Fourth Qualifying Round - 29 October 2011 - Preview

The forty survivors from the third qualifying round are joined by the 24 “big” boys from the Conference Premier to give us 32 cup ties in the fourth and final qualifying round. For us in the North East this means Darlington, Gateshead and York went into the hat for the first time along with the three local survivors. What came out of the hat were two games up here and three further afield.

Gateshead v Hebburn Town

Hebburn continued to defy the odds with their win at Radcliffe and they will be delighted with this short trip along the A184. Having over-achieved already they will have nothing to lose against a side five leagues above them.  Gateshead, despite having gone off their early season boil, should progress; but I have written off Hebburn twice already.

Darlington v Hinckley United

Darlington should be favourites in a home tie against Hinckley from the league below. However they are teetering currently from crisis to false dawn and back to crisis again, so the game could be close. This round last season saw Darlo in a similar position go to Mossley and, in winning 6-2, play themselves into some kind of form.

Droylsden v Blyth Spartans

A trip to the Butchers Arms in the FA Cup is never pleasant, as more than one football league club has found. Maybe it will be less fearsome for Blyth as they visit regularly in the

Blue Square North

.

Grimsby v Ashington

Ashington have beaten two teams from three leagues above them to get this far, and now have to go to one better at Conference Premier Grimsby. Not likely, but neither were the last two wins.

Wrexham v York

An all Conference Premier tie, as top of the table Wrexham take on third placed York. An attractive tie but a 300 mile round trip from here.