Clubs ready to hit cup trail

3:50pm Sat Jan 21, 2012

Sunday sees the start of three cup competitions on the Newark Football Alliance calendar.

Teams across all three divisions are preparing to take part in the annual President’s Cup, Sam Arnold Memorial Trophy and Pat Jepson Memorial Trophy.

The pick of the round in the Sam Arnold Memorial Trophy is at Marsh Lane where holders Farndon United take on Coddington in a re-run of last year’s final.

A header from Ben Porter gave Farndon a 1-0 victory in May.

High-flying Farnsfield Villa have to travel to Works Lane to take on Barnstone Celtics while Gunthorpe face a trip to The Grove.

Premier Division basement boys The Villa take on Collingham at Station Road and, completing the draw, Newark Town entertain Watermill.

RHP Social, Wheatsheaf United and Newark Flowserve have byes to the next round.

As last season’s winners Aslockton Cranmers are no longer in the league, a new name must be etched on the Pat Jepson trophy.

Beaten-finalists Wheatsheaf United Reserves take on Sutton-on-Trent, Fiskerton host Castle Barge 95, Sawmill entertain Holy Trinity, Farndon United Reserves play Barkestone-le-Vale and The Fox (Kirton) host Balderton Working Men’s Club.

After their promotion, the holders of the President’s Cup, AFC Vodafone, play in this season’s Pat Jepson Trophy, facing Fernwood at Rubys Avenue.

RHP Social Reserves and top-of-the-table Claypole were given a bye.

In the President’s Cup, Malt Shovel host Belams Flowserve, Rutland Arms Rovers take on Holy Trinity Reserves, Laxton Athletic play Old Kings Arms and BWMC Reserves will have to get past Newark Flowserve Reserves to make it to the last eight.

RHP Social A, Rose And Crown, bottom-of-the-pile Knowhow United and Collingham Reserves were all given byes into the next round.