FA Vase, 1st Round:
Rushden & Higham United v Highgate United, Saturday 21st October, 2017…
Hayden Road hosts an important FA Vase tie on Saturday between United Counties Division 1 team Rushden & Higham United and Midland League Premier League outfit Highgate United. This will be my first visit to the Rushden ground, although Highgate’s Coppice home is within walking distance of my house which allowed me to see their delayed home tie in the previous round against Pershore Town, due to the ejection of Whitchurch Alport from the competition.
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| THE TOSS BETWEEN HIGHGATE & PERSHORE IN THE PREVIOUS ROUND... |
I had seen Alport beat Step 6 side Pershore Town on penalties in the previous round, following an exciting 4-4 draw but when Alport were found to have included an ineligible player in that match, The Persians were reinstated and subsequently lost at Highgate by 6-2, despite playing quite well against their higher ranked opponents.
Rushden currently lie 3rd in their league, having won 7, drawn 3 and lost 3 of their 13 games, with a goal difference of +12. Their last three league matches have been a win at Thrapston Town (0-2), a loss at Huntington Town (2-1) and a lively 2-5 victory at Burton Park Wanderers last week, with goals from Mann (2), Ainge, Reynolds and Wilson.
Their FA Vase game in the previous round was played on the road at Swaffam Town, where the Lankies won what must have been a thrilling game 4-5 after extra-time.
Top overall scorer this season is Dylan Wilson with 10, all netted in the league, interestingly. Wilson and Kyle Swales have both made 14 overall appearances for the team this term.
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| RUSHDEN'S LEADING SCORER DYLAN WILSON... |
Rushden’s overall home record is 4 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats, with a goals ratio of 15-10.
Highgate lie in 11th place in their very competitive league, with 5 wins, 3 draws and 4 losses. Their goals ratio is 19-16. ‘Gate have recently lost 3-2 at Heanor Town, won 0-2 at Boldmere St Michaels and drawn 2-2 at home with Shepshed Dynamo. A fine midweek victory in the Birmingham Senior Cup, 3-5 at Coventry United doubtless perked up the players though, with the goals coming from Adaggio (2), Lei Brown, Rickards and Turner.
In the FA Vase, ‘Gate thrashed Ellesmere Rangers 0-7 on the road in their first appearance this term and then defeated Pershore Town 6-2, as mentioned above.
The leading goalscorer at the club is Marco Adaggio with 14, followed by Lei Brown with 12. Adaggio has the most appearances too, 18 in all.
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| HIGHGATE STALWART TREVOR EDWARDS: BACK FROM INJURY... |
The ‘Gate’s overall record away from The Coppice is 7 wins, 1 draw and 3 losses with an impressive goals ratio of 30-13, a difference of +17.
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| 'GATE MANAGER ASH PULISCIANO: A QUIET CHAP... |
I guess that Highgate is geographically ‘the local team’ for me but although I have seen them a few times this season, my coverage of this FA Vase tie will be from a neutral’s point of view and will be found at:
from Sunday…
Pete Ray
‘The Mowdog’…
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