By Mark Stillman
The Isuzu FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round takes place this weekend. Four games will be given extensive coverage in Sunday’s Non-League Paper, with a match report from every tie.
City of Liverpool v Macclesfield
The round commences tonight at the DCBL Stadium.
City of Liverpool, 21st in NPL West, face a daunting task against NPL Premier leaders Macclesfield. Robbie Savage’s team have scored five or more in three of their last five games, and are unbeaten in 14 since the former Wales international took over. They thrashed Witton Albion 6-1 last week in the FA Cup, Albion had knocked City of Liverpool out two rounds previous.
This is the Merseysiders’ sixth successive home game. They’ve beaten Mossley on penalties and Pontefract Collieries to reach this stage but have lost their last four in Step 4.
Both teams enjoyed terrific FA Trophy runs last year. Macclesfield made the semi-finals in just their second venture into the competition since reforming. National League Gateshead ended dreams of a day out at Wembley. City of Liverpool progressed five rounds before Hartlepool United ended their journey in the last 32. That was a 5-1 defeat against a side three levels higher – they also conceded five when they last met Macclesfield, a 5-0 loss at Moss Rose in April 2023 in front of just over 4,000 spectators.
Kettering Town v Gainsborough Trinity
Both Step 3 sides remain in the FA Cup – Kettering travel to Farsley Celtic on October 12 while NPL Premier Gainsborough host Lincolnshire rivals Boston United.
Kettering have won their last five games since the arrival of Nile Ranger, who has netted in each of the last four. Their impressive form has seen them move up to third in Southern Premier Central, two points behind league leaders Bedford Town.
Gainsborough stunned Darlington last week, coming from behind to win at Blackwell Meadows thanks to Lewis Butroid’s late goal. They’re currently 17th in NPL Premier, the same tier as Kettering, and have won three of their last four away in all competitions.
Their recent FA Trophy record has been indifferent. Last year they lost at this stage at home to Guiseley and haven’t made it past the first round since their 2013 run to the semi-finals. Wrexham ended the journey 4-3 on aggregate. Kettering haven’t progressed a round in the trophy since 2021, a year later they were kicked out for fielding an ineligible player and last year lost in the 3rd Qualifying Round at St Ives. They’ve reached the final in 1979 and 2000, losing to Stafford Rangers and Kingstonian respectively, the latter was the last final at the old Wembley.
Ramsgate v Cray Valley PM
Both these teams made their name in the FA Cup last season with Ramsgate reaching round two and Cray Valley PM taking Charlton Athletic to a replay.
Ramsgate missed out on promotion from Step 4 but have won five from five in the league since. Their FA Cup journey ended at Brackley Town last week but wins over Sheppey United and Raynes Park Vale have seen them reach this stage of the trophy.
Cray Valley PM have adjusted well to the Isthmian Premier since promotion from Ramsgate’s division last term, but are winless in three in the league. Their last outing ended in a 1-0 defeat at Hendon, having played the last half hour with 10 men following Aly Cem Tumkaya’s red card.
Last season was only the second time that Ramsgate had won three FA Trophy ties in a season. They lost in the first round at Hythe Town. For Cray Valley PM it’s just their fifth campaign in the competition. Last year’s journey ended with a heavy 5-1 loss at home to National League South Hampton & Richmond Borough in the second round.
Redditch United v Halesowen Town
Just one point and four places separate these Southern Premier Central sides ahead of Saturday’s tie.
Redditch have already knocked Halesowen out of the FA Cup this season with a 1st Qualifying Round win at the end of August. They’ve been rested up for this clash as they were without a game at the weekend. United have lost their two home games since the Yeltz’s visit in the cup but ended September with a 2-1 win at Bromsgrove Sporting.
Halesowen have lost three of their last four, the most recent on Saturday when Stratford Town’s Lewis Wilson’s netted in the fifth minute of time added on. Unlike Redditch’s enforced break, no side has played more league games than Town’s 11 this season.
The Reds’ best run was to the last 32 in 1999 while Halesowen’s was four years ago. In an incredible run, the West Midlanders progressed NINE rounds, playing 13 ties before eventually losing at Concord Rangers in the semi-finals. That tie was delayed following the Covid-19 pandemic, Town also knocked out three National League sides en route, all away from home.
Friday’s fixture:
City of Liverpool v Macclesfield (8pm)
Saturday’s fixtures (all KO 3pm):
AFC Sudbury v Cambridge City
AFC Telford United v Cleethorpes Town
AFC Totton v Merthyr Town
Ashford United v Walton & Hersham
Barwell v Stratford Town
Basford United v Hanley Town
Bedford Town v Hendon
Belper Town v Hinckley LRFC
Blyth Spartans v Stockton Town
Bowers & Pitsea v Real Bedford
Brentwood Town v Cray Wanderers
Chasetown v Bromsgrove Sporting
Chatham Town v Wingate & Finchley
Chertsey Town v Billericay Town
Chichester City v Herne Bay
Clitheroe v Lancaster City
Congleton Town v Hyde United
Dartford v Dulwich Hamlet
Dover Athletic v Cheshunt
Felixstowe & Walton United v Haringey Borough
Flackwell Heath v Bishop’s Stortford
Folkestone Invicta v Ascot United
Frome Town v Havant & Waterlooville
Gloucester City v Wimborne Town
Guiseley v Bamber Bridge
Hadley v Carshalton Athletic
Hanwell Town v Berkhamsted
Hashtag United v Hitchin Town
Hebburn Town v FC United of Manchester
Hungerford Town v Sholing
Ilkeston Town v Coleshill Town
Kettering Town v Gainsborough Trinity
Leatherhead v Hastings United
Leek Town v Mickleover
Leiston v Horsham
Lewes v Bracknell Town
Littlehampton Town v Barton Rovers
Lowestoft Town v Royston Town
Maldon & Tiptree v Canvey Island
Marlow v Biggleswade Town
Mousehole v Bristol Manor Farm
Ossett United v Prescot Cables
Plymouth Parkway v Banbury United
Poole Town v Gosport Borough
Potters Bar Town v Whitehawk
Ramsgate v Cray Valley PM
Redditch United v Halesowen Town
Sittingbourne v Bognor Regis Town
Spalding United v Alvechurch
Sporting Khalsa v Harborough Town
Stamford v Anstey Nomads
Stocksbridge Park Steels v Warrington Rylands
Stourbridge v Matlock Town
Taunton Town v Basingstoke Town
Tavistock v Horndean
Tiverton Town v Dorchester Town
Trafford v Ashton United
Uxbridge v Thame United
Whitby Town v Newton Aycliffe
Winchester City v Swindon Supermarine
Workington v Morpeth Town
Worksop Town v St Ives Town
Yate Town v Melksham Town
Read up on all the trophy ties in Sunday’s NLP!
