It was a pretty successful day in the cup for our fellow Northern Premier League West Division sides on Saturday.
Eight sides went straight through to the next round, two of our fellow teams have another chance in a replay with just two sides going out.
Performance of the day went to Wythenshawe Town who walloped Chadderton 7-1 with Tom Bentham grabbing a hat-trick.
Two of the clubs in our division scored four goals on their travels to progress. Our opponents in our league opener next Saturday are Mossley and they cruised through 4-0 at Colne with two injury time goals from Reece Webb-Foster.
Hednesford Town – who were reprieved from relegation last season despite finishing next to bottom – had a comfortable 4-1 win at Racing Club Warwick in a game which had three goals in four first half minutes.
In a rematch of the FA Vase quarter-final last season, this time it was Bury who came out on top in a see saw game at Congleton Town, who were promoted into our league as Midland Premier Division champions last time out. A Tanaka Cherera hat-trick took the North West Counties league side through.
It was a mixed day for some of our local rivals. Hanley were held to a 1-1 draw in their home game with Boldmere St Michaels and will travel to Sutton Coldfield for a replay on Tuesday, while two former Castle players Aaron Bott and Kinsgley Adu Gyamfigot the goals as Kidsgrove beat Pershore Town 2-0.
Nantwich are out after a 2-1 defeat at the world’s oldest football club Sheffield FC 2-1.
Elsewhere, two late goals gave Stalybridge a 3-1 win at Ramsbottom for who the prolific Connor Hughes grabbed a brace.
Widnes had a narrow 1-0 win at Ossett – a 73rd minute goal from James Steele was enough to take them into the next round.
Chasetown are through after a 2-1 win at ten-man OJM Black Country and Northwich 1874 progressed by the same score at Stockport Town.
Finally, in our division last season’s North West Counties Premier Division champions Wythenshawe began their season with a goalless draw at home to Pilkington.
They will get a second bite at the cherry on Wednesday evening.
There was one other game which we were keeping close tabs on and that took place in Hereford.
Westfields of the Hellenic League Premier Division edged out Daventry Town 1-0 and the winners of our replay with Evesham will travel to them in the next round a week on Saturday.