RCA's run in the Vase this season began with a home win over Stockton Town. Photograph: Simon Mears.
This Saturday, January 7th, as most supporters will know, Sunderland RCA travel to AFC Mansfield in the Fourth Round of the FA Vase.
AFC Mansfield play in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division - level nine in the football pyramid - the same level as the Northern League First Division.
The Premier Division contains sides which will be familiar to RCA following our recent Vase exploits - Hemsworth MW, Bridlington Town and, Mansfield’s latest league opponents, Handsworth Parramore.
Mansfield are currently sitting in 13th place in the league with 34 points from 23 matches after beating Handsworth Parramore 1-0 on Monday - they lost to the same side 2-1 on Boxing Day. In their previous game - watched by RCA manager Martin Swales - they demolished second bottom side Retford United 13(thirteen)-0!
Attendances this season have ranged between 49 and 220 - hopefully a three-figure crowd will turn up on Saturday, with the RCA bus now full. Mansfield’s leading scorer this season is Oliver Fearon who has scored 24 goals in all competitions.
To reach the Fourth Round of the Vase, Mansfield have already won four matches - they entered the competition at the Second Qualifying Round beating Radcliffe Olympic 4-2. In the First Round they won 2-0 away at Holwell Sports. In Round Two won away 2-1 at Blidworth Welfare and, in a third away Vase match in a row, won at Hucknall Town 2-1. But it hasn’t just been a successful season in the Vase - in the FA Cup, Mansfield impressively won four matches before going out at the Third Qualifying Round stage with a 2-1 home defeat to Stamford.
RCA’s recent run of results is well-documented with five wins from five matches in December and playing some cracking football in the process. RCA have already beaten fellow Northern League sides Stockton Town and Dunston UTS to reach this stage of the Vase - with Colin Larkin scoring all four of RCA’s goals.
So a great day out to pastures new with a coveted place in the last 16 up for grabs. See you there - can’t wait!