Newton Aycliffe could not have been handed a more difficult tie in The Buildbase FA Vase Third Round according to manager Peter Dixon as they prepare to face holders Morpeth Town on Saturday.
Morpeth Town beat Hereford 4-1 at Wembley in May and are third in the Ebac Northern League Division One, two places above their opponents in the FA Vase this weekend.
But Dixon’s troops will take confidence from last season when they got the better of the Highwaymen twice in the league and knocked them out of The Emirates FA Cup.
In fact, last season was the club’s most successful campaign to date as they won the Durham Challenge Cup, enjoyed a highest-ever league finish of sixth and their best-ever runs in the FA Cup (Second Round Qualifying) and FA Vase (Fifth Round).
And despite a strong start to the new campaign, the Newtonians did suffer a 5-0 defeat when the two teams met earlier this season – although Dixon subscribes to the old adage that anything can happen in knockout football.
“You have to play the best teams at some stage but maybe we would have preferred to play them later,” he said.
“We will not lie down and die for Morpeth, we will make it as difficult as we can for them. If they do progress into the next round then they will know they have been in a game.
“They have the same squad as last year, and they have added to it, so it could not be a more difficult fixture. They are a top side and have probably one of the best two squads in the league.
“But it’s about what happens on the day so we will give a good account of ourselves.
“I think I know enough about them to know what to expect. On our day we are a match for most teams so we will give it a good shot.”
FA Vase history
Morpeth had to come from a goal down to beat Hereford in last year’s FA Vase final but a scintillating second-half display saw them run out 4-1 winners.
It was their first ever trip to Wembley as 45-year-old Chris Swailes, the man who overcame heart surgery during his football career, got the equaliser and became the oldest player to score at the new Wembley. Last year was Newton Aycliffe’s best-ever performance in the FA Vase as they reached the last 16 but were beaten by Camberley Town 5-0 in the Fifth Round.
Did you know?
Newtonians manager Peter Dixon has reached the final of FA Vase twice before, with West Auckland in the 2011/12 and 2013/14 seasons, but was beaten both times. “Reaching the final with a small village was an achievement in itself,” he said. “I am proud of that even though we didn’t win, to get there in the first place was a massive achievement but that’s in the past.”
Ones to Watch
Aycliffe’s John Campbell is Ebac Northern League Division One’s leading scorer with 22 goals so far this season, including a hat-trick in his side’s 5-1 win at West Allotment Celtic on Saturday. With recent signing Ben Wood touch and go for the weekend’s FA Vase clash after picking up a knock in the league, Campbell will need to be on top form if Dixon’s men are to produce a shock.
The prize
The winners of this clash will earn £975 for their club as well as a place in the last 32, just four rounds away from an appearance at Wembley Stadium.
Morpeth Town beat Hereford 4-1 at Wembley in May and are third in the Ebac Northern League Division One, two places above their opponents in the FA Vase this weekend.
But Dixon’s troops will take confidence from last season when they got the better of the Highwaymen twice in the league and knocked them out of The Emirates FA Cup.
In fact, last season was the club’s most successful campaign to date as they won the Durham Challenge Cup, enjoyed a highest-ever league finish of sixth and their best-ever runs in the FA Cup (Second Round Qualifying) and FA Vase (Fifth Round).
And despite a strong start to the new campaign, the Newtonians did suffer a 5-0 defeat when the two teams met earlier this season – although Dixon subscribes to the old adage that anything can happen in knockout football.
“You have to play the best teams at some stage but maybe we would have preferred to play them later,” he said.
“We will not lie down and die for Morpeth, we will make it as difficult as we can for them. If they do progress into the next round then they will know they have been in a game.
“They have the same squad as last year, and they have added to it, so it could not be a more difficult fixture. They are a top side and have probably one of the best two squads in the league.
“But it’s about what happens on the day so we will give a good account of ourselves.
“I think I know enough about them to know what to expect. On our day we are a match for most teams so we will give it a good shot.”
FA Vase history
Morpeth had to come from a goal down to beat Hereford in last year’s FA Vase final but a scintillating second-half display saw them run out 4-1 winners.
It was their first ever trip to Wembley as 45-year-old Chris Swailes, the man who overcame heart surgery during his football career, got the equaliser and became the oldest player to score at the new Wembley. Last year was Newton Aycliffe’s best-ever performance in the FA Vase as they reached the last 16 but were beaten by Camberley Town 5-0 in the Fifth Round.
Did you know?
Newtonians manager Peter Dixon has reached the final of FA Vase twice before, with West Auckland in the 2011/12 and 2013/14 seasons, but was beaten both times. “Reaching the final with a small village was an achievement in itself,” he said. “I am proud of that even though we didn’t win, to get there in the first place was a massive achievement but that’s in the past.”
Ones to Watch
Aycliffe’s John Campbell is Ebac Northern League Division One’s leading scorer with 22 goals so far this season, including a hat-trick in his side’s 5-1 win at West Allotment Celtic on Saturday. With recent signing Ben Wood touch and go for the weekend’s FA Vase clash after picking up a knock in the league, Campbell will need to be on top form if Dixon’s men are to produce a shock.
The prize
The winners of this clash will earn £975 for their club as well as a place in the last 32, just four rounds away from an appearance at Wembley Stadium.
