Sports land home clash in FA Cup (From Halesowen News)

Sports land home clash in FA Cup

11:00am Thursday 12th July 2012 in Sport

DUDLEY Sports are celebrating after being included in this season’s FA Cup draw.

The Hillcrest Avenue side were unsure whether they had done enough to qualify for the lucrative competition after finishing 11th in last season’s West Midlands Premier.

But there was joy last Friday as they were handed a home tie against Midland Alliance outfit Heath Hayes in the extra preliminary round August 11.

Joint boss Tony Gore said: “We could have had a better draw but we are in it and that’s where we want to be. The FA Cup is what we played for last season and it’s great to be in.

“We know a little bit about Heath Hayes, it’s going to be a really tough game.”

Victory for Sports would see them host either Tividale or Stratford Town in the preliminary round, while a trip to either Tipton Town, Wolves Casuals, Pilkington XXX or Atherstone Town would await the winners in the first qualifying round.

Sports are joined in the cup by Dudley Town, who host Southam United in the extra preliminary round, where victory would hand them an exciting derby clash with Halesowen Town in the preliminary round with the winners going on to host Willenhall Town, Sporting Khalsa, Earlswood Town or Nuneaton Griff.

Tividale face fellow Midland Alliance outfit Stratford in the extra preliminary round, with Gornal Athletic hosting Malvern Town.

In the FA Vase, Dudley Town face a re-match of last year’s first qualifying round clash with Causeway United, while Dudley Sports head to Bloxwich United and Gornal visit Atherstone Town.

Tividale do not enter the competition until the second round in November.