Sam’s Section: Cirencester return after 29 years as Gloucestershire sides kick off FA Vase campaigns
Last week I built up to an exciting weekend of FA Cup action so this week it’s only right I look into the opening round of FA Vase fixtures and who our Gloucestershire sides face.
Seven Gloucestershire teams enter the competition at the First Qualifying Round including Stonehouse Town, Brimscombe & Thrupp, Cirencester Town, Longlevens, Tytherington Rocks, Newent Town and Cheltenham Saracens.
Five other Gloucestershire sides such as Lydney Town, Fairford Town, Tuffley Rovers, Shortwood United and Slimbridge have all been awarded byes into the Second Qualifying Round later next month.
So let’s now take a look at this weekend’s fixtures:
Stonehouse Town v Corsham Town (Ben’s Takeaway Stadium, Saturday August 24th, 3pm)
The Magpies head into their fifth FA Vase campaign hoping to reach the Second Qualifying Round for the third time but will have a tough test against a strong Corsham Town side.
But after returning to the club in the summer, manager Ian Soule has guided the Magpies to an unbeaten start to the Uhlsport Hellenic League Division One so could be a great position to end Corsham’s unbeaten start.
Brimscombe & Thrupp v Roman Glass St George (The Meadow, Saturday August 24th, 3pm)
Brimscombe enjoyed their first win since April on Tuesday night defeating Cirencester 3-1 giving them a boost heading into their FA Vase tie with the Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier leaders, Roman Glass.
History could be on Brimscombe’s side as they have only failed to go past the First Qualifying Round once in 11 tournaments with the last coming back in back in 2017.
Oldland Abbotonians v Cirencester Town (Aitchison Playing Field, Saturday August 24th, 3pm)
It’s been a difficult start to life in the Hellenic Premier for Cirencester who have suffered defeat in all six games so far this season but will be looking ahead to their first FA Vase game since 1995.
After a heavy 7-0 defeat to Fairford in the FA Cup a fresh start in the Vase could be what the Centurions need to get back to winning ways against Western League Premier side, Oldland Abbotonians.
Longlevens vs Malmesbury Victoria (Saw Mills), Saturday August 24th, 3pm)
Longlevens suffered a heavy exit from the FA Cup at the hands of Binfield but will quickly want to put that behind them and focus on the Vase as they take on fellow Hellenic Premier side, Malmesbury.
Levens head into their tenth Vase campaign and will want to match last season’s success in the competition as they reached the Second Round Proper bowing out to Royal Wootton Bassett.
Tytherington Rocks v Keynsham Town (Hardwicke Playing Field, Saturday August 24th, 3pm)
Tytherington kick off their tenth Vase campaign with a testing tie against Western League Division One side Keynsham Town.
Just one defeat in their first five matches has seen Tytherington start the campaign in the Hellenic Division One play-off spots but history in the Vase may be against them as they’ve failed to progress past their opening round in all nine previous attempts.
Newent Town v Cadbury Heath (Wildsmith Meadow, Saturday August 24th, 3pm)
A tough start to the season has seen Newent win just one of their opening five games seeing the side sit just outside the drop zone on goal difference.
But cup football returns to Wildsmith Meadow with their sixth Vase campaign a fresh opportunity to get back to winning ways as they look to reach the Second Qualifying Round for a fourth time against Cadbury Heath.
Wokingham & Emmbrook v Cheltenham Saracens (Emmbrook Sports and Social Club, Sunday August 25th, 3pm)
The only Gloucestershire side in action on Sunday, Saracens begin their 15th FA Vase campaign looking to reach the Second Qualifying Round for a seventh time against Combined Counties League side, Wokingham & Emmbrook.
Saracens have endured a mixed bagged of results in their first five games picking up two victories over FC Stratford and Carterton FC, a draw versus Stonehouse and two defeats to the hands of Tytherington and Droitwich Spa.
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READ MORE: Check out this Saturday’s fixtures in and around Gloucestershire right here
