Isuzu FA Vase: Clubs go on glory march in third round

Isuze FA Vase Third Round preview

By Phil Annets @FATROPHY FACTFILE

More than half of the 64 clubs involved in the FA Vase third round will be looking to celebrate a record run in the competition with victory this weekend.

This includes the five remaining debutant clubs: Fulwood Amateurs, Grantham Town, Nuneaton Town and two Step 6 clubs that face each other, Lymore Gardens and Halesworth Town (now playing at Halesworth Town).

It guarantees at least one maiden voyager will continue to the fourth round.

At the same time, there are 10 ties overall which guarantee the winner will post a club record run by making the fourth round for the first time, including two other all-Step 6 ties with Fulwood Amateurs travelling to Droylsden FC and Radford FC hosting Heather St Johns.

Still standing

In total, there are 16 Step 6 clubs still standing, including Sturminster Newton United, who visit Hythe and Dibden in a tie which also guarantees a club that started in the first qualifying round will progress.

The aforementioned all-debut club tie is one of three others to guarantee a club beginning this season’s campaign in the first qualifying round will still be involved come the fourth round.

The games between Buckland Athletic and Barnstaple Town and Hallen FC v Hamworthy Recreation make up the list.

There are 28 clubs overall that started in the earliest round this season, looking to continue their runs, including two that travel to the last remaining past winners still involved.

Eastbourne United go to the holders Whitstable Town, whilst Liversedge FC make the trip to 2014-15 winners North Shields, having defeated their hosts when they last met in the competition 13 years ago.

HOLDING FAST: Whitstable Town march on in their FA Vase defence

PICTURE: Emily Cripps Photography

Revenge

Four other ties have happened before in the Vase.

Haringey Borough has had the longest wait to exact revenge for a previous defeat when they travel to fellow Spartan South Midlands Premier League side Harpenden Town, 26 years after their previous Vase meeting.

That is one of only four ties involving clubs who will meet in the League this season, and the other three will be contested by North West Counties League clubs.

Two games are between premier division clubs, Winsford United versus Prestwich Heys and Chadderton FC against Burscough FC, whilst the other match is the previously mentioned Droylsden FC versus Fulwood Amateurs tie, both of whom are members of Division One North at Step 6.

Finally, the spotlight should fall on Haywards Heath Town, who host Berks County in this round.

Not only is the West Sussex club the highest scoring in this season’s competition with 17 goals, but the club has yet to concede a goal in the four matches they’ve played so far.