Juicy FA Cup tie for Peterborough Sports, plus the rest of the local non-league fixtures
Peterborough Sports have a juicy FA Cup tie at AFC Rushden & Diamonds on Saturday (3pm).
Diamonds play in the Northern Premier Midlands, a level below Sports, but the second qualifying round tie is sure to be keenly-contested with local pride at stake.
Clubs are three wins from the first round proper, a main target of Sports who have never reached that stage, but their hosts are unbeaten in league action this season with two wins and four draws in six matches.
Sports are in string form themselves though and will be favourites to win, especially if top scorer Leon Lobjoit returns after missing last weekend’s 4-2 win over Rushall Olympic with a back injury.
Spalding United are also in FA Cup action tomorrow and they should see off Stoke-on-Trent based Hanley Town at the Sir Halley Stewart Field. Hanley lost in the FA Trophy at Bourne Town last weekend.
It’s league action for the other local non-league clubs tomorrow with Deeping Rangers, FC Peterborough, Holbeach United, FC Parson Drove and Netherton United all at home.
Holbeach beat Drove 2-1 in a Thurlow Nunn Division One derby on Wednesday night with goals from Abdul-Hamid Chouchane and Denis Coelho. Tyran Stewart replied for Drove. Holbeach are ninth and Drove are 17th.
SATURDAY FIXTURES
FA Cup third qualifying round: AFC Rushden & Diamonds v Peterborough Sports; Spalding United v Hanley Town.
Southern Premier Division Central: Stamford AFC v Bishop’s Stortford.
Northern Premier Midlands Division: Coleshill Town v Bourne Town.
United Counties Premier Division North: Deeping Rangers v Gresley Rovers; Kimberley Miners Welfare v Blackstones.
United Counties Premier Division South: Atherstone Town v Yaxley; FC Peterborough v Highgate United.
Thurlow Nunn Premier Division: Walsham Le Willows v Wisbech Town.
Thurlow Nunn Division One: AFC Pegasus v Whittlesey Athletic; FC Parson Drove v Diss Town; Holbeach United v Gorleston Reserves; Netherton United v Framlingham Town.