Alfreton Town take a break from the rigours of the National League North on Saturday when they host Northern Counties East League Premier Division outfit Emley AFC at the Impact Arena in the Third Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup.

It's been a highly productive September for the Reds so far with Alfreton unbeaten in five matches this month. September began with a hard earned draw against much fancied Scunthorpe United at the Impact in front of a record crowd of the season of £1,324. This was followed by a point on the road at Banbury United before Billy Heath`s troops really began to hit their stride as a superb performance led to a pleasing 4-0 win over Boston United. Alfreton enacted a measure of revenge on Cleethorpes Town in the previous round of this competition before,last time out, Ofton perhaps produced their most dynamic and complete performance yet by beating Blyth Spartans 3-1 away from home.

This is the first time the Impact Arena will have hosted a FA Cup tie since Kings Lynn Town in the second Qualifying Round of the 2019/20 season and you have to go back all the way to the 2009/10 for our last home tie at this stage of the competition!!

Our visitors are Emley AFC who hail from a small village between Huddersfield and Wakefield are currently 12th in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division. Indeed they are the lowest ranked team left in this year's edition and the last remaining Step 5 side. The "Pewits" have enjoyed quite the fairytale run in this years FA Cup but it could have all been different. Emley were defeated by Avro FC in the Extra Preliminary Round but were given a second change after their opponents were found to have fielded an ineligible player. They took full advantage of their "lucky loser" status by defeating Lower Breck before Widnes and in the last round Mossley of the league above were dispatched to set up the tie.

Emley were set up as a phenix club in 2005 after the previous Emley club which Alfreton met several times during 1982-1987 in the NCEL and during the 1990s in the Northern Premier League were moved to Wakefield and were eventually wound up.

Billy Heath will be keen to guard against complacency with their being no easy games in the FA Cup with Emley sure to up their game for their "cup final" but with Lewis Salmon and Liam Waldock bang in form Alfreton will be confident of negotiating their way through to the fourth qualifying round for the first time in 5 years.
The winners of the tie will be awarded £5625 with the losers given £1875.

If a replay is required this will take place at the Welfare Ground in Emley on Tuesday night the 3rd October.

Tickets for the fixtures can be purchased online here with pay on the gate also in operation. https://ticketpass.org/event/EGVEIV/alfreton-town-fc-v-emley-afc