Hungerford Town v Yate Town
FA Cup First Qualifying Round
Saturday 31st August- Kick-off 3.00pm
Yate Town travel to Hungerford Town for an FA Cup First Qualifying Round game, in good form having won all their six games this season 4 in the League and 2 in the FA Cup, having already progressed through the Preliminary Rounds beating Holyport 2-0 at home and Kidlington 4-0 away.
This is the first ever meeting between the two clubs and it will be a real test for the Bluebells as they will be playing against a club that is one level above them, who were also competing in the National League South for a number of seasons until recently, and have a team full of experience.
Yate Town manager, Darren Mullings, will be hoping that he can pick from a fully fit squad following the busy Bank Holiday weekend when two matches were played in three days.
Form Guide
Hungerford Town have played 5 games in the Southern League Premier Division South so far this season, having finished in 8th position last season, following their relegation from the National League South at the end of season 2022/23. Their first game was at Chertsey which they lost 1-4 scoring a late consolation goal through Elis Watts. This was followed three days later with a resounding 5-2 home win against Gosport Borough, with McGory, Berry-Hargraves, Watts, Dobson and Akers scoring their goals and a 1-0 home win against Taunton Town with Watts on the scoresheet again. Last Saturday they lost 1-3 at top of the table AFC Totton with Bancroft scoring their goal late in the game and on Bank Holiday Monday in a local derby at home to Swindon Supermarine they lost 0-2.
Hungerford currently sit in 13th position in the League table and this will be their first FA Cup game this season as all Step 3 clubs enter the FA Cup in the First Qualifying Round. The winning club picks up £2250 in prize money with the losing club taking £750 in prize money.
Players to watch out for:
Hungerford have a well-known goalkeeper in the vastly experienced Ryan Clarke who played for Bristol Rovers (and many other clubs including over 200 appearances for Oxford United) and was signed from Bath City in the summer of 2023.
Conor McDonagh who is proven and experienced goal scorer, Conor joined the Crusaders in the summer of 2023 from Swindon Supermarine with whom he scored over 50 goals. His previous clubs include Kidlington, Banbury United, North Leigh, Thame United, Didcot Town and Oxford City in National League South. Conor scored 29 goals for Hungerford in the 2023/24 season. Elis Watts played for Cambrian & Clydach and Cardiff City’s Academy before joining Newport County’s Academy in 2014. He went on to join Aldershot Town and had loan spells at Met. Police, Farnborough and Hayes & Yeading before joining Weston-Super-Mare where he played a part in their promotion back to National League South in 2023.
Getting there:
Directions to Hungerford Town F.C.
Town Ground, Bulpit Lane, Hungerford, RG17 0AY
Telephone – (01488) 682939
By Road
• Leave the M4 at Junction 14 and take the turning on to the A338 sign-posted Hungerford.
• Continue for 3 miles, passing through the village of Hungerford Newtown, until you reach a mini roundabout at the junction with the A4 Bath Road.
• Turn right onto the A4 and take the left fork at the next mini roundabout with a petrol station on the left.
• Turn left at the next mini roundabout in front of the Bear Hotel and re-join the A338 sign-posted Town Centre.
• Proceed up the High Street, over the Kennet & Avon Canal Bridge, under the Great Western Railway Bridge and straight over two more mini roundabouts.
• At the next mini roundabout, turn left into Priory Road, signposted Football Club, and take the second left after the Catholic Church (on the right) into Bulpit Lane.
• At the next T-junction, with the floodlights visible to your left, go straight over the crossroads and the ground is on your left.
• Leave the M4 at Junction 14 and take the turning on to the A338 sign-posted Hungerford.
• Continue for 3 miles, passing through the village of Hungerford Newtown, until you reach a mini roundabout at the junction with the A4 Bath Road.
• Turn right onto the A4 and take the left fork at the next mini roundabout with a petrol station on the left.
• Turn left at the next mini roundabout in front of the Bear Hotel and re-join the A338 sign-posted Town Centre.
• Proceed up the High Street, over the Kennet & Avon Canal Bridge, under the Great Western Railway Bridge and straight over two more mini roundabouts.
• At the next mini roundabout, turn left into Priory Road, signposted Football Club, and take the second left after the Catholic Church (on the right) into Bulpit Lane.
• At the next T-junction, with the floodlights visible to your left, go straight over the crossroads and the ground is on your left.
Admission Prices 2024/25
Adults (18-64) £14.00
Concessions (65+ / Disabled / Armed Forces / Emergency Services / Students) £10.00
Young persons (11-17) £5.00
Children (aged 10 & under and accompanied by paying adult) Free
Carers (accompanying a disabled spectator) Free
Match day programme £3.00
Adults (18-64) £14.00
Concessions (65+ / Disabled / Armed Forces / Emergency Services / Students) £10.00
Young persons (11-17) £5.00
Children (aged 10 & under and accompanied by paying adult) Free
Carers (accompanying a disabled spectator) Free
Match day programme £3.00
Next up
If this game is drawn then the replay will take place at the South West Interiors Stadium on Tuesday 3rd September with a 7.45pm kick-off.
Yate Town travel to Bemerton Heath Harlequins in the FA Trophy on Saturday 7th September
If this game is drawn then the replay will take place at the South West Interiors Stadium on Tuesday 3rd September with a 7.45pm kick-off.
Yate Town travel to Bemerton Heath Harlequins in the FA Trophy on Saturday 7th September