RECORD BREAKERS!
EVERY one of this weekend’s eight FA Vase fifth round ties involve at least one club for whom victory would mean a record run for the club in the competition.
Emley AFC claim to be a continuation of the original Emley club, so their tie against former winners Whickham may be the exception. Whickham are one of two former Vase winners left in the competition and they will be looking to avenge a 2-0 defeat by the original Emley club in the fouth round 27 years ago. The other club to have lifted the Vase still standing is Deal Town who travel to a Bridgwater United side equalling their best Vase run for a second successive season.
Jersey Bulls are also matching club records having also rerached the fifth round for the first time last year. They host Falmouth Town for whom
victory would equal their club best Vase run. Jersey Bulls are one of three Combined Counties League clubs still involved in the competition – the highest representation of any of the Step 5 leagues. Another club also equalling their best ever Vase run this season is Great Wakering Rovers, although it is 22 years since the club last made it this far. However, the Essex Senior League side has only had four Vase campaigns in that time. They travel to former semi-finalists Highworth Town. The Worcestershire derby between Stourport Swifts and Worcester City will result in one of those two clubs setting a new personal best run in the competition. This is also the case for Tilbury versus North Greenford United, both of whom already on club record breaking Vase runs.
A third tie will also result in a club record Vase run as Hilltop host Romford at Uxbridge FC next Sunday. Hilltop had only ever gone as far as the first round in the past and have the least Vase experience of the final 16 clubs left in the competition.
The last of the eight ties is the only one that has occured before in the competition. Hallam FC host Lincoln United 34 years after the visitors won 2-1 in an extra preliminary eound replay.
A repeat win for Lincoln United would equal their best Vase run, whilst Hallam are already matching their best Vase run, last set 43 years ago!