MATCH PREVIEW: WORCESTER RAIDERS
It’s FA Cup time on Saturday 17th August when Hednesford Town entertain Worcester Raiders in the preliminary round of the greatest cup competition in the world. Hednesford overcame Racing Club Warwick 4-1 in the previous round while Worcester saw off Stourport Swifts 2-0.
Hednesford have made a great start to their campaign this season. As well as the FA Cup victory they have won both of their Northern Premier League West games beating Vauxhall Motors 3-2 and Nantwich Town 2-0 which sees them in third place in the table on goal difference. Raiders have made a slower start in the Hellenic League Premier at step 5, sitting in 11th place with four points from three games. They beat Tuffley Rovers 2-0 and drew 0-0 with Lydney Town at home and lost 1-3 at Hereford Pegasus while their game at Longlevens was abandoned in injury time due to a power cut with the visitors 1-0 in front.
The Raiders have in their squad several strikers who have plied their trade at a higher level. Connor Deards has been at Walsall, Rushall Olympic and Redditch United while Jordan Murphy also started at Walsall before moving to AFC Telford United, Solihull Moors and Leamington. Leading scorer Emmanuel Olaloko has previously had spells with Alvechurch, Leamington and Walsall Wood.
Manager Steve King said “The FA Cup is a really important competition to the club and most clubs at this level. I personally have some fond memories and success stories over the years. Its still to me the best cup competition around”.
Should today’s game or the tie between Atherstone and Kidsgove Athletic end in a draw then our league game on Tuesday will be postponed.
Tickets for Saturday’s game can be purchased online via the Fanbase app or pay at the gate by cash or card. Admission prices for either are £11 adults, £8 concessions, £8 disabled with carer, £3 13-17 years old, £3 10-12 (must be accompanied by an adult) and free for U10s (must be accompanied by an adult). Car Park is £3, cash only and programme is £2.50. Remember this is an FA Cup game and not included in your season ticket price. Kick off is 3pm.
Gates open at 12.30pm for the Ipswich Town v Liverpool game live on TNT while the West Ham v Aston Villa game will be shown in Strikers Bar only after the game with a 5.30pm kick off
