FA Cup Preview: Scarborough Athletic v Chester FC

The Blues travel to Scarborough Athletic on Saturday in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round, with the reward a place in the first round proper for the victor.

Chester FC's journey to this point has seen two wins over NPL Premier Division sides in the previous rounds, a 3-0 home success over Hebburn Town and a 1-0 replay victory against Stockton Town, after a 1-1 draw in the North-East.

Calum McIntyre will be without Nathan Woodthorpe and Connell Rawlinson for the fixture through suspension, but new signing Dylan Mottley-Henry is in contention after joined up with the squad on Thursday.

The Seals will receive £9,375 in prize money with a victory over the Seadogs, while the losing club will receive £3,150.

THE OPPOSITION

Tomorrow’s trip to East Yorkshire will be our second meeting with Boro this campaign, after we ran out 3-2 winners in dramatic fashion back in August.

Dom Tear put the visitors ahead at the Deva before a Charlie Caton double swung the pendulum in the Blues’ favour.

Frank Mulhern equalised for the Seadogs before Kurt Willoughby secured all three points with a brilliant strike in the 92nd minute.

Athletic currently sit two points behind Chester in the National League North table, after a solid start that included a memorable 1-0 victory over Scunthorpe United in late September.

Scarborough’s route to the fourth qualifying round saw a 5-2 replay success over Dunston UTS and a 2-0 win on the road at Warrington Rylands. 

THE GAFFER

Ex-Manchester United midfielder Jonathan Greening is over three years into a successful tenure at the Scarborough Sports Village Stadium, in which he led the club to promotion to the sixth tier in 2022.

The 45-year-old’s first campaign in the National League North saw him guide the Seadogs to an eighth placed finish, as the club narrowly missed out on the play-offs on goal difference to Gloucester City.

Greening’s most notable stints as a player were at West Bromwich Albion, Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest, as well as three years with the aforementioned Red Devils between 1998-2001.

ONE TO WATCH

Dom Tear has been the star man for Boro in the opening weeks of the season, with six league goals in ten appearances, as well as one in the FA Cup.

The 24-year-old bagged a hat-trick on the opening day of the season against newly promoted Radcliffe, which earned Scarborough a 3-3 draw on the road.

The winger came through the Huddersfield Town academy, and was handed the Terriers’ Academy Player of the Year award in 2018.

Since his departure from the John Smith’s Stadium, Tear has featured for FC Halifax Town, Buxton and Guiseley.

FORM GUIDE

Chester FC | W5 D3 L2 | F14 A10 | Pos: 3rd

Last three

Stockton Town (A) | D 1-1 | Scorers: Connell Rawlinson

Stockton Town (H) | W 1-0 | Scorers: Harrison Burke

Farsley Celtic (H) | D 0-0 | Scorers: None

Scarborough Athletic | W4 D4 L2 | F16 A12 | Pos: 8th

Last three

Scunthorpe United (H) | W 1-0 | Scorers: Dom Tear

Warrington Rylands (A) | W 2-0 | Scorers: Kieran Weledji x2

Leamington (A) | D 1-1 | Scorers: Luca Colville

Match Preview by Tom Bird.

MATCH DETAILS

The game kicks off at 3pm at the Flamingo Land Stadium on Saturday.

Winners of ties at the 4QR stage get £9,375 in prize money, with the losers pot standing at £3,125.