This coming weekend sees the return of the FA Vase and we are down to the last 64 teams in this season's competition. We still have three previous winners surviving as well as one other previous finalist, West Auckland Town. Of the previous winners only Sholing have a home draw in Round 3 but face a tough task against fellow Wessex Premier promotion candidates, Blackfield & Langley. Of the other two, North Shields make the short trip to Newcastle Benfield whilst Whitley Bay travel to the aforementioned West Auckland Town.
Base of the Pyramid's selected side to follow, Step 7 outfit Pinxton, fell at the Second Round stage so the baton passes to their conquerors, Desborough Town. In a strange quirk of the draw, Desborough now take on the only remaining Step 7 team in the competition, Eastwood Community, who had a superb victory over Leicester Nirvana in Round 2.
The 3rd Round draw is full of interesting match-ups, six of which are featured in this weekend's Six of the Best. The great thing about the FA Vase at this stage is that the draw can throw up some intriguing local derbies as well as pitch together two sides that have either never met or haven't played each other for some time.
Here's a quick run-down of the fixtures, excluding our Six of the Best choice.
Northwich 1874 v Ashton Athletic. These two have not met in the Vase before but do play in the same division domestically. Neither are having a particularly good season in the league so far.
West Auckland Town v Whitley Bay. One previous Vase meeting, back in the 2011-12 competition. It was West Auckland who came out on top, winning 2-1 at Whitley Bay.
Pontefract Collieries v Worksop Town. Another match-up where the sides have not met in this competition before.
Newcastle Benfield v North Shields. No Vase meetings between these two but they have met many times in Northern League action. The grounds are only just over 5 miles apart, so the teams and supporters will know each other well.
Runcorn Linnets v Marske United. A fascinating clash between two sides who have aspirations of promotion from their respective leagues this season. They have met before in the Vase, Markse running out comprehensive 6-2 winners in a 2015-16 clash.
Stourport Swifts v Walsall Wood. An all Midland League clash. Wood have been flying since their relegation last season and will fancy their chances against higher-ranked opposition. A 1990-91 meeting resulted in a 2-1 away win for Wood.
Wolverhampton SC v Shepshed Dynamo. Wolves have already eclipsed their previous best in this competition and will be relishing an opportunity to take on a Shepshed side who's form has been a bit up and down recently.
Highgate United v Coleshill Town. No Vase history between these sides but plenty of recent league meetings including one so far this season when Teh Colemen edged a home game 3-2 in September.
Hinckley AFC v Deeping Rangers. A very interesting match-up between Step 6 Hinckley and Deeping Rangers from Step 5. Both are in the mix for a promotion push this season which, of course, may take precedence over a Vase run.
Racing Club Warwick v Wisbech Town. Two sides in similar league positions, both just bubbling under the main promotion contenders but well within striking distance. They have some Vase previous too, a 2011-12 meeting also at Townsend Meadow, that The Fenmen won by a goal to nil.
Gorleston v Leighton Town. One previous Vase meeting between these two in 2003-04. Leighton will be looking for a repeat performance of a game that they won 7-2 away from home.
Hullbridge Sports v Enfield 1893 No previous FA Vase clashes between but both sides have progressed past this stage in the past. Sports are currently bottom of the Essex Senior League and may well have more focus on survival that a cup run.
Yaxley v Norwich CBS. Norwich, who were promoted up to Step 6 in the summer, had never won an FA Vase match until this season. Yaxley's best run came three years ago when they made the fourth round.
Great Wakering Rovers v Cogenhoe United. Rovers have made the Fifth Round twice in their history whereas Cogenhoe have never made it past Round 4, a stage they have reached three times.
Lordswood v Bracknell Town. Lordswood's best Vase run came in the 2012-13 season when they eventually went out in the 4th Round, 3-1 at Spennymoor. a scoreline that shows just how far National League North Moors have gone in five years. The Robins have reached Round 5 on two occasions but more recently have struggled to get past the qualifiers.
Beckenham Town v Eastbourne Town. No previous FA Vase clashes between these two but they have met fairly recently in the FA Cup, a 2015-15 clash which saw Eastbourne triumph by 3-1.
Horley Town v Baffins Milton Rovers. This is Rovers' first FA Vase adventure following on from their Wessex Division One promotion last season. Horley don't have a great Vase having only once before reaching this stage, three seasons ago.
Crowborough Athletic v Westfield. Crowborough have reached Round 5 twice in their history, the most recent being last season when they went out to Coleshill Town, losing 6-3 at home. Westfield have reached the 4th Round once but may be more focused on their league position where they currently lead the Combined Counties Premier.
Whitstable Town v Chichester City. These sides me in the Vase qualifying round just last season. Chichester eventually winning 3-2 in a replay after a 2-2 draw in Kent.
Thatcham Town v Sevenoaks Town. The Kingfishers have a Fifth Round and a Quarter- Final appearance under their belts. However, both were close to 30 years ago now. For Sevenoaks, this is their best ever campaign, beating their previous Second Round appearance in the 2006-7 season.
Christchurch v Newport (IoW). There has been one previous encounter between these two Wessex League rivals, a 2011-12 meeting that saw Christchurch run out 4-1 winners. Of course, both sides were Premier League teams then but these days Christchurch have dropped into Division One.
Sholing v Blackfield & Langley. The Boatmen are one of the remaining winners. They are matched with fellow Wessex Premier promotion rivals Blackfield and Langley. No previous Vase meetings but they have come face to face twice in the FA Cup, with a victory apiece.
Plymouth Parkway v Westfields. Two more sides that have no previous Vase history. Parkway have been breaking league records for fun this season and currently lead the South West Peninsula League. Westfields are just below the real promotion contenders in the Midland Premier but with a couple of games in hand may feel they can still make a mark.
Hamble Club v Horndean. This is Hamble's first venture into the FA Vase world but after already seeing off three Wessex Premier sides a home time against a fourth will hold no fear. Hordean have managed one previous appearance in the Third Round, a 5-0 home defeat to Bemerton Heath in the 2012-13 season.
Bridgwater Town v Melksham Town. This fixture was played out in the 2001-02 campaign with Melksham running out 3-2 winners that day. Both sides are in the top six of the Western Premier but will have their work cut out to catch the leaders now.
Bradford Town v Team Solent. Solent got to the Fifth Round last season, falling 5-2 at home to eventual winners South Shields. Town's recent Vase history is quite impressive having managed a Fifth Round and two Fourth Round appearances in the last three seasons.
Base of the Pyramid's selected side to follow, Step 7 outfit Pinxton, fell at the Second Round stage so the baton passes to their conquerors, Desborough Town. In a strange quirk of the draw, Desborough now take on the only remaining Step 7 team in the competition, Eastwood Community, who had a superb victory over Leicester Nirvana in Round 2.
The 3rd Round draw is full of interesting match-ups, six of which are featured in this weekend's Six of the Best. The great thing about the FA Vase at this stage is that the draw can throw up some intriguing local derbies as well as pitch together two sides that have either never met or haven't played each other for some time.
Here's a quick run-down of the fixtures, excluding our Six of the Best choice.
Northwich 1874 v Ashton Athletic. These two have not met in the Vase before but do play in the same division domestically. Neither are having a particularly good season in the league so far.
West Auckland Town v Whitley Bay. One previous Vase meeting, back in the 2011-12 competition. It was West Auckland who came out on top, winning 2-1 at Whitley Bay.
Pontefract Collieries v Worksop Town. Another match-up where the sides have not met in this competition before.
Newcastle Benfield v North Shields. No Vase meetings between these two but they have met many times in Northern League action. The grounds are only just over 5 miles apart, so the teams and supporters will know each other well.
Runcorn Linnets v Marske United. A fascinating clash between two sides who have aspirations of promotion from their respective leagues this season. They have met before in the Vase, Markse running out comprehensive 6-2 winners in a 2015-16 clash.
Stourport Swifts v Walsall Wood. An all Midland League clash. Wood have been flying since their relegation last season and will fancy their chances against higher-ranked opposition. A 1990-91 meeting resulted in a 2-1 away win for Wood.
Wolverhampton SC v Shepshed Dynamo. Wolves have already eclipsed their previous best in this competition and will be relishing an opportunity to take on a Shepshed side who's form has been a bit up and down recently.
Highgate United v Coleshill Town. No Vase history between these sides but plenty of recent league meetings including one so far this season when Teh Colemen edged a home game 3-2 in September.
Hinckley AFC v Deeping Rangers. A very interesting match-up between Step 6 Hinckley and Deeping Rangers from Step 5. Both are in the mix for a promotion push this season which, of course, may take precedence over a Vase run.
Racing Club Warwick v Wisbech Town. Two sides in similar league positions, both just bubbling under the main promotion contenders but well within striking distance. They have some Vase previous too, a 2011-12 meeting also at Townsend Meadow, that The Fenmen won by a goal to nil.
Gorleston v Leighton Town. One previous Vase meeting between these two in 2003-04. Leighton will be looking for a repeat performance of a game that they won 7-2 away from home.
Hullbridge Sports v Enfield 1893 No previous FA Vase clashes between but both sides have progressed past this stage in the past. Sports are currently bottom of the Essex Senior League and may well have more focus on survival that a cup run.
Yaxley v Norwich CBS. Norwich, who were promoted up to Step 6 in the summer, had never won an FA Vase match until this season. Yaxley's best run came three years ago when they made the fourth round.
Great Wakering Rovers v Cogenhoe United. Rovers have made the Fifth Round twice in their history whereas Cogenhoe have never made it past Round 4, a stage they have reached three times.
Lordswood v Bracknell Town. Lordswood's best Vase run came in the 2012-13 season when they eventually went out in the 4th Round, 3-1 at Spennymoor. a scoreline that shows just how far National League North Moors have gone in five years. The Robins have reached Round 5 on two occasions but more recently have struggled to get past the qualifiers.
Beckenham Town v Eastbourne Town. No previous FA Vase clashes between these two but they have met fairly recently in the FA Cup, a 2015-15 clash which saw Eastbourne triumph by 3-1.
Horley Town v Baffins Milton Rovers. This is Rovers' first FA Vase adventure following on from their Wessex Division One promotion last season. Horley don't have a great Vase having only once before reaching this stage, three seasons ago.
Crowborough Athletic v Westfield. Crowborough have reached Round 5 twice in their history, the most recent being last season when they went out to Coleshill Town, losing 6-3 at home. Westfield have reached the 4th Round once but may be more focused on their league position where they currently lead the Combined Counties Premier.
Whitstable Town v Chichester City. These sides me in the Vase qualifying round just last season. Chichester eventually winning 3-2 in a replay after a 2-2 draw in Kent.
Thatcham Town v Sevenoaks Town. The Kingfishers have a Fifth Round and a Quarter- Final appearance under their belts. However, both were close to 30 years ago now. For Sevenoaks, this is their best ever campaign, beating their previous Second Round appearance in the 2006-7 season.
Christchurch v Newport (IoW). There has been one previous encounter between these two Wessex League rivals, a 2011-12 meeting that saw Christchurch run out 4-1 winners. Of course, both sides were Premier League teams then but these days Christchurch have dropped into Division One.
Sholing v Blackfield & Langley. The Boatmen are one of the remaining winners. They are matched with fellow Wessex Premier promotion rivals Blackfield and Langley. No previous Vase meetings but they have come face to face twice in the FA Cup, with a victory apiece.
Plymouth Parkway v Westfields. Two more sides that have no previous Vase history. Parkway have been breaking league records for fun this season and currently lead the South West Peninsula League. Westfields are just below the real promotion contenders in the Midland Premier but with a couple of games in hand may feel they can still make a mark.
Hamble Club v Horndean. This is Hamble's first venture into the FA Vase world but after already seeing off three Wessex Premier sides a home time against a fourth will hold no fear. Hordean have managed one previous appearance in the Third Round, a 5-0 home defeat to Bemerton Heath in the 2012-13 season.
Bridgwater Town v Melksham Town. This fixture was played out in the 2001-02 campaign with Melksham running out 3-2 winners that day. Both sides are in the top six of the Western Premier but will have their work cut out to catch the leaders now.
Bradford Town v Team Solent. Solent got to the Fifth Round last season, falling 5-2 at home to eventual winners South Shields. Town's recent Vase history is quite impressive having managed a Fifth Round and two Fourth Round appearances in the last three seasons.
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