Weekend Previews
DROYLSDEN will go down as one of the major giant-killers tomorrow if they can bridge the two-division gap and beat Vanarama North side Gainsborough Trinity in the third qualifying round of the FA Cup at the Butchers Arms. Injuries to Luke Sharry and Lee O’Brien leave manager Dave Pace with a gap in midfield but he was hoping to make a loan signing ahead of the tie in which £7,500 in prize money is at stake. An announcement will be tweeted at @Droylsden_FC if the move takes place. ASHTON UNITED must make the 150-mile journey to Northamptonshire to face former Football League club Rushden and Diamonds. The Irthlingborough side, who were once seen as a potential Premier League outfit, were wound up in 2011 with debts of £750,000. The new, fans-owned club plays in the United Counties League premier division. Defender Joe Connor returns to the Robins squad but striker Chris Baguley is banned and Jay Gorton is described as 50/50. Alex Frost has returned from Curzon Ashton as part of a dual-registration deal to get him some match practice. STALYBRIDGE CELTIC make their first-ever visit to Evo-stik NPL first division south strugglers Chasetown tomorrow as they attempt to reach the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round for only the second time in 12 years. Striker Steve Tames is a doubt after hobbling off with an ankle injury in last weekend’s win at Alfreton, but there could be a ready-made replacement in the shape of academy youngster Darius Osei. The second-year student made his first Celtic start in the Manchester Premier Cup tie at Abbey Hey on Tuesday and scored four times. He now has six goals for the season after scoring when coming off the bench against Nuneaton and Kendal. Defender Danny Wisdom could be in contention after recovering from a groin injury that has seen him make only one start since signing for the club in the summer. However, manager Liam Watson will still be without striker Chris Simm, who serves the last of a seven-game suspension, and the injured Alex Mudimu. Simm will be available for selection should the tie require a replay. HYDE UNITED meet Northwich Victoria in a replay of their second qualifying round clash of two weeks ago which Vics won 1-0 only to find their goalkeeper, Mason Springthorpe, was not properly registered. Springthorpe also played in the previous round, against AFC Blackpool. In a compromise decision that seems to have satisfied no one, the FA ruled that Blackpool would remain eliminated but receive the £3,000 in prize money. Hyde and Northwich would have to replay, but the Tigers will keep all tomorrow’s gate receipts rather than sharing them. These are unlikely to present a windfall as admission has been reduced to £5 and £3. The tie has to be decided on the day, and will go to extra time and penalties if necessary with the winners away to Marine on Tuesday. Manager Gary Lowe reports no injuries in his squad. In Vanarama North, CURZON ASHTON will be hoping to make it two league wins on the trot when they welcome Lowestoft to Tameside Stadium. However, they will have to do so without manager John Flanagan, who is in hospital after undergoing knee replacement surgery. Tom Eckersley misses the match with ankle ligament damage and is unlikely to return until November. Simon Wood has a calf injury but could come back next weekend. Gary Burnett features again after a torn hamstring. Kendal Town are the visitors to Surrey Street where they play GLOSSOP NORTH END in an Evo-stik NPL premier division fixture. Ben Richardson, Kelvin Lugsden and Danny White are all ruled out for the Hillmen. Tom Pratt and Jack Bradley both return for MOSSLEY in the first division north for the game away to Scarborough Athletic. Otherwise, however, there has been a mini clear-out with Jack Pritchard, Sam Howell, Ryan Hibbert and Josh Greenhalgh all leaving Seel Park. A MISSING document is the reason Northwich Victoria’s place in this season’s FA Cup has been thrown into question.
When Vics signed goalkeeper Mason Springthorpe on loan at the start of September, the Football Association received permission from his parent club, Telford United, allowing him to appear in the FA Cup. However, in a letter from competitions officer Chris Darnell to Hyde, Northwich, Marine, AFC Blackpool and the Northern Premier League, the FA says it has no record of a loan registration document. Its absence came to light when Northwich approached the FA yesterday (Friday, October 2) to inquire about Springthorpe’s eligibility for this afternoon’s FA Trophy preliminary round tie in which they drew 1-1 at Lancaster City. The game went ahead with Dane Smith in goal. Northwich have been charged with a breach of FA Cup rule 15H and their third qualifying round tie at Marine on Saturday, October 10, has been called off until the matter is settled. Although the issue may seem to be clear-cut, there could be several outcomes. The document might be discovered, or the FA might decide Vics did all in their power that was reasonably possible and allow them to carry on in the competition. If the FA finds against them, that would bring the first qualifying round tie against AFC Blackpool into question as Springthorpe was ineligible for that match too. Northwich might be ordered to take part in a replay, or, if dismissed from the competition, Hyde might have to face AFC Blackpool at Ewen Fields for the right to meet Marine. But both these outcomes would play havoc with the FA Cup’s fixture schedules. Under rule 25, the FA could put Hyde through but AFC Blackpool would be allowed to claim the £3,000 prize money from the first qualifying round tie. The outcome ought to be known by Tuesday evening depending on Northwich’s actions. They could leave the matter to an FA sub-committee, in which case it will be dealt with at 9am on Monday, or they could demand a personal hearing which would be held at Wembley at noon on Tuesday. Hyde United declined to make any statement, saying they were unable to comment on speculation. Northwich Victoria issued the following earlier today: “The football club were informed late Friday afternoon, October 2, 2015, by the Football Association of the need to investigate the chronological order of events relating to the registration of a player having taken part in this season’s FA Cup competition’s previous two qualifying rounds. “We are co-operating fully with the FA’s investigation but feel it would be wrong to comment further on the matter until the investigation is complete. There will be a further statement in due course. “The club remains fully focused on our FA Trophy tie away v Lancaster City on Saturday, October 3, with the FA Trophy a competition that we have a long and proud history and association with.” Weekend Previews
EVEN though HYDE UNITED have lost their last two matches, they should be in exuberant mood tomorrow as it’s looking like they may be reinstated into the FA Cup. Last Saturday, the Tigers lost 1-0 at home to Northwich Victoria. However, it’s believed Vics’ goalkeeper Mason Springthorpe, signed on loan from Telford United a couple of weeks ago, was ineligible. The Football Association has yet to make a ruling but it could be Hyde rather than Northwich making the journey to Marine in a week’s time to take part in the third qualifying round. Tomorrow, Stourbridge make their first-ever visit to Ewen Fields as they take on the Tigers in an Evo-stik premier division fixture. Apart from Big Khamsuk, manager Gary Lowe has a full squad at his disposal although Elliott Harrison has returned to Halifax Town. John Ollerenshaw has left Hyde to join the army and his place in goal has been taken by Czech keeper Jindrich Stanek who has been signed on a month’s loan from Everton. There could be as many as three new faces in the ASHTON UNITED squad that travels to Matlock Town tomorrow. Defender Joe Connor is ruled out with a hamstring injury and another suspension is looming for Aaron Burns who was sent off against Frickley in midweek. In Vanarama North, STALYBRIDGE CELTIC travel to Alfreton looking to extend their unbeaten streak away from home to five games. Manager Liam Watson welcomes Adam Farrell back from suspension, and Peter Wylie back from injury, but will be without skipper Matty Hughes who misses the game having accumulated five bookings. Aaron Chalmers is expected to deputise in the centre of the defence with Wylie and Farrell returning in midfield. Academy youngster Darius Osei will again be on the bench after coming on to score an FA Cup winner at Kendal Town but he will start in Tuesday’s Manchester Premier Cup tie at Abbey Hey. Hamstring injuries are causing problems for CURZON ASHTON who face Tamworth at the Tameside Stadium. Gary Burnett is definitely out and keeper Hakan Burton is doubtful. Ben Atkinson has had his tonsils out and is unable to play. Ryan Brooke has returned to light training. Defender George Grayson has been released. Our remaining three sides are competing in the preliminary round of the FA Trophy where there is prize money of £2,500 at stake in each tie. Jack Bradley is unable to play in MOSSLEY’s home encounter with Harrogate Railway Athletic because of the terms of his loan agreement with Halifax. Michael Thomas is back from injury and new signing, former Ramsbottom manager Jon Robinson, comes into the squad. Ben Richardson and Danny White both miss GLOSSOP NORTH END’s Surrey Street clash with Spennymoor. And Luke Sharry and Steve Hall are injured for DROYLSDEN who are away to Radcliffe Borough. The Bloods have signed 19-year-old goalkeeper Sam Ramsbottom on a youth loan deal from Tranmere Rovers. |
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