Peterborough Sports start FA Cup quest, Spalding United have shown they belong in step two, and the local Saturday non league fixtures
Peterborough Sports begin their quest to reach the first round proper of the FA Cup for the first time on Saturday.
It’s been a long-term aim of the city club to get into the same FA Cup draw as Peterborough United and others. They have to win four ties this season having come close on a couple of occasions when they were a National League North club.
Sports should win their first qualifying round tie against lower level Ipswich Wanderers at PIMS Park tomorrow (3pm kick). Graham Drury’s men have hit a bit of form after a sticky start to their Southern Premier Division Central campaign. They are unbeaten in their last three games.
Bourne Town, Stamford AFC and Yaxley also have home ties tomorrow. Bourne have also been handed a home draw in the second qualifying round of the FA Trophy, against fellow Northern Premier Division side Hanley Town on September 12.
Meanwhile Spalding United boss Jimmy Dean insists his side can take a lot of belief from the first six games of the National League North season.
A superb point from a 1-1 draw at title fancies South Shields on Bank Holiday Monday made it eight points in August for a team playing at step two for the first time in the club’s history.
Dean said: “My target was seven points in August so we can take a lot of belief from what we have achieved. We’ve played four of the top sides in that time and we’ve been in every game. We should now know we can be a decent side at this level.
"We have to keep going though. Every game is a cup final for us and we need to try and pick up points in all of them.”
Spalding host bottom four side Southport at the Sir Halley Stewart Field on Saturday (3pm).
Blackstones, March Town, Wisbech Town, Holbeach United and Whittlesey Athletic are the other local non league teams with home matches on Saturday.
SATURDAY FIXTURES
FA Cup first qualifying round: Bourne Town v Boldmere St Michaels, Peterborough Sports v Ipswich Wanderers, Stamford AFC v Mickleover Sports. Yaxley v Buckhurst Hill.
National League North: Spalding United v Southport.
United Counties League Cup: Selston v Deeping Rangers.
United Counties Premier Division North: Blackstones v Newark Town.
United Counties Premier Division South: FC Stratford v FC Peterborough.
Thurlow Nunn Premier Division: March Town v Woodbridge Town, Wisbech Town v Mildenhall Town.
Thurlow Nunn Division One North: Diss Town v Netherton United, Hadleigh United v FC Parson Drove, Holbeach United v Norwich United, Whittlesey Athletic v Wivenhoe Town.