Saints in good heart ahead of FA Cup clash

After just one match in the new Athium Midland Football Combination season, Southam United are in cup action tomorrow when they entertain Baker Joiner Midland Alliance side Tipton Town in the extra preliminary round of the FA Cup, writes David Hucker.

As well as playing at a higher level in the non-league pyramid, Tipton come with a formidable recent track record in the competition, having made it through to the first round in 2010, before losing out to Carlisle United.

Previously, they had beaten Sheffield FC 2-0 in their fourth qualifying round replay in front of a club record crowd of more than 1,400 at Tipton Sports Academy.

Luke Fogarty’s side go into the tie full of confidence after opening their league campaign with a 4-2 win at Continental Star. Although pleased with the result, Fogarty was not getting carried away, saying: “It was good to get the win, but we gave away a couple of sloppy goals and still have a bit to work on.

He added: “We picked up a few injuries but, apart from Josh Cole and James Hardie who are unavailable, we should have the full squad to call on against Tipton.”

Saints came from behind at Star, but had chances to run out even more impressive winners.

In the absence of Jim Stott, Matt Oliver made his debut in goal and the former Bromyard player was soon in action, saving from Ezekil Tomlinson in the fifth minute.

Saints were forced into an early substitution when David Wilson limped off four minutes later, to be replaced by Tunde Ajibade, and then fell behind in the 23rd from a goal by Daniel Holgate.

Saints should have been ahead before Holgate scored, but Ajibade shot over having been set up by a long throw from Neil Stacey.

They did find the back of the net on the half-hour when Stacey’s strength enabled him to hold up the ball and lay it off to Luke Church to score the equaliser.

Stacey got on the scoresheet himself just two minutes later when lobbing goalkeeper Darren McCorrick from 35 yards and Saints held on to the lead until the break, although it took a great blocking tackle from man-of-the-match Jack Taylor to stop Star getting back on level terms.

The visitors made it 3-1 in the 67th minute when Taylor and Church combined, with Taylor finishing off the move by cutting in past the defender and firing in over the keeper from the edge of box.

Substitute Danny Bartle then set up Beard but McCorrick saved and, at the other end, Oliver also pulled off a good stop to deny Star.

With ten minutes remaining, Church sprung the offside trap to set up Beard, who put his shot over the bar, but the striker got his debut goal, heading in a Bartle cross in the 84th minute.

A late Star strike took a little of the shine off the result, but this was a good win at a ground where many sides will struggle this season.