Blues earn replay

Leek Town update, by Michael Cope.

Injury ravaged Leek Town battled their way through an entertaining game at Hinckley United on Saturday to bring the Conference North outfit back to Harrison Park for a replay on Tuesday 7.45pm.

Hinckley sit two leagues above Leek in the Blue Square Conference North but Blues turned in a determined and at times skilful performance to twice come from behind and with a little more luck in front of goal they might not have needed a replay.

So both sides will go into the hat for the Fourth Qualifying Round draw at Wembley on Monday at around noon when the Conference National sides will be included for the first time.

Tuesday’s winners will pick up the £7,500 prize whilst a further £12,500 is on offer for the Fourth qualifying round winners.

As a result of the replay against Hinckley on Tuesday the Staffordshire Senior Cup tie against Stafford Rangers scheduled for the same date has now been postponed.

Haddrell misses out on FA award
Leek Town striker Matt Haddrell was edged out of the FA Cup player of the round award following the 2-0 victory over Deeping Rangers.

Haddrell was nominated after he made a 100-mile dash to the outskirts of Peterborough after his wife Jody gave birth to their third child on the eve of the game.

However, despite turning in a man of the match performance and celebrating the birth of his son Charlieray with the opening goal, the award went to Sutton United striker Leroy Griffiths who netted four goals in the Conference South sides’ 5-1 win over Dulwich Hamlet.

Griffiths polled 31per cent of the 1,000 votes cast with Southend Manor’s Gary Patterson in second place just 15 votes behind.

Short term injuries
Striker Dorryl Proffitt failed to make the trip to Hinckley on Saturday after picking up an injury in training last week whilst midfielder Danny Holmes failed a fitness test on his damaged foot.

However, central defender Mark Fitton began his come-back from injury when he trained last Tuesday and Thursday.

Meanwhile, defender Aden Johnson finally came off the long term list after recovering from a broken collar bone with an appearance from the bench at Hinckley on Saturday but striker Dan Cope and winger Richard Minor remain side-lined with long term injuries.

Coming up
Following the FA cup replay against Hinckley on Tuesday, Blues will be back in cup action next Saturday when League rivals Hucknall Town will visit Harrison Park in the FA Trophy First Round Qualifying tie 3.00pm

Hucknall have suffered some upheaval in the last week or so after the manager and his assistant walked out and were almost immediately replaced by former Tamworth manager Des Little.

At the same time a new owner took over at Watnall Road as the club seems to lurch from one crisis to another.

Before the current season got under way Hucknall had to settle a hefty Tax bill that resulted in the club reverting to amateur status, but that hasn’t weakened the squad who are now in 6th place in the league with 21 points from 12 games just 2 points ahead of Leek who have a game in hand.

Earlier in the season the two sides fought out a goalless draw at Hucknall in a league fixture at Watnall Road.

The winning side will pick up £2,200 worth of prize money.

Where next?

Christmas Draw plans for Carlton Club to hold first ever draw, with incentives for players to get involved.

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