FA Vase Fifth Round preview

Michael Charlton in action during the Fourth Round victory at AFC Mansfield. Photograph: Simon Mears.

On Saturday, January 28th, Sunderland RCA travel to Newport Pagnell Town FC for the Fifth Round of the FA Vase. Kick-off is at 3.00pm.

Newport Pagnell play their football in the United Counties League Premier Division - level nine in the football pyramid - the same level as the Northern League First Division.

They currently sit in 10th position in the league table with a very similar record to RCA’s this season - 41 points from 26 games played.

Newport Pagnell have lost their last three league games including a 2-0 defeat away at Yaxley on Saturday - watched by RCA manager Martin Swales - and, just as with RCA on Saturday, defensive errors cost Newport the match on Yaxley’s artificial surface.

In this season’s Vase, Newport Pagnell entered the competition at the First Round stage and had a notable win over top of the league Peterborough Sports in the Fourth Round. Their Vase results read as follows:

First Round: Daventry Town 2 Newport Pagnell Town 3 (Att: 105)
Second Round: Newport Pagnell Town 2 Broadfields United 1 (Att: 96)
Third Round: Newport Pagnell Town 3 London Colney 1 (Att: 121)
Fourth Round: Newport Pagnell Town 3 Peterborough Sports 2 (Att: 429)

This is the second successive season that RCA have made it to the Fifth Round of the Vase. Last season we were beaten 3-2 at home by Bristol Manor Farm, following wins against Bridlington Town, Silsden AFC, Hemsworth MW, Tadcaster Albion and Sleaford Town - also in Newport Pagnell’s league - in previous rounds.

RCA have made it to the Fifth Round of the Vase this season courtesy of wins against Stockton Town, Dunston UTS and, most recently, a 1-0 win at AFC Mansfield, with John Butler grabbing the all-important winner in the first half.

With two buses - one leaving on Friday afternoon and one early on Saturday morning - looking like they’ll both be full, it would be fantastic to see as many supporters there as possible to cheer on the lads. Sunderland AFC fans who live locally or are members of the Peterborough, London, Heart of England or North Hertfordshire supporters branches - with SAFC not having a match on the 28th, why not get along and support Sunderland non-league football as RCA look to progress to the Sixth Round of the FA Vase for the first time in the club’s history? It promises to be a great occasion.

The address of Newport Pagnell’s ground is:

Willen Road
Newport Pagnell
Buckinghamshire
MK16 0DF

Tel: 01908 611993

Admission is £6 for adults, £3 for concessions and U16s are free. The match programmes are £1.