Thornton Cleveleys head to Volair Halewood on Saturday (3pm kick-off) buoyed by an FA Vase win over Northern League Division Two leaders Billingham Town, but with a point to prove against a side that beat them earlier this season.
The Reds came from a goal down to win 4-2 on Halloween, with Josh Winder scoring twice and Ben Anderson and Luke Harris also on target. The result earned a home tie against Yarm & Eaglescliffe at the end of the month. It followed a defeat and a draw in the league.
Halewood Apollo, new to the division, have won nine of their first 16 games and scored 32 goals. October ended badly, though, with an 8-1 Macron Cup Second Round loss to Premier Division Burscough and a 2-1 defeat at Uppermill.
Just two points and two places separate the sides. The hosts have slipped out of the play-off places after Fulwood Amateurs won in midweek.
In August, Halewood won 4-2 at the Fox Group Sports Arena, going 3-0 up inside 20 minutes before Jacob Aspinall and Harris made it 3-2 by half-time. Jesse Dowling converted a penalty on the hour.
Manager Paul Gregory will be without Josh Edwards and captain Oliver Wilkinson. "It was our worst game of the season that we had last time so we are not going to go down that road again," he said.
Originally published by Thornton Cleveleys: https://thornton-cleveleysfc.co.uk/news/06-nov-2026-pre-match-halewood-apollo