Maidenhead United vs Hastings United – FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round – Preview
Hastings United’s game of cup see-saw switches from FA Trophy to FA Cup as on Saturday 16th October the ‘U’s head to Maidenhead United for a Fourth Qualifying Round tie. It is a noteworthy fifth FA Cup tie running United have been drawn away from home in this year’s competition, basically every round. Indeed if you take last year’s competition into consideration, which ended in a penalty shootout defeat at Ebbsfleet United, that makes it six away ties since our last FA Cup home draw. At least the FA Trophy draw is proving to be kinder.
United’s six-game form – WWWWWW
Last Saturday’s two-nil FA Trophy victory over Ashford United took United’s winning streak to eight, five of which have been cup games. Since our away league defeat to Ramsgate at the end of August, the ‘U’s have won three at home and five on the road, scoring an impressive 22 goals and conceding a miserly five.
Though it is another ‘step up’ this weekend as Maidenhead are a Step 1 team playing in the National League.
The good news is that with United’s Tuesday night game having been postponed, as Whitstable Town were playing in the Kent Senior Cup semi-final instead, they should be fresh and well rested for the trip to Berkshire.
Who are Maidenhead United and what’s their six-game form? LLDLDL
Maidenhead United FC, also known as The Magpies, are based in Maidenhead, Berkshire and have played at York Road since 1871, making it the oldest senior football ground continuously used by the same club.
They play in the National League, the fifth highest tier or Step 1, and have been in this league since their promotion for winning the National League South in 2016/17. In the curtailed 2019/20 season Maidenhead scraped to survival on goal difference at the expense of the aforementioned Ebbsfleet who were relegated. Also, the Magpies were one of the original 15 clubs who played in the inaugural FA Cup all the way back in 1871/72, reaching the second round.
This season, Maidenhead don’t seem to be able to buy a win at the moment. Having won their opening two league games they subsequently lost four on the trot followed by a draw-lost-draw-lost sequence. So, having played ten games they find themselves in 18th position in the league table, with two wins, two draws and six defeats. They’ve scored 11 and conceded 17 all told this season. Last Saturday they travelled to Altrincham and suffered a two – nil defeat.
Last year in the FA Cup Maidenhead lost at this stage, beaten at home by Cray Valley PM. The Magpies got themselves into a two – nil lead in the first thirty minutes before Cray Valley reeled them in before half-time, and then the visitors scored a 93rd minute winner.
Their home attendance has ranged from 1,000 plus to just under 2,000 for their game against top of the table Grimsby Town.
Any recent previous meetings?
None to be found.
Bottom line
The FA Cup First Round Proper is just a win away for one of these teams. Maidenhead will no doubt be looking for a cup win against lower league opposition as a potential kick-start to their season. The ‘U’s meanwhile are full of beans and are in the mood to given anyone a game.
The prize money continues to grow, this time around its £9,375 for the winners and £3,125 for the losers. If the match is drawn after 90 minutes, there will be a replay.
Match information
Saturday 16th October, 3pm kick off at York Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 1SF.
Click here for match details including advance tickets…
Can’t attend? You can follow live game updates via Twitter: @hastingsufc
Bob Quinn
Twitter: @BobJQuinn