Why should I watch?
Warrington Town have the chance to do something they have only done once before in the club’s 69-year history – reach the first round proper of the FA Cup.
Yellows have already come through three qualifying rounds in football’s oldest knock-out competition and now square off against a side from two divisions higher than them.
That said, Paul Carden’s side have form for embarrassing higher-division sides in the recent past.
They beat National League North side AFC Telford in the third qualifying round on October 6 and last year, they knocked National League outfit Ebbsfleet United and Tamworth – another National League North side – out of the FA Trophy.
A victory would put them in the first-round draw and in with a chance of facing past winners such as Sunderland, Portsmouth and Coventry City.
Can they bring back memories of the 2014-15 run to the second round? Will there be another memorable night at Cantilever Park like the win over League Two side Exeter City that year?
What they’ve said:
“It wasn’t a good weekend for the town. We lost our unbeaten run and the rugby lads lost in the final.
“It will be nice if we can give people something to have a drink and a celebration about this weekend.
“Slowly but surely, we’re getting a few numbers coming through. People are coming and they are enjoying what they are seeing.”
Paul Carden, Warrington Town manager (pictured below, picture by John Hopkins)
“I know the manager very well, Paul Carden.
“There’s been big investment there, they missed out on the playoffs last season and they are going great guns this year.
“It’s a game that we’re looking forward to.”
Jamie Fullarton, FC Halifax Town manager
Opposition profile:
Having started the season superbly, FC Halifax Town are on a wretched run of form and are winless in their past nine league games.
They currently sit 14th in the National League table – 34 places above Yellows in the footballing pyramid.
The Shaymen have not won away from home since the opening day of the campaign and are managed by former Notts County boss Jamie Fullarton.
Warrington Town team news:
Paul Carden has reported no new injury concerns ahead of Saturday’s game.
Jake Kirby is expected to be involved and unless the tie goes to a replay, this will be the final game of his month-long loan spell from Stockport County.
Club captain Jay McCarten – the only member of the team that beat Exeter in Yellows’ last FA Cup first round game to still be at the club – is still absent with an ankle injury that has now kept him out of action for nearly nine months.
FC Halifax Town team news:
The Shaymen look set to be without club captain Matty Brown, who has a hamstring injury, while James Berrett and Niall Maher went off injured last week.
Ones to watch:
Warrington Town – Ben Garrity
While Warrington’s team may be littered with players who have plied their trade at a higher level, it is the less heralded name of Ben Garrity who is standing out.
Having been plucked from local league football in Liverpool, the central midfielder has taken to the Evo-Stik Premier Division like a duck to water and has been a key factor in Yellows’ rise to second in the table and their progress in the FA Cup.
Garrity is the epitome of a box-to-box midfielder, is excellent in the air and scored the crucial second goal in their 2-1 win over AFC Telford that got them to this stage.
FC Halifax Town – Matty Kosylo
Kosylo is likely to be the Shaymen’s go-to man after beginning the season in good form, scoring three times from the wing including the opener in last week’s 1-1 draw with Chesterfield.
A wide player who is quick and direct, he has previously starred for Nantwich Town, Hyde United and Ashton United before making the move to Halifax two seasons ago.
Discipline has been an issue for Kosylo this season though, having picked up a sending off and four bookings already.
Match odds (via Betfred):
Warrington Town 7/4
FC Halifax Town 6/5
Draw 23/10
Essential info:
When: Saturday, October 20, 2018
Kick off: 3pm
Where: Cantilever Park, Common Lane, Warrington WA4 2RS
If today’s game is all square after 90 minutes, there will be no extra time and penalties. Instead, the sides will replay at Halifax’s The Shay Stadium on Tuesday, October 23.
The draw for the first round is on Monday evening at 7pm.
Ticket details:
Home and away supporters can pay on the gate for today’s game.
Tickets cost £10 for adults, £6 for concessions and £2 for juniors.
What if I cannot make the game?
The Warrington Guardian will be at Cantilever Park to bring you extensive coverage of the match.
A special edition of ‘Matchday Live’ – our live blogging service – will be in operation and sports reporter Matt Turner will talk you through the game as it happens and bring you the goals as they go in.
After the final whistle, we’ll have match action photos and post-match reaction from the Yellows camp.
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