Non-league previews: Alport "expecting it to be rowdy" in the North East

Alport have history in the competition – they reached the quarter-finals only three years ago. Regular starter George Carpenter is ‘the last remaining soul’ from the 2022 cup run, having been sent off in a fifth-round win against Coventry Sphinx.

Shields play in Northern League Division One – the same level as Midland Premier side Alport – and have a strong history in the Vase, having won the tournament 10 years ago.

Alport manager Adam Shillcock said: “We'll be leaving Whitchurch at three o’clock on Friday night and just make sure that we haven't got an anxious journey up there and there's no hiccups.

“You know, we're ready. We're set to give ourselves the best chance.

“But you know, we're obviously playing previous FA Vase winners. I mean, albeit over a decade ago, but the people attached to the football club will remember what that feels like and they'll obviously be wanting to go again.

“I expect there to be over 1,000 people there and they’re a well-supported club and it's obviously a big football area, isn't it? The North East and North Shields, South Shields and Newcastle. You know, they’re fanatics of the game, so I'm expecting it to be rowdy.”

Shillcock and Carpenter will be well aware of the challenges of the Vase, as the boss added: “He's the last remaining soul.

“George actually got sent off in this round in the first half when we played Coventry Sphinx.

“We played Coventry Sphinx at their place in the same round and George got sent off for the first half and we were 3-0 down.

“We went on to draw the game 3-3, then win it on penalties in the end, so he'll have, obviously, memories of this round.

“And he's been with me since then and I was on the staff then, so I was one of the coaching staff so I was part of the football club when that happened, so I've seen the highs and lows of the Vase in more recent years.

“But like I said, we just want to take it on, one more and create our own legacy.

AFC Bridgnorth have a chance to go 11 points clear of the Midland League Division One relegation zone as they travel to Stapenhill.

The Meadowmen’s move to a 3-5-2 saw them triumph against Smethwick Rangers last week, leaving them within seven points of the mid-table pack.

In North West Counties Division One South, Shawbury United will hope to build on their fourth league win against Shropshire rivals Market Drayton Town as they travel to Stockport Georgians.

Drayton host in-form Eccleshall as they try to claw back their hopes of reaching the play-off places by the end of the season, while Allscott Heath hope to move four points clear of the drop zone at home against Foley Meir.

Ninth-placed Ludlow Town are favourites in their Hellenic League Division One fixture as they travel to bottom-of-the-league Southam United.