Barnoldswick Town will make history this Saturday when they host AFC Emley of the Baris Northern Counties East League Division One in the FA Vase.

In reaching the third round of the national competition which has its final at Wembley next May, Barlick are in uncharted territory.

The same is true for AFC Emley and their club website suggests it is arguably the biggest game in the club’'s short seven-year history.

Although AFC Emley are a league below Barnoldswick, there will be no room for complacency in the home camp, as the visitors knocked out North West Counties League promotion chasers Congleton Town in the first round, and in the last round defeated their fellow NCEL rivals Bottesford Town, who had beaten another NWCFL side, Colne, in an earlier round.

In addition, Emley’s league form coming into the game has been good, and in the past few weeks they have had an impressive 7-0 win over Selby Town and an 8-1 away win at Yorkshire Amateur.

Both victories were inspired in no small way by striker Ashley Flynn. He scored four goals in each game and tops the NCEL Division One leading goalscorers charts.

But Barnoldswick are in good form themselves, and despite struggling with injuries this season, come into the game on the back of a run that has seen them lose just one of their last five games. However joint manager Ben Hall says that they will not be underestimating their opponents.

“We are all looking forward to the game, although it will be an extremely difficult match against a side who are doing well in their league.

“With our game being off last Saturday, we watched them in their game against Louth Town, and we know that we are going to have to be at our best to progress.”