Cup clash for Northern rivals as Marine host Radcliffe

To many, the FA Cup fully gets going in early January when Premier League and Championship sides enter the competition but for lots of fans across the country, the road to Wembley begins many months earlier.

416 clubs got the competition underway at the beginning of August in the extra preliminary round before another 136 games took place in the preliminary round proper.

This weekend will see over 100 matches played as some of the more established sides in the lower reaches make their debut in this season’s competition.

Marine and Radcliffe will face off in the seaside town of Crosby on Saturday afternoon looking to gain bragging rights over their Northern Premier League rivals and progress to the second qualifying round.

Just a point separates the sides in the league with Radcliffe having made a marginally better start to the campaign whilst Marine are unbeaten at home so far which could bode well as their away form has not been as consistent.

Radcliffe conversely come into this game unbeaten on their travels and have taken 11 points so far since the beginning of the season.

The cup is a different beast however and Marine have some famous recent pedigree. The club reached the third round of the competition for only the second time in their history just two seasons ago where they hosted Tottenham Hotspur in front of the BBC cameras.

It was a welcome feel-good moment amidst the Covid 19 lockdowns but with the game having taken place behind closed doors, supporters will be dreaming of some more big days that they can attend in person.

Radcliffe only reached the first round proper once before and that was over 20 years ago so The Boro will be hoping to take a step closer to repeating that feat when they travel to Merseyside.

Marine will have to do without Jake Burton who has been recalled by parent club Tranmere Rovers but will look to the likes of Jack Dunn for inspiration.

Radcliffe player/manager Bobby Grant will be familiar to Football League followers for scoring 22 goals across a four year spell at Fleetwood.

It’s an unbeaten home record against a team undefeated on the road and while a replay is possible, something may have to give in what has the appearance of a close encounter on Saturday.

Follow us on Twitter @ProstInt