“This week’s NL Full Time podcast is brought to you by the number: 3”
We may have stolen that line from Sesame Street, but three was the magic number when discussing the Vanarama National League this weekend.
It was round three of the Emirates FA Cup, and three National League teams proudly represented themselves but also the National League.
There were hat tricks in the league; three of them, naturally. Trebles from York City‘s Shaq Forde, Scunthorpe United‘s Caolan Lavery and Oldham Athletic‘s Mike Fondop all helped their sides to much-needed victories and, as usual, our podcast covered all three divisions of the National League.
Slough Town’s new player-manager Scott Davies was one of two podcast special guests this week. Scott gave us an insight into his first few weeks as the Rebels’ gaffer, including the story of how they came from 3-0 down at half-time to yes, you’ve guessed it, achieve a 3-3 draw at Tonbridge Angels.
It was the FA Cup where the headlines were made, however; our other special podcast guest, Aaron McLean, felt the performances of Wrexham, Chesterfield and Boreham Wood further added to what many already feel is a compelling case for the establishment of a third promotion place to the EFL.
Aaron’s experience at every professional level in England and in non-league also gives him a great perspective, and he’s now sharing that on BT Sport and ITV’s coverage of the EFL, and he’s in no doubt about what he’s seeing:.
“I have the pleasure of seeing these teams, week in, week out. We’ve been crying out for another promotion place because the strength of the National League deserves that. The National League isn’t non-league any more – it’s a professional league with big clubs, big players and very, very talented players.”
Having three National League clubs in the draw for the fourth round certainly helps to bang the drum for a third promotion place just that little louder. Detractors may make an argument for Wrexham being a unique case, simply because of the levels of investment and interest generated by the ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ documentary. Wrexham may as yet be the only National League team in round four, but whether they should have been joined by Chesterfield raises another talking point about the FA Cup, and it concerns a three-letter acronym that’s become a four-letter word: VAR.
No doubt Chesterfield fans are still smarting from yesterday’s events. Brandon Thomas-Asante, scorer of West Bromwich Albion’s late equaliser in their pulsating 3-3 draw, probably wouldn’t have been on the pitch to score had the game taken place at a stadium with VAR in operation. Thomas-Asante’s use of an arm, flailed at Jeff King to try and persuade King to let go of his shirt, ought to have brought a dismissal, and a crucial swing in momentum towards the Derbyshire side.
Whilst it isn’t realistic to expect VAR at all FA Cup ties, allowing its use at stadia where it is already in place, i.e. Premier League grounds, means there is an inequity. It should be in use for all or none at all.
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