"Bucks face high-flying Owls in Trophy tussle"

Match Date : October 5th, 2024 3:00 pm
Competition : FA Trophy
Ground : New Bucks Head
Kick Off : 15:00

The Bucks take on Cleethorpes Town in the Third Qualifying Round of the Isuzu FA Trophy this weekend.

The Owls play in the Northern Premier League Division One East, where they finished 9th last season. And having snared manager Craig Rouse from Pontefract Collieries, the Lincolnshire side have pushed on and have turned in some impressive showings so far this term. Currently 5th, Town have lost just one of their seven league fixtures and have games in hand on the teams above them. In fact, in all competitions this season, the Owls have racked up 10 wins, two draws and only two defeats from 14 games.

As you may have deduced, Town have been in good form in the cup competitions. Cleethorpes saw off three teams to reach the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Cup, where they narrowly lost 1-0 to Southern Central high flyers Kettering Town. While in the FA Trophy, the Owls have beaten Darlaston and Walsall Wood to progress to this stage.

Manager Rouse led Pontefract Collieries to their highest ever finish last season, 4th in the Northern Premier League Division One East, as well as leading them to their first ever West Riding FA County Cup final and crown. So, the Owls wasted no time to get their man, appointing Rouse at the start of May just days after his County Cup success.

Rouse’s first summer signing was the re-signing of prolific forward Josh Walker, while he has also brought in some notable names over the summer. Former Boston United midfield mainstay Brad Abbott arrived from Ashton United and becomes Clee’s new captain; full back George Smith came in from Farsley Celtic; while another former Boston man, forward Nicky Walker, joined from Liversedge. Rouse also brought defender Jack Vann and forward Adam Haw with him from Pontefract. The Owls are averaging 2.7 goals a game this season, with Josh Walker and Haw having bagged 15 goals between them.

As a mildly interesting side note, Cleethorpes are technically based in neighbouring Grimsby, while the League Two Mariners are based in Cleethorpes.

Remarkably, it’s been seven weeks since the Bucks last played at home on a Saturday (Hitchin), so Kevin Wilkin’s men will be aiming to give the Telford faithful something to cheer. The Bucks were knocked out by Quorn at this stage of last year’s competition, and Wilkin will no doubt want to see the Bucks to progress further than they did in the 23/24 season. A win on Saturday would see the Bucks pick up a place in the next round as well as £2,450 in prize money.

MATCHDAY INFORMATION

Tickets for Saturday’s fixture will remain on sale up until kick-off and are available for purchase online in advance. See our ticketing page for further details.