FA Vase 6th Rnd. Replay Preview - Glossop NE v Shaw Lane Aquaf'ce
Thu 5th March 2015 | FA Challenge Vase | By Ian Templeman
Another memorable day is in prospect at Surrey Street this Saturday, as Glossop North End aim to continue their FA Vase adventure at the expense of Shaw Lane Aquaforce.
A competitive game last Sunday ended with the sides deadlocked at 2-2 after extra time, and as a result the Northern Counties East League side make the 26 mile trip from South Yorkshire for the quarter final replay.
The prize at stake is a semi-final tie against AFC St Austell of the Carlsberg South West Peninsula Football League Premier Division, with the winners making a trip of over 300 miles down to Cornwall for the first leg at the club’s Poltair Park ground on March 21st, before hosting the second leg a week later.
It’s tempting to suggest that with home advantage, Glossop will start as slight favourites, especially when they will be backed once again by a noisy, enthusiastic and partisan home support that have followed them in good numbers all season.
But a quick look at the form guides would indicate that it would be somewhat courageous, not to mention foolhardy, to write off the Yorkshire side, who have lost just two league games all season, and who in earlier rounds of the Vase ended the hopes of the two clubs either side of Glossop in the league table – Runcorn Linnets and Ashton Athletic.
Shaw Lane come into the game having had the luxury of a midweek break from competitive action, unlike their hosts who managed to slot in a rare league game – only their second since the 10th January due to their successes in three different cup competitions – against Barnoldswick Town on Wednesday.
And while Glossop used the game to once again demonstrate their attacking firepower and their ability to keep a clean sheet, they will need to be wary of the threat posed by Shaw Lane’s leading scorer Lee Morris. The striker has scored seven goals in his last three games, taking him to 26 for the season, which includes both goals from the penalty spot last Sunday.
It promises to be another terrific occasion on Saturday, and Glossop Press Officer Jonathan Haggart says that anticipation is already building.
"The draw adds some spice to a tie that was already going to be exciting”, he said.
“You enter this competition for trips to play new and unlikely opponents, and they don't come much more unusual than those in Cornwall. I'm sure it's a real incentive for both sides.
“I suspect on Sunday both dressing rooms thought they were below their best, so it could be the side that best raises their game that prevails. It’ll be a hard game, and neither side will want to give an inch.
“One thing we can be sure of, though, is that the crowd will be predominantly Hillmen. Last time we reached the quarter final we had a crowd of over 1,100, and whilst I think the short notice may not see us reach that this time, the players will certainly know who the vast majority of the crowd want to win.
“If it will take a ‘twelfth man’ to secure progress, we’ll have that behind us"
The game at Surrey Street kicks off at 3pm on Saturday, and of course will be played to a finish with extra time and penalties if necessary.
FA Vase 6th Rnd. Replay Preview - Glossop NE v Shaw Lane Aquaf'ce
Thu 5th March 2015 | FA Challenge Vase
By Ian Templeman
Another memorable day is in prospect at Surrey Street this Saturday, as Glossop North End aim to continue their FA Vase adventure at the expense of Shaw Lane Aquaforce.
A competitive game last Sunday ended with the sides deadlocked at 2-2 after extra time, and as a result the Northern Counties East League side make the 26 mile trip from South Yorkshire for the quarter final replay.
The prize at stake is a semi-final tie against AFC St Austell of the Carlsberg South West Peninsula Football League Premier Division, with the winners making a trip of over 300 miles down to Cornwall for the first leg at the club’s Poltair Park ground on March 21st, before hosting the second leg a week later.
It’s tempting to suggest that with home advantage, Glossop will start as slight favourites, especially when they will be backed once again by a noisy, enthusiastic and partisan home support that have followed them in good numbers all season.
But a quick look at the form guides would indicate that it would be somewhat courageous, not to mention foolhardy, to write off the Yorkshire side, who have lost just two league games all season, and who in earlier rounds of the Vase ended the hopes of the two clubs either side of Glossop in the league table – Runcorn Linnets and Ashton Athletic.
Shaw Lane come into the game having had the luxury of a midweek break from competitive action, unlike their hosts who managed to slot in a rare league game – only their second since the 10th January due to their successes in three different cup competitions – against Barnoldswick Town on Wednesday.
And while Glossop used the game to once again demonstrate their attacking firepower and their ability to keep a clean sheet, they will need to be wary of the threat posed by Shaw Lane’s leading scorer Lee Morris. The striker has scored seven goals in his last three games, taking him to 26 for the season, which includes both goals from the penalty spot last Sunday.
It promises to be another terrific occasion on Saturday, and Glossop Press Officer Jonathan Haggart says that anticipation is already building.
"The draw adds some spice to a tie that was already going to be exciting”, he said.
“You enter this competition for trips to play new and unlikely opponents, and they don't come much more unusual than those in Cornwall. I'm sure it's a real incentive for both sides.
“I suspect on Sunday both dressing rooms thought they were below their best, so it could be the side that best raises their game that prevails. It’ll be a hard game, and neither side will want to give an inch.
“One thing we can be sure of, though, is that the crowd will be predominantly Hillmen. Last time we reached the quarter final we had a crowd of over 1,100, and whilst I think the short notice may not see us reach that this time, the players will certainly know who the vast majority of the crowd want to win.
“If it will take a ‘twelfth man’ to secure progress, we’ll have that behind us"
The game at Surrey Street kicks off at 3pm on Saturday, and of course will be played to a finish with extra time and penalties if necessary.
