STOCKTON TOWN VS ASHINGTON AFC
COMPETITION: Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round
DATE:Â Saturday 12th August, 2023
KICK-OFF: 15:00
ENTRY: £9 Adult, £7 Concession, £3 Child (tickets available online or at the gate)
GROUND: MAP Group UK Stadium, Bishopton Road West, Stockton-On-Tees, TS19 0QD
LIVE UPDATES: @stockton_townfc – Twitter
Stockton Town begin their FA Cup campaign when they welcome Ashington to the MAP Group UK Stadium.Â
The Anchors are without a win in their opening two league games. On the opening day against Stocksbridge Park Steels, Michael Fowler rescued a point with a late equaliser on his debut.
Tuesday night at Hebburn Town, Stockton took the lead the lead through Adam Nicholson before a dubious penalty and a stunner from Olly Martin won it for the Hornets.
Michael Dunwell’s men will aiming to do better in the FA Cup this season. Last season they fell at this stage when they lost 3-2 at home to Pontefract Collieries.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Stockton Town and Ashington have met nine times in all competitions. Here are the results of the last five@
09 Sep 20- Stockton Town 3-0 Ashington- Northern League Division One
01 Feb 20- Stockton Town 2-0 Ashington- Northern League Division One
11 Sep 19- Stockton Town 2-0 Ashington- Brooks Mileson Memorial League Cup
31 Aug 19- Stockton Town 4-0 Ashington- FA Vase
FORM GUIDE
Stockton Town: D L
Last Game: Hebburn Town 2-1 Stockton Town – Northern Premier League East Division
Ashington AFC:Â W D
Last Game: Ashington AFC 4-4 Brighouse Town – Northern Premier League East Division
THE OPPOSITION
Ashington are newly promoted to the Northern Premier League after they beat Glossop North End in their Inter-Step Play-Off at the end of last season.
They have made some key additions to handle life at Step Four. Notable additions include experienced defender Nathan Buddle, full-back Matthew Dopson and Paul Gascoigne’s nephew Cameron Gascoigne.
They have made a strong start to the season in front of goal with eight goals in their opening two competitive matches. In the Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Cup they made short work of North Shields defeating them 4-0. Former Boro academy man Wilson Kneeshaw netted a brace in that game.
In their opening league fixture they were staring down the barrel of defeat against Brighouse Town before goals from Charlie Exley and Darren Lough brought them back from 4-2 down to level at 4-4.
VIEW FROM THE OPPOSITIONÂ
Speaking to Ashington’s club website, Manager Ian Skinner said:
“It’s a tough draw and I don’t think we have got a fantastic record there so the challenge to the lads is an obvious one.
“We’ll certainly need to defend better than we did against Brighouse Town that’s for sure because the
Stockton front line is one of the best in the division.”
PRE-MATCH QUOTES
In his programme notes, Manager Michael Dunwell said:
“It will be another tough as all games at our level are but we have home advantage.
“If we can play like we know we can for longer spells and manage the game better I expect us to get the victory this afternoon but we have to learn quickly.”
