FA Cup replay round-up and a look ahead to the next round
We weren’t the only Northern Premier League West team in replay action in midweek. The one game that many fans locally had their eyes on took place in Sutton Coldfield where our local rivals Hanley Town took on Boldmere St Michaels.
Having not made home advantage count in their initial tie when they drew 1-1, Hanley were forced to extra time and penalties before eventually prevailing to secure a home tie with fellow Northern Premier League West side Stafford Rangers after a goalless draw on the night.
Vauxhall Motors blew a 2-1 lead to lose their replay 3-2 on Wednesday at Eccleshill United who play in the Northern Counties East League. Meanwhile Wythenshawe, champions of the North West Counties League last season fell at the first hurdle as Pilkington, still of that division, beat them 3-1.
Our next opponents in the preliminary round are Hellenic Premier Division (tier 5) Westfields – a small club which plays in Hereford. That match will take place on Saturday 17 August.
Looking at some of the other ties that weekend there are some decent clashes. Let’s start with Stone Old Alleynians, who of course are now ground sharing with us. Their reward for edging out Bedworth United 2-1 at Buckmaster Avenue last Saturday is an away trip to Rugby.
That might ring a bell to some of our supporters, as the Warwickshire side trounced us 5-1 at the same stage of the competition last season.
There are some all NPL West ties as Bootle take on City of Liverpool in a derby game, newly promoted Wythenshawe Town fresh from giving poor Chadderton a 7-1 hiding have been drawn away to Runcorn Linnets and Widnes travel to Stalybridge Celtic.
In other ties of note, Bury who eased passed NPL West Congleton last weekend are on their travels again to another NPL West side, Avro.
And here’s a nod to successful sides from what for many people reading this would say doesn’t seem all that long ago.
Rushden and Diamonds – the team bankrolled by the late owner of Dr. Martens Max Griggs – edged out fellow Northamptonshire club Corby Town but only on penalties with nigh on 1,500 people attending across the two games.
They now make a short trip to Nottinghamshire to take on Newark and Sherwood.
Now cast your minds back nearly a quarter of a century to one of the great non-league names – Kingstonian. They used to play at Kingsmeadow – a rip roaring proper non-league ground with a 5,000 capacity that left many higher ranked teams feeling very uncomfortable. They came fifth in the Conference in 2000 and were a whisker from making the fifth round of the FA Cup the following season.
A generation on and it’s a very different story. This season the K’s are ground sharing with 7th tier Raynes Park Vale and the once great non-leaguers now don’t even play in the borough that the team once enjoyed so much success in. It’s a very sorry state of affairs.
Next weekend they have a ‘home’ tie with Eastbourne United as they strive to relive some cup glories of yesteryear.