After a disappointing home defeat against Vauxhall Motors at the weekend, we are back in action little more than 72 hours later as we travel to Golcar United in the first round of the Macron Cup.
The timing of the competition seems more than a little strange this season; teams hoping to progress all the way to the final will need to be prepared to extend their campaign for six weeks after their last league fixture, with the final not due to be played until mid May. We already know that if we emerge victorious from this tie, we will face Abbey Hey at the Vestacare on Wednesday 30th March.
The opposition
Golcar United are about to complete their first full season in NWCL Division One North, having been promoted at the end of the 2018-19 campaign as champions of the West Riding County Amateur League. They have had an excellent debut and will definitely be involved in the playoff for promotion to the Premier League when the regular season concludes, although in recent weeks their form has faltered somewhat.
Golcar United’s last six results
|
12/03/22 |
South Liverpool (A) |
L 0-1 |
|
08/03/22 |
Ashton Town (H) |
L 1-2 |
|
04/03/22 |
Campion (H) |
W 3-2 |
|
01/03/22 |
Nelson (A) |
L 0-2 |
|
26/02/22 |
Ilkley Town (A) |
L 2-6 |
|
01/02/22 |
Pilkington (H) |
D 1-1 |
Head to Head
The two sides have never met each other before in league or cup competition, but this may yet be the first of three meetings in the next twelve months should Golcar’s bid for promotion turn out to be a successful one.
One to watch
Experienced non league striker Daniel Naidole joined Golcar last summer and has had an excellent debut season, scoring 23 goals in 32 appearances so far. He has Fijian ancestry and his grandfather Thomasi was a rugby union international, before moving halfway around the world to Huddersfield and switching codes to represent the town’s rugby league side.
Team news
Alex Frost has a lengthy injury list with which to contend, especially in the attacking areas. Louis Potts, Matty Wolfenden, Michael Afuye and Matthew Chadwick are all ruled out, whilst Jamie Frost is unavailable.
