Something For The Weekend: FA Trophy - Five Ties To Watch

Clubs from the National League North and South enter the competition at this stage and there are some fascinating ties pitching them against lower league opposition.

York City v Coalville Town

York City, who beat Macclesfield Town 3-2 at Wembley last May for their second Trophy success after winning it in 2012, host Evo-Stik League Premier side Coalville Town at Bootham Crescent.

York, of course, won the Trophy but suffered the drop from out of the National League and are now under the guidance of former Darlington boss Martin Gray.

It`s been a mixed season for the Ravens to date, but no doubt what Gray will be focusing on is the fact that only bottom side Sutton Coldfield Town have conceded more league goals than Tommy Brookbanks` side.

Gainsborough Trinity v Stafford Rangers

Another National North v Northern Premier tie sees Gainsborough Trinity host two-time Trophy winners Stafford Rangers at the Northolme.

Dave Frecklington`s Trinity beat FC United of Manchester last weekend to climb clear of the drop zone, but Rangers, who triumphed at Wembley twice in 1972 and 1979 and finished runners-up in 1976, have been inconsistent to date in the league, winning eight and losing eight of their twenty games.

Hungerford Town v Billericay Town

There will be quite a deal of attention on this tie at Bulpit Lane, simply because of the circus that now follows Bostik League Premier Billericay Town whenever they play.

On and off-field fortunes couldn`t be more different at present, with the National League South hosts having suffered following the loss of manager Bobby Wilkinson to Wealdstone along with several players, while things are booming for Glenn Tamplin`s Blues.

Crowds are massively up on previous seasons and investment has gone into the stadium as well as on several high-profile players such as Paul Konchesky, Jermaine Pennant, Kevin Foley and Jamie O`Hara.

But it`s the Billericay strike force of Jake Robinson, Adam Cunnington and Billy Bricknell that the Crusaders will need to quell if they are to progress.

Taunton Town v Concord Rangers

Evo-Stik League South West leaders Taunton Town host National League South side Concord Rangers in another fascinating tie at Wordsworth Drive.

The Peacocks reached this far after a 7-6 penalty shoot-out win over Evo-Stik League South East outfit Beaconsfield Town and come into the game in good form.

Although they lost their last match on Tuesday night – a Somerset Premier Cup tie against Concord`s league rivals Weston-super-Mare, anyone from the Canvey Island-based club there watching the game would have been disappointed as Taunton rested most of their first-team.

The Beachboys may be languishing down in eighteenth place in the table, but they are on a run of eight games unbeaten, although they have only won one of those, that being last weekend in a 4-2 home win over newcomers Chippenham Town.

This is definitely one that could be flagged up as a potential `upset`.

Cleethorpes Town v Spennymoor Town

This tie between Evo-Stik League South side Cleethorpes and National League North visitors Spennymoor pitches two teams who have both been at Wembley in the last four years!

Cleethorpes were beneath the Arch as recently as last May, but they found South Shields too hot to handle in the Buildbase FA Vase Final, losing 4-0 to the Ebac Northern League champions.

Clee had already clinched promotion though as winners of the Toolstation Northern Counties East League and enjoyed a fantastic 2016/17 season overall.

Spennymoor won the Vase in 2013 by beating Kent outfit Tunbridge Wells 2-1.

The then-Northern League side have since progressed rapidly by winning promotion to the Evo-Stik League and then to the National League North via the play-offs last season.

And both are enjoying decent 2017/18 campaigns to date, albeit Moors suffered a disappointing 4-0 hammering at Leamington last time out, while Clee were held 1-1 at Corby Town.