Key details

? Runcorn Town v West
? FA Vase second qualifying round
? Saturday 14th September 2019, 3pm
? Pavilions, Sandy Lane, Runcorn, WA7 4ET
? £6 adults / £3 concessions / free for under-16s
? Runcorn (1.1 miles)
⏪ Replay at Brookburn Road on Tuesday 17th September if scores are level after extra time

West are back on the Wembley trail this weekend with a trip to Runcorn Town.

Passage from the FA Vase first qualifying round could not have been more straighforward, West awarded a walkover after Egerton failed to meet the competition’s ground requirements, but this tie promises to be significantly more challenging.

Town will need no introduction to West supporters, being perennial promotion contenders in the NWCFL Premier Division, and West will also be battling against history having not won at Pavilions since 2014. Paul McManus’ side have started indifferently in the league, sitting ninth after five games, but have had more success in the FA Cup – eliminating Radcliffe and Newcastle Benfield on their way to the second qualifying round.

West will also need to contain a familiar menace in the form of Craig Cairns – Town’s signing of the former City of Liverpool hitman in the summer represented a coup after Cairns’ promotion season with the Purps, including three goals in two games against West.

West in the FA Vase

West’s record in the FA Vase is marked by the competition record score of 15-1 against Dinnington Town in 2015, but West have reached the first round proper on three occasions, most recently in 2017-18. Last season’s campaign ended at the first hurdle with a disappointing 3-1 defeat at Lower Breck.

Town, for the record, had their best run in 2012-13, when they reached the fifth round before falling to Walsall Wood.

Last time we met

Saturday 29th December 2018, West 3-1 Runcorn Town: West produced their best performance of the 2018-19 season to see off Town at Brookburn Road. Simon Thelwell gave the visitors a half-time lead, but West hit back through Stephen Hall, Joe Shaw and Ramirez Howarth.

The West team that day: Burgess, Tinker, Atherton, Andrews, Eiselt, Eckersley, Leather (Faux 83), Gavin, Hall (Affleck 90), Shaw, Howarth (B. Woods 88).

Getting to Pavilions

Pavilions is reachable by train, although supporters travelling from Manchester will have to change at Liverpool South Parkway. There is no official club travel for this match, but supporters supporters will be driving – contact the club on Twitter for more information.