Thursday 10 November 2011

FA CUP 1ST ROUND PREVIEW

The major talking point in football this week has been the debate whether the home nations should be allowed to wear poppies on their shirts.

However, on Saturday afternoon, attentions will temporarily be diverted away from that argument and towards the first round of the FA Cup, which sees the four South West league sides in action.

With £18,500 worth of prize money at stake for the winners of the round, each of the four ties involving Exeter City, Yeovil Town, Torquay United and Plymouth Argyle promise to be eye-catching encounters.

The Grecians host fellow League One side Walsall at St James Park, manager Paul Tisdale has called on his side to recreate the form they showed in last season's Johnstone's Paint Trophy which saw them reach the Southern Area Final.

Yeovil Town are set to hand a start to goalkeeping coach Gareth Stewart, in their meeting with Hereford United, after current first choice keeper Marek Stech, who is currently on loan from West Ham, was called up by the Czech Republic Under-21 squad.

Another side who will be losing a key player to international is Torquay United who will be travelling to Chesterfield without the services of striker Billy Bodin who will be on international duty with the Wales Under-21 squad.

However, Gulls boss Martin Ling will be hoping to field midfielder Ian Morris, who played 19 games on loan with the Spireites last season, after he came through a reserve team game with Brighton during the week.

Plymouth Argyle will be playing host to Evo-Stik Southern Premier side Stourbridge and Pilgrims player-manager Carl Fletcher has threatened to get rid of any players to fail to take the tie seriously.

Argyle haven't won an FA Cup tie since the 2007-08 season when they beat Hull City in the Third Round.