FA Cup/Southern Bluebells hit the road looking to make more history
YATE Town head for the Kent coastline tomorrow buoyed by a purple patch of form that threatens to propel them into the first round proper of the FA Cup for only the second time in their 115-year history.
Paul Michael’s on-song team pitched up tenth in the Southern League Premier South standings on Tuesday night with a gutsy 2-1 away victory over Weston-superMare courtesy of Olly Mehew and Joe Tumelty strikes.
The Bluebells head into tomorrow’s gripping away-day with National League strugglers Dover Athletic parading four wins and a draw from their last six appearances in all competitions.
It’s form the host team for the fourth and final qualifying round encounter will no doubt have noted, just as the Yate contingent will have observed winless Dover’s parlous position at the foot of the first tier of national non-League football with a minus nine points tally, after initially being docked 12, and fined £40,000, for failing to fulfil four February fixtures.
Michael maintained: “This is a real opportunity for us to make some more history. Getting to the first round proper would be a second time for the club, but a first time for many of us players and staff. We’ve got nothing to lose so we’ll play without fear, have a clear game plan and see if we can’t do something special.”
The Bluebells boss added: “We’re in a good position with players returning from injury. Only Matt Bower is touch and go, and Nick Rhodes and Jamie Egan amongst others will hopefully be over niggles.”
Commercial manager Mark Thorne, born and bred in the town, feels the opportunity is there to raise the profile of a club on the up.
“I was amongst the 800 or so supporters travelling up to Cheltenham Town for our FA Cup tie with them nine years ago when Rob
Cousins was manager,” the 53-yearold reflected. “People forget what a magnificent moment that was, our first-ever time in the first round proper, and we’d got there by winning at Newport County, who were Conference leaders then, in a final qualifying round replay at their place after almost beating them at ours in the first game.”
John Rendell admits he too could hardly be a happier manager right now as he prepares his in-form Paulton Rovers charges for a third and final consecutive collision with Bristol Manor Farm.
This time Rovers’ Winterfield Road HQ plays host, for a Division One South joust, after Rendell’s men twice overcame their local rivals in League Challenge Cup, on penalties, and in Saturday’s FA Trophy second round qualifier – 2-1 – in the space of five fascinating days.
Paulton, in fact, have won their last four league and cup games, all away from home, since taking a 5-1 league drubbing by Plymouth Parkway in Devon firmly on the chin a month back.
“I’m absolutely delighted,” said Rendell. “We were completely outdone at Parkway – it was like men
versus boys – and I felt our young team needed reinforcing. Neil Martin came in at centre-half from Tiverton and has been brilliant for us, as have Will Harvey, Leighton Tuodolo and James Byrne.
“We can’t compete budget-wise with 85 per cent of clubs in our league either, so I’m so proud of the way we’re playing, with and without the ball.”
Tomorrow’s game comes amid the backdrop of unsavoury scenes at the conclusion of Saturday’s Trophy contest, when Manor Farm manager Lee Lashenko was given a red card by referee Richard Lawrence, prompting the Creek supremo to react angrily in scenes captured on camera and viewed more than 160,000 times on social media.
Rendell preferred to keep his counsel over the incident, instead insisting: “Saturday is the third in the series and it will no doubt be another tough affair. Our lads have been training hard twice a week and enjoying each other’s company, knowing this is an important league game after two positive cup outcomes,” emphasised the Paulton boss, who will oversee fitness checks on skipper and leftback Nuno Felix (groin) and winger Tuodolo (ankle).
Lashenko and Manor Farm were still awaiting an FA response as the Bristol Post went to press, although their manager said: “I’ll be expecting a date soon about a hearing. There are different types of bans and we’ll see what ultimately comes up. It goes without saying I don’t intend to put myself or the club in this position anytime soon!
“I have gone on record to apologise to the referee for my reaction, although I hope he reflects on his performance too. I put my heart and soul into all aspects of Manor Farm and I’m sure the club will take that into consideration.
“Yes, I’m ashamed of myself; I should have controlled my emotions. I’d also say that despite what the video snippet captured, I’d have never touched the referee; at no point was he ever in danger.
“I know the video makes me look like a man possessed, but there were reasons for it. When I went over to shake his hand at the end, I felt he should have explained why he’d earlier given me a yellow card after hearing, what he thought, had been an adverse comment come from our technical area.
“I still don’t feel I’ve deserved all that reaction on social media; and certainly my son, at 15, doesn’t deserve the messages he’s received either. That’s one of the most upsetting things. My actions on the pitch were mine only. No one else should be having a finger pointed at, both family and the club.”
Of the Paulton episodes, Lashenko said: “Maybe conceding that very late equaliser in the first game, then losing on penalties, gave us a hangover which we took into our first half display on Saturday.”
Mangotsfield United are without a fixture until the Saturday, October 23 home meeting with Melksham Town. Field were edged out 2-1 by Willand Rovers in Devon in Saturday’s FA Trophy second qualifier.