Match Preview: Villa Rockets (A)

Aspire travel to Birmingham on Saturday 14th March for their WFA Cup third round clash with Villa Rockets. 

The game kicks off at around 11:30, and the winner will advance to finals day at Derby Arena on May 9th. 

The game will be broadcast live on the Aspire YouTube channel.

The Opposition

Aspire have faced Villa three times this season, once in the Premiership and twice in the West Midlands Regional League.

The Premiership meeting between the sides was a tightly-contested affair involving some heroic defending from Villa. 

A second half goal from Dan Mclellan was the difference between the two sides as the game ended 1-0 to Aspire. 

Villa currently sit seventh in the league table on goal difference, joint on points with the two sides above them. They secured ten points at the last Premiership weekend, and so come into the game on good form. 

Aspire last faced Villa in this competition in 2023/24, coming out 3-0 winners. Villa reached the semi-finals of the WFA Cup last campaign, defeating subsequent league champions Teesside on penalties in the quarter-finals. 

How To Follow The Match 

The game will be streamed here: https://www.youtube.com/live/afv65eZR444?si=5PPkSPjorcWhngHv

Coverage will begin at around 11:15, with a pre-match show including interviews with the players. The game will have commentary from Charlie Mclellan.

Updates on the match will be available across Aspire social media, with a full report on the website after the game.

With this being an away game, there is naturally the chance of technical issues relating to the broadcast. Should any arise on Saturday morning, the club Facebook page will be the place to stay up to date.

New WFA Cup format 

The John Good Group WFA Cup has a new format this campaign, with a new competition, the WFA Vase, created as a result. 

Last season, the quarter and semi-finals were played at Derby Arena, and then the final was won by Aspire at St George's Park as part of the FA Disability Cup weekend live on TNT Sports.

This year, and going forward, the final will now also take place at Derby Arena on the same day as the quarters and semis.

Powerchair football will still be showcased at St George's Park, but that will be a match equivalent to the Community Shield in the running game, where the Premiership champions will take on the WFA Cup champions.

In the event of a League & Cup double, second place in the league will qualify to the FA Disability Cup match.