FA Vase: Boldon CA look to spring surprise in Longridge Town tie

Boldon CA are heading into Saturday’s FA Vase first qualifying round home tie with Longridge Town ‘full of confidence’ after making an impressive start to the new season.

With a number of their summer signings already hitting form, Chris Spence and Keaton Trott’s side have taken 16 points from a possible 18 and an exquisite goal from Robbie Gateshill gave them a narrow win at AFC Newbiggin in midweek. That followed on the back of a battling 1-1 home draw with fellow in-form side Billingham Town last weekend and ensured Boldon are sat on top of the Division Two table as they prepare to take a break from their league campaign and turn their focus towards causing an upset in the Vase.

Step five side Longridge will arrive on South Tyneside on the back of last weekend’s FA Cup extra preliminary round win at Keighley Town after kicking off their North West Counties League Premier Division campaign with a 3-0 defeat at Trafford seven days earlier.

Facing a side with higher-level credentials should hold no fear for in-form Boldon - and joint-manager Spence has challenged his squad to ‘put in a good performance’ as they look to set up a second qualifying round visit to either Campion or league rivals Prudhoe YC.

He told The Gazette: “Obviously, everyone would love to have a good run in the Vase. We’ll go into the game full of confidence because of the start we’ve made to the season, but we’re taking it game by game. Hopefully, we can put in a good performance and get our name in the hat for the next round.”

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