January Review

A look back at some of the teams and matches covered in the blog over the past month or so...

Queen's Park offered football for a fiver at Hampden Park on the opening weekend of January and a bigger than average crowd watched the Spiders gain a 2-1 victory against Stenhousemuir.

After the momentous decisions in late 2019 to shed their amateur status and approve the sale of Hampden to the Scottish FA, the new year has seen more changes with new manager Ray McKinnon now able both to put his squad onto professional contracts and move into the transfer market for reinforcements.

The FA Vase tie between Deal Town and Binfield was decided by the thinnest of margins after both the original game and a reply couldn't separate the sides, Deal winning 7-6 on penalties and now making plans for the long trip to Consett AFC in the last sixteen on Saturday 8 February.

It is 20 years since Deal won the competition at Wembley and manager Derek Hares told Kent Online that he is beginning to dream of glory this year. 

It's looking good for The New Saints to retain their Welsh title after they won the battle of the top two against Connah's Quay but The Nomads can lift some silverware this coming weekend when they contest the final of the Nathaniel MG (League) Cup against surprise package STM Sports.

The game takes place at the home of Newtown AFC at 5.15pm on Saturday (tickets priced at £7 Adults, £3 Seniors and Students and £1 for Juniors) with a full preview available at the excellent Y Clwb Pel-Droed website.