Local Football Radio this week is another action packed show. Jack and Mike will be previewing all the weekend fixtures in the SWPL and Western League plus a look ahead to the rearranged FA Vase fixtures.
This week, the lads talk to Alex White, manager of Clevedon Town under 18’s as he looks ahead to the clubs mouth watering FA Youth Cup tie against Manchester City academy. Highflying Westbury United of the Western League are having a wonderful season and Greg Coulson, chairman of The Green Army will be sharing his views on the clubs season. One of the games of the weekend in the South West Peninsula comes at Bickland Park as Falmouth Town host Tavistock. Falmouth’s manager Andrew Westgarth will be dropping in to preview the highly anticipated fixture.
Click on #LocalFootballRadio to listen to the action packed live show today between 1-2pm and you can share your views on all things Local Football on twitter, by using the hashtag #LocalFootballRadio
The FA Vase was meant to have been the big draw across the South West last weekend, but it was the weather that grabbed the headlines as both Saltash United and St Austell’s game were postponed. The Stan Robinson Stadium did manage to overcome the onslaught of rain, as Willand Rovers overcame Bodmin Town 3-0 to put their name into the hat for the fourth round. Willand’s management duo Russell Jee & David Steele reward for the defeat of The Black & Ambers was home advantage once again. Rovers will face Wessex Premier League opposition in the shape of either Hamble Club or Hamworthy United.
Saltash United and St Austell will attempt to progress to the fourth round this weekend after last Saturdays wash out. Both teams however, had their names in the pot as the draw was made from the home of football, Wembley Stadium, on Monday morning. If the Ashes can overcome Cribbs at Kimberley Stadium, Matt Cusack’s men will face a home fixture against another Wessex Premier League side, Sholing FC.
Cadbury Heath await Damon Mulready’s Lillywhites on the weekend as St Austell make the long trip to The Springfield. If they can overcome the Western League side the club will again be on their travels in the next round as they were handed a fourth round drawn against Redbridge or Chertsey Town. St Austell haven’t played a competitive match since November 24th , when they defeated Callington Town 3-1. Not the best preparation for what surely is the biggest game of the season for the Poltair Park outfit. If anyone can get up for the FA Vase though it is St Austell who reached the semi-final in 2015 and will be looking for a repeat performance this time out.
If the weather does hold off for the weekend it could prove an interesting weekend in the South West Peninsula Premier League. Last weekend, The King George V Ground hosted third vs fourth as Exmouth Town played out a 0-0 draw as they entertained Falmouth Town. A hard fought away point for Andrew Westgarth’s men will mean so much more if they can capitalise with all three points as they welcome second placed Tavistock to Bickland Park. Lambs manager Stuart Henderson got the clubs title push back on track with a victory over Godolphin Atlantic last time out after a difficult run of results. Amongst that tricky period, they played out one of the games of the season so far as Tyler Elliott scored an 88th minute equaliser at Langsford park to ensure a 3-3 finish against Falmouth Town. If this weekends game is half as good as the first, it will prove a popular place for local football fans.
Elburton Villa showed they are heading in the right direction under Kevin Yetton as they put up a valiant display against Western League outfit Plymouth Parkway. Villa came close to causing an upset as they had their chances before a Shane Krac double sent the Yellows into the semi-final of the Devon St Lukes Bowl. They will look to build on that good performance this weekend as they welcome Darren Gilberts Bodmin Town to Haye Road. The Black & Ambers made their exit from the FA Vase last weekend but weren’t disgraced against title challengers of the Western League, Willand Rovers. It will give both clubs the chance to bounce back immediately and has all the hallmarks of being an entertaining game this weekend.
After playing out a 0-0 draw last weekend, Exmouth Town will have another chance on home soil to claim all three points as they welcome Reg Hambley’s Camelford to the King George V Ground. Camelford sit 13th in the table and were well beaten last time out, as they lost 4-1 to Elburton Villa with Josh Insley on the scoresheet for The Camels. If Falmouth and Tavistock finish level and Exmouth overcome Camelford, Kevin Hill’s Town could take second spot in the table.
Ivybridge Town got back to winning ways last weekend thanks to a Kevin Fyneboy hat-trick against bottom of the league Sticker. After playing almost all of the top six in the past few weeks and putting in fine performances against them all, Darren Stewart’s side proved to much for Andy Avery’s men, as Town will look to climb up the league table over the festive period. Sticker will face another tough challenge this weekend as they welcome Cullompton Rangers to Burngullow Lane. Rangers secured an impressive victory last weekend against Torpoint Athletic to move above them in the league. They will be favourites going into Saturdays encounter and could move to eight in the table if results around them go there way.
Steve Massey takes his young Helston Athletic side to Jenkins Park for a mid table battle against Millbrook. The Magpies are enjoying a positive return to the Peninsula Premier following promotion last season and this game should prove an interesting one for both managers who are looking to keep moving their clubs forward.
For all the latest news and to keep updated on this weekends fixtures for the division visit the league website – www.swpleague.co.uk
THE FA VASE FOURTH ROUND DRAW
1 Godmanchester Rovers v Sporting Khalsa
2 Irlam or Winterton Rangers v Cadbury Athletic
3 Hebburn Town v Shepshed Dynamo
4 Newcastle Benfield v Northwich Victoria
5 Sunderland RCA v West Auckland Town
6 Coventry United v Leicester Nirvana
7 Deeping Rangers v Eastwood Community
8 Histon v Lye Town
9 Willand Rovers v Hamble Club or Hamworthy United
10 Canterbury City v Hullbridge Sports or Newport Pagnell Town
11 AFC Uckfield Town or Sutton Common Rovers v Windsor
12 Saltash United or Cribbs v Sholing
13 Bearsted v Abbey Rangers
14 Redbridge or Chertsey Town v Cadbury Heath or AFC St Austell
15 Tring Athletic or Biggleswade v Swaffham Town or Stowmarket Town
16 Cray Valley v Baffins Milton Rovers
Visit the clubs Twitter pages to ensure these matches will beat the rain this weekend click below…
With Christmas fast approaching, The Toolstation Western League is shaping up to be the best present of all for local football fans. Willand Rovers are in a purple patch of form and have not tasted defeat since way back in September. Last weekend they secured passage to the fourth round of the FA Vase and followed up that victory with a 7-1 dismantling of Odd Down Bath in the Les Phillips cup. Russell Jee & David Steele seemed to have found the right formula at the Stan Robinson Stadium this season as Rovers sit third in the league with four games in hand over leaders Bridgewater.
Willand Rovers chairman Mike Mitchell sat down and spoke to the Toolstaion podcast about his sides FA Vase run this season earlier this week. Click Here to listen to the full interview. Luke Mortimore who bagged a hat trick for Rovers against the Down, will hope to add to his tally as his side travel to bottom placed Shortwood United, yet without a league point this season. United travelled to another inform side, Bitton last weekend and despite taking a 10 minute lead through Joey Tustain, Bitton hit back and ran out 7-1 winners. Its been a difficult season for Shortwood and shows no sign of getting any easier, if they were to get anything out of the game on Saturday it will surely go down as the result of the season so far in the league.
The match of the day in the premier league will take place at Bolitho Park. Dan Langdon will bring his inform Bitton side down to Plymouth Parkway who themselves are on a fine run of form. Bitton’s last five games have seem them hit the target 24 times as they sit fourth in the league. Lee Hobbs’ Parkway will welcome the challenge with the Yellows unbeaten in six and will hope to close the gap to Bitton to within three points this weekend. The last time Bolitho hosted league action was an action packed 4-2 victory over Bradford and this weekend has all the ingredients of being another great advert for Western League Football.
Newly promoted Westbury United are having a season to remember as they sit second in the league as Christmas approaches. This weekend, the Kirkpatrick’s take their inform side to 17th placed Brislington. The Green Army should not underestimate the challenge Brislington will offer. Recent narrow defeats to league leaders Bridgewater and Plymouth Parkway have proved Lee Perk’s side can be a match for anyone in the division.
League leaders Bridgewater have sat top of the table for most of the season. This weekend will prove a tough test as manager Karl Baggaley takes his side to the Homers Heath Stadium as they take on 11th placed Buckland Athletic. Bridgewater have not lost in the league since Clevedon Town took all three points off them back in September. Craig Duff’s side will not be overwhelmed by the challenge as the Bucks are in good form themselves of late despite the defeat to Bitton which ended in a 5-4 thriller.
It should prove another fascinating weekend of football in the Western League, for a full list of fixtures and further insight into all the clubs visit the clubs website: www.toolstationleague.com
Enjoy the weekend wherever you will be watching this weekend. Start the weekend the right way and listen to #LocalFootballRadio today between 1-2pm. Get involved with the show on twitter with the hashtag #LocalFootballRadio. Let the lads know where you will be watching this weekend. Enjoy the weekend and good look to all teams who make Local Football what it is… Brilliant
