Preview - Isuzu FA Vase First Qualifying Round
Fri 26th August 2022 | Match Previews | By Martin Fallon
The Isuzu FA Vase takes centre stage this weekend with 31 of our teams in action as they seek a place at Wembley Stadium next May. We look ahead to all the action from the league this weekend.
The action starts this evening with three sides in action. Avro, hot on the heels of their FA Cup heroics midweek, travel to Northern Counties East League (NCEL) side Emley. Avro are one of two sides with a 100% record in the Premier Division, with Emley sitting in 12 place in the equivalent league with four points from three games.
There's an all NWCFL tie at Wincham Park as Northwich Victoria host Cheadle Town. Victor 11th in the Premier Division with seven points from four games, whilst regal currently sits in 6th place in the First Division South having won three of their six games.
The majority of ties are tomorrow and Sunday. There are four all-NWCFL ties, with nine facing NCEL opponents, four against Northern League, four against Midland League and one against a Spartan South Midlands Football League side.
The all NWCFL ties see two Premier Division sides host First Division North sides. Daisy Hill sitting in fourth place in the table with four wins from five games so far and they travel to a Lower Breck side that has lost five of their seven games in all competitions, winning the other two. Bacup Borough have a win their last two games after a slow start, and they travel to a Burscough side that has lost six of their seven games so far including each of the last three.
It's north versus South as Atherton LR travelled to new mills. Atherton picked up their first victory of the season last Saturday, with the Millers also winning last weekend to end a run of four successive losses. The final game is an all First Division South encounter as Wythenshawe Amateurs host Cammell Laird 1907. Wythenshawe lost their 100% start last weekend and they host a Lairds side that has won just one of their six games so far this season.
Looking at the NCEL opponents and FC St Helens have perhaps the toughest tie as they host a North Ferriby side that sits top of the NCEL Premier Division with three wins from three so far. St Helens' have had a good start though with their unbeaten start ended last weekend.
An intriguing tie is Chadderton against Frickley Athletic. Chaddterton's 100% start to the season was ended last weekend come up with Frickley having picked up just four points from their opening five games after relegation from the Northern Premier League last season. Also relegated last season were Yorkshire Amateur who were tipped to do well this season but they find themselves bottom of the league at present having lost all their games so far. They host Longridge town who themselves have lost their last three.
Silsden have had a good start and sit in sixth place in the Premier Division with seven points from their opening four games, although they lost heavily last weekend in the FA Cup at home to Charnock Richard. This weekend they entertain a Gastang side that has won four of their opening five games in the First Division North.
Charnock have lost just once this season from eight games in all competitions, and they host a Bottesford Town side that are 13th in the their Premier Division with just one win to their name this season. Bottesford lost 6-1 last weekend at Harborough Town.
Three sides face NCEL First Division opponents. Staveley Miners Welfare have ten points from six games but have won just one of their last four, and they travel to a Litherland REMYCA side that is bouyant after winning their last two league games. Swallownest have six points from six games, but their losses have been heavy and they have conceded five or more in three of those. They host a Vauxhall Motors side that is top of our Premier Division having won all six league games so far.
The final tie is an all Step Six encounter as Runcorn Town look for their first win of the season when they travel to Brigg Town. Runcorn have lost four of their five league games so far with Brigg picking up nine points from six league games, although they have won just one of their last four in the league.
Moving onto the Northern League and Carlisle City have had an interesting few years after their lateral movement from us. Last season saw them win the Second Division of the league, and they have made a good start this season, sitting in sixth place with four wins from six league games. They travel to Padiham who have lost five of their last six games, with all their points coming on the road so far.
Three of the four Northern League ties are against Division Two opponents. The hardest task probably is Ilkley Town who travel to the current leaders Birtley Town, with Birtley having won six and drawn two of their eight league games so far. Ilkely got off to a flying start winning their first three, but they have picked up just one point from their last two games.
Blyth Town have won five of their seven league games including their last three. They host a Barnoldswick Town side that sits 4th in our Premier Division with ten points picked up from six league games. The final game sees Squires Gate host Easington Colliery. Gate have won just twice this season, although form is good with those wins coming in their last three games. Easington have won four from seven games, and are also in decent form with seven points from their last nine.
Onto the Midland League who didnt start their league season until the 13th August for some reason. The first tie is Lye Town vs Ellesmere Rangers, although this tie is being played at Ellesmere. Lye sit bottom of the Premier Division having lost their first two league games and conceding seven goals. However they are still in the FA Cup having beaten Heather St Johns before knocking out Kidsgrove Athletic after a replay. Ellesmere should be confident, sitting third in our First Division South with their first loss coming last weekend.
The other three ties are against First Division opponents. Coton Green have got off to a good start to the season having won four and drawn two of their opening six games. They travel to a Brocton side who have equally got off to a good start, with four wins and a draw from their six games. That could be a good tie to watch this weekend.
Haughmond sit 10th with eight points from five games, although they have not won in their last two games. They host a Winsford United side who are still looking for their first win of the season after five losses and two draws so far. The final game is against Khalsa Football Federation. Or is it? They are certainly the opponents for Abbey Hulton United this weekend, but the team is now called Smethwick Rangers having changed their name after their entry into the competition was accepted! Abbey have won just once this season in the league, with Smethwick/Khalsa winning two of their six.
The final Saturday game is Eccleshall against Spartan South Midlands Football League side Rugby Borough. Eccleshall have had a great start, and are the only unbeaten team in the First Division South. They sit 8th as they have only played four games, and they have conceded just once so far this season, also a league best. Rugby have won two and lost two of their four league games this season, with all of their games so far coming away from home.
For those who may want a Sunday football fix there is one game in the Vase, that coming at NCEL side Hallam who have to play on Sunday due to cricket at their ground. Hallam are in 7th place in the Premier Division but have won just one of their last six games. They host an Ashton Athletic side that are in equally poor form having not won this season and losing each of their last five games.
Preview - Isuzu FA Vase First Qualifying Round
Fri 26th August 2022 | Match Previews
By Martin Fallon
The Isuzu FA Vase takes centre stage this weekend with 31 of our teams in action as they seek a place at Wembley Stadium next May. We look ahead to all the action from the league this weekend.
The action starts this evening with three sides in action. Avro, hot on the heels of their FA Cup heroics midweek, travel to Northern Counties East League (NCEL) side Emley. Avro are one of two sides with a 100% record in the Premier Division, with Emley sitting in 12 place in the equivalent league with four points from three games.
There's an all NWCFL tie at Wincham Park as Northwich Victoria host Cheadle Town. Victor 11th in the Premier Division with seven points from four games, whilst regal currently sits in 6th place in the First Division South having won three of their six games.
The majority of ties are tomorrow and Sunday. There are four all-NWCFL ties, with nine facing NCEL opponents, four against Northern League, four against Midland League and one against a Spartan South Midlands Football League side.
The all NWCFL ties see two Premier Division sides host First Division North sides. Daisy Hill sitting in fourth place in the table with four wins from five games so far and they travel to a Lower Breck side that has lost five of their seven games in all competitions, winning the other two. Bacup Borough have a win their last two games after a slow start, and they travel to a Burscough side that has lost six of their seven games so far including each of the last three.
It's north versus South as Atherton LR travelled to new mills. Atherton picked up their first victory of the season last Saturday, with the Millers also winning last weekend to end a run of four successive losses. The final game is an all First Division South encounter as Wythenshawe Amateurs host Cammell Laird 1907. Wythenshawe lost their 100% start last weekend and they host a Lairds side that has won just one of their six games so far this season.
Looking at the NCEL opponents and FC St Helens have perhaps the toughest tie as they host a North Ferriby side that sits top of the NCEL Premier Division with three wins from three so far. St Helens' have had a good start though with their unbeaten start ended last weekend.
An intriguing tie is Chadderton against Frickley Athletic. Chaddterton's 100% start to the season was ended last weekend come up with Frickley having picked up just four points from their opening five games after relegation from the Northern Premier League last season. Also relegated last season were Yorkshire Amateur who were tipped to do well this season but they find themselves bottom of the league at present having lost all their games so far. They host Longridge town who themselves have lost their last three.
Silsden have had a good start and sit in sixth place in the Premier Division with seven points from their opening four games, although they lost heavily last weekend in the FA Cup at home to Charnock Richard. This weekend they entertain a Gastang side that has won four of their opening five games in the First Division North.
Charnock have lost just once this season from eight games in all competitions, and they host a Bottesford Town side that are 13th in the their Premier Division with just one win to their name this season. Bottesford lost 6-1 last weekend at Harborough Town.
Three sides face NCEL First Division opponents. Staveley Miners Welfare have ten points from six games but have won just one of their last four, and they travel to a Litherland REMYCA side that is bouyant after winning their last two league games. Swallownest have six points from six games, but their losses have been heavy and they have conceded five or more in three of those. They host a Vauxhall Motors side that is top of our Premier Division having won all six league games so far.
The final tie is an all Step Six encounter as Runcorn Town look for their first win of the season when they travel to Brigg Town. Runcorn have lost four of their five league games so far with Brigg picking up nine points from six league games, although they have won just one of their last four in the league.
Moving onto the Northern League and Carlisle City have had an interesting few years after their lateral movement from us. Last season saw them win the Second Division of the league, and they have made a good start this season, sitting in sixth place with four wins from six league games. They travel to Padiham who have lost five of their last six games, with all their points coming on the road so far.
Three of the four Northern League ties are against Division Two opponents. The hardest task probably is Ilkley Town who travel to the current leaders Birtley Town, with Birtley having won six and drawn two of their eight league games so far. Ilkely got off to a flying start winning their first three, but they have picked up just one point from their last two games.
Blyth Town have won five of their seven league games including their last three. They host a Barnoldswick Town side that sits 4th in our Premier Division with ten points picked up from six league games. The final game sees Squires Gate host Easington Colliery. Gate have won just twice this season, although form is good with those wins coming in their last three games. Easington have won four from seven games, and are also in decent form with seven points from their last nine.
Onto the Midland League who didnt start their league season until the 13th August for some reason. The first tie is Lye Town vs Ellesmere Rangers, although this tie is being played at Ellesmere. Lye sit bottom of the Premier Division having lost their first two league games and conceding seven goals. However they are still in the FA Cup having beaten Heather St Johns before knocking out Kidsgrove Athletic after a replay. Ellesmere should be confident, sitting third in our First Division South with their first loss coming last weekend.
The other three ties are against First Division opponents. Coton Green have got off to a good start to the season having won four and drawn two of their opening six games. They travel to a Brocton side who have equally got off to a good start, with four wins and a draw from their six games. That could be a good tie to watch this weekend.
Haughmond sit 10th with eight points from five games, although they have not won in their last two games. They host a Winsford United side who are still looking for their first win of the season after five losses and two draws so far. The final game is against Khalsa Football Federation. Or is it? They are certainly the opponents for Abbey Hulton United this weekend, but the team is now called Smethwick Rangers having changed their name after their entry into the competition was accepted! Abbey have won just once this season in the league, with Smethwick/Khalsa winning two of their six.
The final Saturday game is Eccleshall against Spartan South Midlands Football League side Rugby Borough. Eccleshall have had a great start, and are the only unbeaten team in the First Division South. They sit 8th as they have only played four games, and they have conceded just once so far this season, also a league best. Rugby have won two and lost two of their four league games this season, with all of their games so far coming away from home.
For those who may want a Sunday football fix there is one game in the Vase, that coming at NCEL side Hallam who have to play on Sunday due to cricket at their ground. Hallam are in 7th place in the Premier Division but have won just one of their last six games. They host an Ashton Athletic side that are in equally poor form having not won this season and losing each of their last five games.
