1874 Northwich v West Didsbury & Chorlton
FA Cup Preliminary Qualifying Round
Saturday 19th August, 3pm KO
Admission: £6 adults, £4 concessions
Address: Barton Stadium, Kingsway, Cheshire, CW7 3AE
Up for the Cup
West are back on the road to Wembley as they head to Winsford’s Barton Stadium where they take on NWCFL rivals 1874 Northwich. Both sides will be looking to reach the 1st qualifying round for the first time in their respective histories.
West have failed to reach the Preliminary round once in their five FA Cup campaigns to date but have never gone beyond that stage having lost to Burscough and Brighouse Town in 2013 and 2014 respectively. Last season West exited this stage at home to fellow NWCFL side Squires Gate losing 3-2 despite having battled back to 2-2.
To reach the 1st qualifying round for the first time in club history West will have to re-write some history of their own having lost all seven of their previous meetings against 1874 Northwich. The most recent meeting came at Brookburn Road back in October 2016 when Rick Bailey earned the visitors all three points with a stoppage time free kick. Their record at the Barton Stadium will be boosted however having brought a run of six defeats on the ground to an end with a 3-1 win over Winsford United back in April.
Having already scored twice in the last round in the 5-0 win away to Athersley Recreation it will be a quick reunion for Tom Bailey who returns to his former club for the first time. Bailey will appear on BBC Radio Manchester’s Non-League programme tonight from 7pm.
1874 Northwich in the Cup
Like West, 1874 have never been beyond the Preliminary Qualifying Round having reached this stage in each of their four seasons in the competition. In 2014, they exited to Prescot Cables in a 2-1 defeat after a replay having drawn 3-3 in the original meeting. The following season they exited at home to Maltby Main again losing 2-1 before bowing out at the same stage in 2016 losing to Colne after a replay.
The two teams have met previously in the FA Cup back in 2015 in one of Manager Steve Settle’s first games in charge with 1874 running out 3-0 winners at the Barton Stadium.
In the Extra Preliminary Round 1874 had to overcome rivals Northwich Victoria after a replay. In the original fixture 74 raced into a two-goal lead before being reduced to 10 men as Vics fought back to 2-2. The replay saw the fan owned club secure a comfortable 2-0 win in front of their own fans.
Previous Meeting: FA Cup Extra Preliminary Qualifying Round – Friday 14th August 2015
1874 Northwich 3 West 0
Team: Hughes, Mason, Simcock, Potts, Rogers, Eckersley, Gleave, Poole, Steer, Gavin, Wolden.
Subs: Woods, Schofield, Poizer. Subs Not Used: Russell, Murphy, Livesey, Mitten.
Attendance: 350
