Buildbase FA Vase Quarter Final Preview - Northwich Victoria v Sholing
Thu 21st February 2019 | FA Challenge Vase | By Ian Templeman
This Saturday another big FA Vase day awaits Northwich Victoria, as they prepare to face Sholing in the Buildbase FA Vase quarter final at Wincham Park.
It’s the latest in a series of big cup ties for Vics, who are in the last eight of the competition for the first time in their history.
It’s been a tough old road to reach this stage, with some difficult games already negotiated, and in the last two rounds Vics have had an unfortunate penchant for drawing teams at the peak of their form and with impressive playing records, but they emerged victorious from difficult games at Newcastle Benfield and Histon.
Sholing are the latest challenge for Vics to overcome, and look like being opponents who will be as formidable as any that Vics have played all season.
The Southampton based side, nicknamed the Boatmen, are setting a cracking pace at the top of the Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division, and sit 13 points clear of second placed Horndean.
Their playing record from 23 league games is won 22 and drawn one, scoring 75 goals and only conceding 14 in those games.
An impressive record by any standards, and they warmed up for Saturday’s game with a 4-2 win at Andover New Street, with star striker Dan Mason hitting his fourth hat-trick of the season to take his tally to 49 goals, while the Boatmen extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 31 games.
They have form in the FA Vase too, having won the trophy in 2014, and with the manager who steered them to that success, Dave Diaper, still in charge at the Universal Stadium they are without doubt formidable opponents.
But as ever, Vics manager Steve Wilkes is upbeat about his side’s prospects for the game.
"We're looking forward to it", he said.
"Obviously the last two games were two tough away games and it's great to get a home tie in the quarter finals.
"If you look at the bookies odds in the last two rounds no one gave us a chance, and winning at Newcastle and Histon I think we deserved a bit of luck in the draw with a home tie, which makes a bit of a difference to preparation.
"It's not like we'll be getting up at 6 in the morning and on the coach at eight, the lads can have a bit of a lie in.
"We are at home but we are under no illusions about the task in front of us. Sholing won it four years ago, so they have been in this position before, but it's new to us.
"They have been having a great season. They only lost to Slough Town in the FA Cup after extra time earlier in the season, so we know it's going to be tough.
"They are all good teams left in the competition at this stage, whatever team you get it's going to be a tough tie, but we can make it tough for them as well.
"We can only do what we can do, and if the boys perform like they have done in the last two rounds we know we will give them a good game.
"The fans were brilliant at Newcastle and Histon, and at the games in between too.
"It's great for them that we have got a home tie and we hope that they will turn out in their numbers.
"Hopefully some of the old fans have picked up on some of the momentum we have been gathering, and will come down and have a look on Saturday".
Buildbase FA Vase Quarter Final Preview - Northwich Victoria v Sholing
Thu 21st February 2019 | FA Challenge Vase
By Ian Templeman
This Saturday another big FA Vase day awaits Northwich Victoria, as they prepare to face Sholing in the Buildbase FA Vase quarter final at Wincham Park.
It’s the latest in a series of big cup ties for Vics, who are in the last eight of the competition for the first time in their history.
It’s been a tough old road to reach this stage, with some difficult games already negotiated, and in the last two rounds Vics have had an unfortunate penchant for drawing teams at the peak of their form and with impressive playing records, but they emerged victorious from difficult games at Newcastle Benfield and Histon.
Sholing are the latest challenge for Vics to overcome, and look like being opponents who will be as formidable as any that Vics have played all season.
The Southampton based side, nicknamed the Boatmen, are setting a cracking pace at the top of the Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division, and sit 13 points clear of second placed Horndean.
Their playing record from 23 league games is won 22 and drawn one, scoring 75 goals and only conceding 14 in those games.
An impressive record by any standards, and they warmed up for Saturday’s game with a 4-2 win at Andover New Street, with star striker Dan Mason hitting his fourth hat-trick of the season to take his tally to 49 goals, while the Boatmen extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 31 games.
They have form in the FA Vase too, having won the trophy in 2014, and with the manager who steered them to that success, Dave Diaper, still in charge at the Universal Stadium they are without doubt formidable opponents.
But as ever, Vics manager Steve Wilkes is upbeat about his side’s prospects for the game.
"We're looking forward to it", he said.
"Obviously the last two games were two tough away games and it's great to get a home tie in the quarter finals.
"If you look at the bookies odds in the last two rounds no one gave us a chance, and winning at Newcastle and Histon I think we deserved a bit of luck in the draw with a home tie, which makes a bit of a difference to preparation.
"It's not like we'll be getting up at 6 in the morning and on the coach at eight, the lads can have a bit of a lie in.
"We are at home but we are under no illusions about the task in front of us. Sholing won it four years ago, so they have been in this position before, but it's new to us.
"They have been having a great season. They only lost to Slough Town in the FA Cup after extra time earlier in the season, so we know it's going to be tough.
"They are all good teams left in the competition at this stage, whatever team you get it's going to be a tough tie, but we can make it tough for them as well.
"We can only do what we can do, and if the boys perform like they have done in the last two rounds we know we will give them a good game.
"The fans were brilliant at Newcastle and Histon, and at the games in between too.
"It's great for them that we have got a home tie and we hope that they will turn out in their numbers.
"Hopefully some of the old fans have picked up on some of the momentum we have been gathering, and will come down and have a look on Saturday".
