Why should I watch..?

To see who can hold their nerve and secure a place in the FA Vase final at Wembley in May.

Thatcham start the contest with a slender 1-0 lead established thanks to Ross Cook’s fourth-minute penalty in the first leg at Waterside Park last weekend.

It extended to 28 matches an unbeaten run for the Kingfishers in all competitions.

However 1874 Northwich have fond memories of playing at Witton Albion’s home, Wincham Park, after eliminating both Pontefract Collieries (3-1) and Chichester (1-0) there in earlier rounds.

They expect to be cheered on by a record crowd that surpasses a previous club best of 625 that took in a fourth-round meeting with Pontefract back in January.

What they’ve said

“Since the draw was made, there has been a sense among our players that one of the teams is going to have to score twice to get through.

“And that’s exactly the position we find ourselves in after the first leg.

“We learned a lot about our opponents last weekend, and I expect they would say the same.

“I predict that will make the second game a better one – the obvious tension notwithstanding – and perhaps we’ll see two teams that are a little less inhibited.”

Wayne Goodison, 1874 Northwich co-manager

"The only little bit of frustration I have is that we didn’t go on and get a second goal last weekend.

"I think their goalkeeper kept them in it as he made three or four good saves

“We always create opportunities – look at our scoring record this season – and for a fact I’ll predict we’ll do the same up there.

“Of course it’s then up to us to take them.”

Danny Robinson, Thatcham Town manager

Numbers game

Striker Scott McGowan has 49 goals to his name in 1874 Northwich colours. It would be a perfect moment to increase that tally to 50

Man to keep an eye on

Ryan Mitchell

1874 showed too much respect, in the first-half at least, to Thatcham front man Shane Cooper-Clark in last weekend’s first leg.

The Kingfishers’ 45-goal leading-scorer had a rare off-day though, and failed to convert any of the chances that fell his way.

He is unlikely to be as forgiving again, and both Northwich central defenders – of which Mitchell is the more experienced – will need to be closer to him when he receives possession.

It is a wrong they righted in the second-half at Waterside Park.

1874 team news

Adam Whitlock is available again after missing last weekend’s first leg due to work commitments.

Management duo Paul Bowyer and Wayne Goodison are also optimistic that full-back Paul Connor (arm) will recover from an awkward fall during Tuesday’s league win against Barnoldswick.

Sam Freakes is ineligible after appearing for Abbey Hey in the first qualifying round of this year’s competition.

Path to this stage

Thatcham QF Melksham (a) 1-0; 5R Bromsgrove Sporting (h) 2-1; 4R Biggleswade (h) 2-1; 3R Sevenoaks (h) 3-1; 2R Broadbridge Heath (h) 8-2; 1R Horsham YMCA (h) 2-1   

1874 QF Leighton (a) 1-0; 5R Chichester (n) 1-0; 4R Pontefract (n) 3-1; 3R bt Ashton Ath (h) 2-0; 2R bt Tow Law (h) 5-1; 1R bt Irlam (a) 4-1; 2QR (r) bt Congleton (a) 1-0; 1QR bt Vauxhall Motors (a) 5-4 (aet)

Form (past six in all competitions)

Thatcham W W W W W D

1874 L W L W W L W

Most recent meetings

Thatcham 1-0 1874 (FA Vase semi-final first leg, March 17 2018)

Essential information

When Saturday, March 24

Kick-off 3pm

Address Wincham Park, Chapel Street, Wincham, Northwich CW9 6DA

Admission Adults £6, Concessions £4, Under 16s Free

Prize money Winners £5,500; Losers £1,750

Parking Free at the ground

NB. If the score on aggregate is level at the end of the second leg, a 30-minute period of extra time will follow.

If the teams still cannot be separated, then a penalty shoot-out will decide who progresses to the final