Scunthorpe United have now been wallowing in non-league for three years, since their relegation from the Football League in 2022, and subsequent relegation to the National League North. But they now appear to be on the up, having been promoted last season, and making a strong start, which has seen them placed 4th after 13 games, having only tasted defeat once against 3rd placed Carlisle.

Andy Butler is the man at the helm, having made over 150 appearances for Scunny as a player. His side are a tough one to play against with a battling spirit, having committed the most fouls per game in the National League so far this season.

They host King’s Lynn of the National League North, who are winless in their last four league games and are 11th in the table. This is a division that Scunthorpe were in last year, with the league meeting at Glandford Park ending 3-0 to The Iron. Their last two league losses have come against teams above them, and given that Scunthorpe are currently 30 places above them in the pyramid, they may struggle again.

South Shields are the league leaders in the National League North, with an unbeaten record of eight wins and two draws. They have conceded just four goals in those ten games, and scored two goals per game, so all looks rather rosy at the moment. Cedwyn Scott has scored five goals, following his release from Carlisle. He moved to Notts County at the same time as Macauley Langstaff, but did not kick on in the same manner due to injury issues. Paul Blackett is their top scorer with seven goals.

They host Spalding United of the Southern League Premier Division Central, where they currently occupy 4th place after picking up 17 points from 9 games. They have never made it to the National League in their history, but have participated in the first round of the FA Cup on two occasions, the last of which was 60 years ago. They will be up against it here with South Shields in such fine fettle.

Halifax are in superb form in the National League at present, unbeaten in six games and having won five on the bounce, including a win over league leaders Rochdale. The Shaymen were defeated in the play-offs last season against eventual winners Oldham, which led to the resignation of manager Chris Millington and the appointment of current incumbent Adam Lakeland, who had most recently managed King’s Lynn.

Their hosts, Southport, are currently rooted to the bottom of the National League North, having lost seven of their nine league games, picking up just four points in the process. They are managed by EFL Stalwart Neil Danns, who actually had a spell as a player with Halifax Town back in 2021. The Port have just one point from their last five games, so these teams are in such contrasting form that you have to fancy the away side to progress.

Despite currently being managerless after the departure of Scott Bartlett to Eastleigh, I fancy Weston Super-Mare to progress against Needham Market. They have made a strong start to the season, in 2nd place in the National League South, with 22 points from 10 games. They lost their only game post Bartlett’s departure, but that did come against 5th-place AFC Totton.

Their opponents, Needham Market, are 13th in the Southern Premier Division Central, with three wins, three draws, and three losses from their nine games so far, with a negative goal difference. They have only won one of their last five games.

It should be a game where Weston can regain confidence after losing their manager, and progress into the first round proper.