifying Round ties involve at least one of our sides (plus another on Friday night).
There are seven all-Hallmark Security League battles, and perhaps none will be more hotly-contested than Congleton Town against Bootle.
This is a re-run of the league fixture on Bank Holiday Monday, which saw the Bears triumph 3-0 to extend their winning start to six matches – all without conceding!
The teams sit 3rd and 7th respectively in the Premier Division, so will hope for a decent cup run to supplement what looks set to be a strong league campaign from the pair of them.
Burscough of the Premier Division entertain Alsager Town of the First Division South, whilst West Didsbury & Chorlton will also be in action against a team in our league, although their trip to First Division North outfit Lower Breck will see them face new opposition.
Whitchurch Alport are the other top tier side involved in such a tie, however their visit to First Division South side Abbey Hulton United will pit them against more familiar faces.
Ashton Town against St Helens Town has all the ingredients of a cup classic – it’s a local derby between two clubs sitting 16th and 10th respectively in the First Division North, with the visitors having won the competition back in 1987.
After giving a decent account of themselves in a live-streamed FA Cup tie last weekend against Radcliffe, Prestwich Heys will hope to end a run of three consecutive defeats as they go to fellow First Division North side Holker Old Boys, who picked up their first point of the campaign on Monday, albeit after blowing a 3-0 lead against Daisy Hill.
The only First Division North vs First Division South contest sees two well-fancied sides go head-to-head as Longridge Town entertain Vauxhall Motors. Both were promoted last season and have taken the step up in their stride as they sit 3rd and 5th respectively.
The Vase is such a well-loved competition at this level as it sets up meetings between clubs who would otherwise be very unlikely to ever compete against each other, allowing for new footballing friends and rivalries to be forged.
Our clubs are frequently drawn against their counterparts from the Northern Counties East League, and the same applies again this year with no fewer than 13 journeys being made one way or the other over the Pennines.
The first of those is on Friday night, with Litherland REMYCA, 16th in our Premier Division, travelling to West Yorkshire to face AFC Emley, who are 10th in the NCEL First Division.
Abbey Hey go to South Yorkshire as the higher-ranked outfit to face Swallownest – 12th in NCEL First Division – whilst both Winsford United and Liversedge compete in their respective Premier Divisions, although the visitors from just over 10 miles south-west of Leeds have enjoyed a better start to this campaign as they sit 5th in their table.
Maltby Main lead the way in NCEL Premier Division, so they will hope to build on a fantastic August when they host Ashton Athletic. The Yellows are currently bottom of our top flight, but knocked out Maltby in the Second Qualifying Round last year and defeated Evo-Stik League outfit Skelmersdale United in the FA Cup last Saturday. This promises to be one of the games to watch!
It’s the opposite story for the step five clash between Harrogate Railway Athletic and Silsden. The Cobbydalers are our highest-ranked side entering at this stage as they sit 2nd after a flying start following promotion last term, whilst their hosts sit third from bottom.
The final Premier Division encounter between the two leagues sees Barnoldswick Town (10th) on the road eastbound to Goole AFC (17th).
We have three First Division sides hoping to cause something of an upset against NCEL opposition plying their trade in a higher division.
AFC Liverpool sit 6th in the First Division North, but must cross almost the width of the country when they visit Barton Town, who are based just south of the Humber Bridge and have made a good start to their season as they sit 7th in their Premier Division.
The other two do at least have home advantage – Shelley are 14th in the First Division North ahead of the visit of a Penistone Church side ranked 11th in their league, and Sandbach United also occupy 14th place in the First Division South as they welcome Athersley Recreation, who have lost all five games so far in 2018/19 and sit bottom of the standings.
There are four all-step six clashes between the Hallmark Security League and NCEL, the most eye-catching of which sees AFC Blackpool host Nostell Miners Welfare. The Fylde Coast outfit are currently 4th in the First Division North, whilst their West Yorkshire visitors are top of their division.
New Mills have also had a fine opening few weeks, and they are 2nd in the First Division South ahead of a trip to Nottinghamshire to face Ollerton Town.
Chadderton returned to winning ways on Monday, beating 3-2 St Helens Town, so they will hope to follow that up at Parkgate, who are second from bottom in the NCEL First Division but have already knocked Sandbach out of the FA Cup this season.
And Cammell Laird 1907 will hope to ignite their campaign when Harworth Colliery arrive at Kirklands. Lairds are searching for the first win of the season and sit in 19th place in the First Division South, whilst their newly promoted opponents lie 15th in their league.
There are seven other matches to cover which pit our sides against teams from six other leagues.
Four are up against step six outfits, with the West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division providing two opponents: Pershore Town are the hosts for Hanley Town, 11th in our Premier Division, and Wellington entertain St Martins with the visitors 4th in the First Division South.
Eccleshall are on the road to Coventry Copeswood of the Midland Football League First Division in an all-step six affair, and the same applies to Ellesmere Rangers’ home tie against Birstall United of the United Counties League First Division.
Three Hallmark Security League clubs find themselves up against step 7 opposition. Charnock Richard sit 6th in our Premier Division going into their trip to the North East to face Alnwick Town, who now participate in the Northern Alliance Premier Division following their relegation from the Northern League Second Division in 2017/18.
Stone Old Alleynians of our First Division South will hope to continue their unbeaten start to the campaign at West Midlands (Regional) League First Division side Gornal Athletic, and conversely Daisy Hill seek their first win as they welcome Whitehaven of the West Lancashire League Premier Division.
So there’s something for everyone at this stage of the Buildbase FA Vase, and we’d like to wish the best of luck to all of our clubs who embark on the road to Wembley Way this weekend.
