Morsley happy with FA Vase draw
MANAGER Mark Morsley declared himself happy with the quarter-final draw that sees his Leiston side travel to face Coalville Town in the quarter-finals of the FA Vase.
Leiston reached the last eight of the competition for the first time in their history on Saturday thanks to a 2-1 victory over Northamptonshire side Long Buckby. They now face Coalvillle, who are from neighbouring county Leicestershire, who overcame Holbrook Sports 3-1 after extra time.
Coalville play in the Midland Football Alliance and currently occupy third place, trailing leaders Tipton Town by five points but with three matches in hand.
Leiston have met Coalville before – a Stuart Boardley penalty being sufficient to give the current Ridgeons League Premier Division leaders victory in an FA Cup Third Qualifying Round tie in October 2008.
Morsley said: “First and foremost you want to be at home, but after that you want to avoid the obvious strong sides, and King’s Lynn and Whitley Bay are the favourites.
“Coalville are on a par with ourselves – they are third in their league with games in hand and score a lot of goals - and it is not too bad a journey.
“Bizarrely I am not disappointed we are away – when you are up against a side who look very even compared to us it is not a bad thing to be away from home. We have not lost away in the league and our only defeat was at Dartford in the FA Cup.
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“We won at Guildford in the FA Vase and even though we didn’t play that well we got a draw at Royston and won the replay. It is a tie I know we can win if we are on our mettle.
“If we do win I would fancy us over two legs against anyone in the semi-finals,” he added.
King’s Lynn Town will be at home to Sussex County League Rye United while holders Whitley Bay make the short trip to Gateshead to take on fellow STL Northern League Dunston UTS.
The other quarter-final pits Wessex Premier Poole Town at home to Torpoint Athletic, the last remaining Step Six side, who are from Cornwall.
Ties are scheduled to take place on Saturday, March 5 with �1,500 for the winners.
