Fareham boss Stiles hoping the FA show ‘common sense’ over delayed Vase tie with Roman Glass St George

Pete Stiles is calling on the FA to show some 'common sense' over outstanding FA Vase first round ties.
Luke Slade on his way to scoring one of his four goals in Fareham's 7-1 destruction of Alresford last season. Picture: Keith Woodland.Luke Slade on his way to scoring one of his four goals in Fareham's 7-1 destruction of Alresford last season. Picture: Keith Woodland.
Luke Slade on his way to scoring one of his four goals in Fareham's 7-1 destruction of Alresford last season. Picture: Keith Woodland.

Fareham's scheduled meeting with Western League Premier Division side Roman Glass St George at Cams Alders on Saturday was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.

Competition rules state that rearranged first round ties must be completed before this weekend or teams could face forfeiting their place.

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However, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson's decision to introduce a second nationwide lockdown from Thursday, a number of fixtures could be unfinished until at least December.

Stiles revealed the Reds had offered Roman Glass the opportunity to play the game this midweek, but the Bristolians declined.

With non-elite level football (step 3 and below) appearing as though it will be suspended for four weeks during the lockdown, it will leave Fareham's Vase tie unfinished.

But Stiles admitted the governing must allow a change in ruling in these exceptional circumstances.

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'The FA have got to show a bit of common sense (with the Vase),' he said.

'If the government has put a place in lockdown, how are you meant to play?

‘It’s not the end of the world because normally you play the Vase every fortnight.

‘You’ve just got to squeeze it up to every week and then play league games.

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‘We’ve just got to accept that we’re going to play two or three games a week for a little while.

'Already they’re not doing the Hampshire Senior Cup and the (Russell Cotes) Charity Cup.

'They’ve cut down on cup competitions anyway which you’d normally play.

'I’m sure you can still get these games in. It’s all being overegged a bit, you’ve just got to get on with it.'

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Stiles has no issues with Fareham's Wessex League Premier Division meeting with Alresford Town at Cams Alders taking place on Tuesday.

That's despite the country being placed in a month-long lockdown from Thursday.

But the boss is hopeful of seeing a sizeable crowd to generate some much-needed revenue for what could be the club's last fixture for some time.

‘We’ve been lucky because we’ve had some decent bar takings and we’ve had some decent crowds in the past few games,' added Stiles.

‘It’s just a shame that it can’t carry on.

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'Hopefully, we’ll get a good crowd on Tuesday who drink loads of beer and eat loads of burgers to get a bit of cash to help us out for while we’re shut.'

Fareham are looking for their ninth successive Wessex Premier victory. They have not dropped any points since losing their curtain-raiser 1-0 at Blackfield & Langley on Saturday, September 5.

Last October, Alresford arrived at Cams Alders for a league game top of the table - but suffered a remarkable 7-1 defeat, Luke Slade netting four times after the Reds had fallen behind.

It’s a different story this term with Alresford third bottom with just one win from nine games - and that was a 3-0 success against rock bottom Amesbury on September 8.