Emley AFC remain on the (long and winding) road to Wembley with a third successive cup game.
The Pewits go to higher tier opposition in Northern Premier League side Widnes FC on Saturday (3.00) in the FA Cup first qualifying round – with £2,250 in prize money up for grabs.
It’s the first time Emley have played in the first qualifying round in over 20 years having not got past the preliminary rounds since the club was re-formed.
The club was thrown an FA Cup lifeline when conquerors Avro were expelled from the competition for fielding an ineligible player. Here’s how we reported what happened.
That meant a midweek trip to Liverpool to face Lower Breck FC and Emley pulled off a shock result, winning 5-1, and setting up a visit to Cheshire.
Widnes have never gone beyond this stage of the FA Cup so they will be keen to progress but Emley are in form and kick-started their season with a 3-1 win at Golcar United. They followed that with victory over Lower Breck and a 3-0 home win against Sandbach United in the FA Vase last weekend.
Emley famously reached the FA Cup third round in 1998 when they narrowly lost 2-1 at Harry Rednapp’s West Ham.
The Pewits have a long way to go to make the first round proper, however, having to negotiate another three qualifying rounds even if they beat Widnes.
