FA Cup/Trophy/Vase 2022/23

[Pitmanchester]

I'll try to lift the gloom around Keys Park a little.

My Manchester team, West Didsbury & Chorlton won at Bacup in the FA Vase 2nd Rd on a pitch with the biggest slope I've ever seen. It was a great leveller. West went ahead, dominated but didn't score more. You can guess what happened next... But a late mystery penalty gave West an equaliser despite around 20 kids all putting their phones on "torch" mode behind the goal.

Straight to pens. The kids ran round to the other end and a bunch of older blokes also shone their phones at the penalty takers. Unlucky lads, West won 4-1, scoring all theirs.

There was some previous between the teams with some pretty awful homophobic abuse last year leading to a bunch of rainbow flags from the 200 or so West fans there yesterday. Not well received locally.

And there was a Hednesford connection. I chatted to their bloke doing some live commentary and, bizarrely, he said he also does Gibraltar games. I mentioned Reece Styche, Hednesford etc and he came back with an anecdote about Stuart Airdrie who is apparently coaching now in that part of the world. Bacup's manager Brent Peters has been in post since 1997 and his son (Martin Peters ..) sponsors the club bar. Could be a nice club if they got rid of a few idiots.

I'm not sure how the Vase draw works but I notice Walsall Wood and Brocton are also through.

[Lee K]

The last time I heard about Stewart Airdrie he was a coach at Steeton in the North West Counties League. I’ve just checked and he is still on their website:

https://www.steetonafc.co.uk/teams/2027 ... ie-1396890

[Glyn]

I'm not sure how the Vase draw works but I notice Walsall Wood and Brocton are also through.

[Glyn]

[Pitmanchester]

Not a great draw for West, one of the highest level teams we could have been paired with. We beat them earlier in the season though and it's a short tram ride to Prestwich so there should be a big away following. There are rumours that Prestwich may have fielded an ineligible player in their win over Whitley Bay, which is not a short tram ride away if Prestwich are kicked out.

[Pitmanchester]

Prestwich have been kicked out and Whitley Bay reinstated. That's a long day out.

[Glyn]

[Glyn]

[Glyn]

[Glyn]

[PitmanKeith]

[Lee K]

Chesterfield away - what a cracking day out that would have been!

[Glyn]

[Glyn]

[Glyn]

Today's results here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/scores-fixtures

Two assists for Marv Johnson

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63708719

And a sensational late comeback for Walsall. Is their name on the cup?

[Glyn]

[Glyn]

[Pitmanchester]

FA Vase 3rd Rd: Whitley Bay 1-1 West Didsbury & Chorlton (West won 4-1 on pens)

A long day out but ultimately brilliant. A terrible match on a bumpy bog of a pitch with a brisk North Sea wind adding to the glamour. West got the scruffiest of deflected goals to equalise in the last minute but comfortably won on pens as in the previous round. Away support was incredible, around 100 made the trip, non stop singing. If you've got time to kill, there is good footage here:
https://twitter.com/wd_cfc

I think we stay in the northern part of the draw for now but Walsall Wood are still in the Vase.

[Perton Pitman]

As I'm unable to get over to Hednesford, I was dropped off at Castlecroft to watch AFC Wulfs v Brocton. THe home side won comfortably 3-0 in front of 192 spectators. It was a freezing afternoon and despite the 2pm kick-off the lights were switched on after 50 minutes.

[Lee K]

[Pitmanchester]

West have an excellent draw. Team from the level below, at home. Horden Community Welfare, a phoenix club from the former Colliery Welfare, a real bunch of pitmen!

[Glyn]

[Glyn]

[Glyn]

[Glyn]

FA Cup: BBC to show Preston v Tottenham & Wrexham v Sheffield United in FA Cup - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64262577

That Man Utd v Reading game is an awful choice.

Meanwhile they've overlooked Walsall v Leicester, the kind of David v Goliath tie which they should be televising for a variety of reasons, including that Saddlers need the money more than Man Utd do!