South Liverpool meet Albion Sports in the Izuzu FA Vase third round at Jericho Lane Sports Hub on Saturday.

Albion Sports from the Northern Counties East League Premier Division are the next challenge in the Izuzu FA Vase for South Liverpool this season after their convincing second round 2-0 victory over league high flyers Chadderton in November. Albion Sports are in the third round after a thrilling 5-5 draw at home to Padiham, only to scrape through from a 4-3 penalty shootout at Horsfall stadium.

This will be the first recorded meeting between the two clubs that are looking to equal their best FA Vase run in their history but sit at different ends of the spectrum in their respective leagues this season. South Liverpool are struggling hoping to use the break, Albion Sports will try to carry their promising results in the league into their cup campaign.

Martin Ryman celebrating one of the 18 trophies he’s won in during his time at the club.

South Liverpool

Martin Ryman’s side currently sit 21st in the North West Counties Premier Division with just 23 points from 27 games in their league campaign. This leaves them in serious danger of the drop with only a 10 point gap on Colne who hold three games in hand over the Merseyside team.

Although South Liverpool share an even three wins and three losses in their last six games, they have a worrying defensive record. In those last six games they have conceded 16 goals, including a 6-4 defeat to Chadderton who they beat in the FA Vase just the week before.

Southport v AFC Liverpool. Photo: Ellen Gwynn
Southport v AFC Liverpool. Photo: Ellen Gwynn

However, they do have an eye for goal. They have conceded a worrying 16 in the last six but they have also managed to find the net 14 times in that time. This reflects an inability to hold a slim lead and may well give an insight in to the way South Liverpool must approach the game against Albion Sports on the front foot. The main weapon in their arsenal will be player to watch at the weekend, Owen Hough, who in a team that spreads the goals around, has pulled away as the main goal threat at the club with five goals in the league this season.

Albion Sports

The Bradford based club finished in a respectable fifth position in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division last season under manager Neil Sibson. This season is shaping up to be a very similar story with Albion sitting in sixth, one point adrift of the playoff positions with two games in hand. Their last six league games have provided four wins and two losses with 13 goals showing their adeptness in front of goal.

This will be a threat for South Liverpool’s less than convincing backline but the Bradford club have also conceded nine goals in that space of time which further supports the view that South Liverpool must focus on putting the pressure on the visitors rather than attempting to hold out.

South Liverpool's Jericho Lane- Photo by Ed Bazeley
South Liverpool’s Jericho Lane, photo by Ed Bazeley

The danger man for Albion Sports will surely be their high flying striker Nathan Cartman who has been lethal in front of goal this season with 13 goals in 15 league appearances. The main objective for the home side must be to starve Cartman of space and time if they are going to prevent a sixth cup goal for the front man.

It will surely be a clash between two teams that will prefer to get the ball forward with both sides having questionable defensive numbers. That will hopefully set up what could be a fast paced, end to end cup game.


 

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