Build-up: Lancaster City vs FC Halifax Town

FA Cup 3rd qualifying round this weekend, and I'll be at the Giant Axe, Saturday 3pm for Lancaster City vs FC Halifax Town.

These two were in the same division just 2 years ago in the 2009/10 season. Lancaster were on top of the league and beginning to open up some distance as they went on a remarkable 13 game winning run. Then Woodley Sports brought the run to an abrupt end, thrashing them 4-1 on their plastic pitch. After this Lancaster's form started to become inconsistent - they didn't go on a losing run or anything that severe, but draws and defeats were creeping in, and Halifax caught up the extra games they had left due to multiple postponements. The majority of these were victories as Halifax closed the gap as the teams entered April 2010, the final month of the season.

Halifax began April with 3 wins, the 3rd of which was a dramatic turnaround at Garforth as they went from losing 3-1 with just a few minutes left to winning 4-3. Straight after this was the big title showdown as Halifax played Lancaster at home - this was to be no close battle as Halifax took Lancaster to pieces, thrashing them 4-0. 3 more victories after this put Halifax firmly top, and two draws at the end of the season were enough to take the title.

Lancaster finished miles about all the other teams in the division, but this counted for nothing as they finished in the play offs. After beating Skelmersdale United in the semi final, they lost 1-0 to Colwyn Bay in the play off final thanks to an 87th minute penalty. Lancaster have been left wondering what might have been as both Halifax and Colwyn Bay then got promoted again in the same circumstances last season (Halifax top, Colwyn Bay beating FC United in the play off final). Meanwhile Lancaster finished just outside the play offs last season, having to sell some of their best players in the process due to crowds not being enough to cover their costs.

Lancaster haven't made significant FA cup progress recently, but this season they've got through 3 rounds already, a big financial plus for them. They won 4-1 away at Formby, 5-1 at home to Maine Road, and then got what many teams saw as the nightmare draw away to FC United of Manchester, who of course know all about FA cup progress after beating Rochdale and nearly beating Brighton last season. But there was to be no repeat of that this season as Lancaster won 1-0 (my match report for that game is here).

As Halifax are two divisions above they entered the cup two rounds later, and they won 2-1 at home to Tadcaster Albion. In the previous 2 years Halifax have lost 1-0 in the 4th qualifying round (vs Wrexham and Mansfield). They will be hoping they can get to this stage again and make it 3rd time lucky to reach the first round proper.

Comparing the two teams form in their leagues:
Lancaster: 6th of 22 teams in Evo Stik Division One North, played 10: WWWWWDWLLL
Halifax: 11th of 22 teams in Blue Square North, played 12: LWDDDDWLLWDW

Lancaster started brilliantly and were top of the league, then a defeat at Woodley Sports (again!) has been the start of a run of defeats. They've won games in the local and Evo-Stik cup competitions, but were thrashed 5-1 by Garforth in the opening round of the FA Trophy. The drop in league form has coincided with the FA Cup run, and it's difficult to know if this is just coincidence or if the FA Cup has become a priority for them at present.

Halifax have not started well at all, and having been clear favourites to get a third successive title they instead find themselves trailing 15 points below top of the table Hyde and Stalybridge. Changes are being made to the team to try to salvage a promotion push, but Neil Aspin will know an FA Cup run could be the welcome distraction that'd get some of the doubters back on his side, as well as being a huge morale boost for the team.