Preview: Shildon (A)

Warrington Town embark on their 2026/27 FA Cup journey on Saturday, making the trip to the north-east to face Shildon in the first qualifying round.

Paul Carden's men returned to winning ways on Tuesday evening, with a resilient 2-1 win away at Leek Town, a game where they spent the majority of the second half down to 10 men following Reece Daly's red card.

This weekend, focus switches to the FA Cup, and a first-ever meeting with Northern League side Shildon.

Should the Yellows progress through to the next round with a victory at the J Denham Metals Stadium tomorrow, they will enter into the second qualifying round, with ties set to be played on Saturday 19 September.

Below, we've compiled everything you need to know ahead of the fixture.

Paul Carden preview

Article first published in the Warrington Guardian

Warrington Town are certainly enjoying life on the road this season – but there is now a banana skin in their path.

Tuesday’s 2-1 win at Leek Town – secured in spite of Reece Daly’s second-half red card by Jack Goodwin’s brace – made it four wins out of four away from home for Paul Carden’s men having previously won at Whitby Town, Ilkeston Town and Guiseley amid their promising start to the Northern Premier League Premier Division season.

The midweek win, which followed a 2-2 home draw with Emley on Saturday in which Ewan Bange netted twice, means Town sit fourth in the table as the league takes a back seat this weekend, with Step Three teams now focusing on the FA Cup first qualifying round.

The draw has handed Yellows a tricky-looking away trip to County Durham to face Shildon – a side who ply their trade two tiers below Town in the Northern League, but sit second in that division having netted 31 times in their nine league games.

It is something of a trip into the unknown, but Carden insists his side will be ready.

"We’ll enjoy a great performance, but we’ll remember how we got it and move on to Saturday,” he said.

"We don’t know loads about our opponents but we’ll do our homework as we always do and get the lads ready.

"We want to try and keep this run of away victories going."

Team news

Reece Daly will be available to feature in tomorrow's trip to Shildon. The midfielder's one-match ban for the red card he picked up against Leek Town will not kick in until seven days after it was incurred, meaning that should a replay take place at The GXO Stadium on Tuesday, Daly will be unable to play.

New signing Tunde Bayode could go into contention to make his first start for the Yellows. The winger joined the club ahead of Tuesday's trip to Leek, coming on as a late substitute.

Match information

Saturday's FA Cup fixture at the J Denham Metals Stadium kicks off at 3pm. Match tickets, available to buy at the turnstiles and bar/cafe, are priced as follows:

• Adults: £8
• Concessions: £6
• Under 16s: £4
• Carers & Under 5s: Free

Unfortunately, there will be no Yellows Radio commentary for tomorrow's FA Cup clash. Supporters can follow live updates from the game on our X (Twitter) feed.