02-10-23 : Harriers get Ashton Utd in the FA Cup

In the draw for the 4th qualifying round of this seasons FA Cup campaign on Talksport2 radio this afternoon the Harriers came out of the hat late in the draw, avoiding AFC Fylde and Stourbridge in the process, to meet up with Ashton Utd at Aggborough on October 14th.

They won 2-0 at Lancaster City in the 3rd qualifying round to earn the right to play us.

We last came up against Ashton back in 2019 in the National North division beating them 1-0 at Hurst Cross Stadium and before that in the home game we drew 3-3. The only other times we’ve played them was in the Staffordshire Senior Cup – how was that possible? – back in 1980 & 1981.

Now in the Northern Premier League they sit in sixth place in that table with six wins from nine games and losing the other three. Former Harrier Nathan Lowe plays for them after leaving the Harriers under a cloud in November last season following some kind of internal issues within the club. He went out on loan to Macclesfield FC but they didn’t like him either and he went to Ashton for the remainder of the season eventually joining them once his contract with us ended.

Also there, and more than welcome back at Aggborough, is goalkeeper Luke Simpson. He left us a season earlier in 2022 and eventually joined up with Welsh side New Saints but couldn’t get a game with them so left to join Ashton last July.

This will be a tough game looking at their form but it’s one game that we have to win first time of asking. Winning at Aggborough would appease the fans in a better way considering our poor form than having to go up to Manchester with fingers crossed.

Photo © KHFC