Match preview for FC United's visit to Hebburn Town in the 3rd Qualifying Round of the Isuzu FA Trophy
FC Manager, Mark Beesley on the squad: “We’re working hard at trying to bring players in, but it’s particularly tough in the build-up to a cup fixture. We’ll continue to address the situation next week.”
It’s the first ever competitive meeting between FC United and Hebburn Town, after Daniel Moore’s Hornets earned promotion to the NPL Premier Division last season.
Hebburn have got off to very strong start in the Northern Premier League, having won seven and drawn two of their opening 11 fixtures. Tomorrow’s hosts arrived in the Premier Division after finishing first in the NPL East last term, just a point ahead of eventual play-off winners Stockton Town.
Moore, who won the Vase as a player with Spennymoor Town in 2013, joined the club two years ago, guiding Town to the NPL East playoffs in his first campaign in charge at the Hebburn Sports and Social Ground.
Amar Purewal’s six goals currently lead the way for Hebburn in the goalscoring charts, landing Purewal inside the top 10 in the Premier Division standings.
Last season FC bowed out of the FA Trophy in the first round proper, losing in a penalty shootout against eventual Northern Premier League winners Radcliffe at Broadhurst Park.
Tomorrow’s trip to the North East is the third time in four years that United have began their FA Trophy campaign on the road; a 3-1 defeat at Hereford in 2018 was the last time FC failed to progress past the first Trophy outing of the season as the away side.
Beesley on last weekend, the cup: “It was great to get off to a winning start at Hyde last Saturday but we need to keep that momentum going. It’s a cup match this weekend rather than the league, but our preparation is still the same.
“Of course, a good cup run is nice and breeds confidence, but we’re taking everything one game at a time for now.”