FA Cup 1st Round - So near, yet so far

By Simon Wright – Follow me on Twitter @Siwri88

It was a case of so near, yet so far for many of the minnows in the first round of the Emirates FA Cup this weekend.

32 non-league teams had progressed through the qualifying rounds to reach the main draw, joining the 48 teams from SkyBet EFL League One and League Two. Ultimately, only one non-league team was able to eliminate higher opposition in the 39 ties that have taken place so far.

Macclesfield Town from the Vanarama National League have produced a giant killing background. Seven times they’ve made it to the third round previously and they’ve knocked out the likes of Swindon Town and Cardiff City in the past.

They were at it again on Saturday, defeating League One Walsall 1-0. John McCombe's header in the 23rd minute was the decisive factor as the Silkmen made a mockery of the 46 places between the sides in the current football league pyramid.

Others came very close but couldn’t quite get over the line.
Maidstone denied at the last
Maidstone came within an inch of knocking Rochdale out of the cup
The closest minnows to pulling off an upset were Maidstone United (match pictured). The National League side led League One Rochdale for the majority of their match on Sunday. However with the last kick of the game, Callum Camps scored a free-kick to earn Rochdale a rather fortunate replay as they drew 1-1.

Another side who had a flirtation with the exit door were Notts County from League Two. Last season, they were dumped out at this stage infront of the BBC cameras by Salford City. This season, they were 2-0 down to an in-form Boreham Wood and looked to be heading down a similar route.

John Sheridan’s side showed character this time though. Substitute Adam Campbell, who has scored against Manchester United in his previous FA Cup days for Middlesbrough, scored twice to rescue a 2-2 draw and a replay for the oldest football club in England.

Bottom of the entire Football League currently are Newport County AFC. They’ve had a difficult campaign and recently changed managers with former Stevenage and Farnborough Town manager Graham Westley taking control of first-team affairs. They led away from home at Alfreton Town of the National League North but were denied victory.

Alfreton got their replay with a neat finish from centre-back Terry Kennedy. It was his first goal for the club, so some time to get it. Kennedy has been given the nickname ‘The Ginger John Terry.’ The Chelsea skipper would have been proud of his finish.

On Friday evening, Eastleigh held League One strugglers Swindon Town to a 1-1 draw. Mikkel Mandron opened the scoring in the second half for the well-funded non-league side who must have fancied an upset. Swindon have exited this stage in five of the last seven seasons. The Robins had been denied by a fine Ryan Clarke save in the first half but the goalkeeper blotted his copybook, conceding a penalty in the 69th minute.

On-loan QPR midfielder Michael Doughty converted the spot-kick to ensure the sides will have to do it again at the County Ground in nine days’ time.

There were also replays earned on Saturday for Brackley Town, Dover Athletic and Solihull Moors. The latter team came from 2-0 down to get a brilliant 2-2 draw away to Yeovil Town. Brackley threw away a two-goal advantage to draw 2-2 at Gillingham – without a victory since September. Ricky Miller netted an 82nd minute equaliser to ensure Dover got a creditable 1-1 draw at Cambridge United. With all three non-league teams at home for the replay, they will fancy their chances.
Landslide victories
After a sluggish start, Chris Wilder is now starting to find his feet as Sheffield United manager. They are scoring goals for fun in League One and that form was transferred into the FA Cup. Harry Chapman scored an impressive hat-trick as the Blades trounced Leyton Orient 6-0.

Non-league Braintree Town went one better on Saturday. Currently 22nd in the National League, they put their league troubles behind them to thump Eastbourne Borough 7-0. There were two goals for the former Wolverhampton Wanderers defender George Elokobi.

Kane Hemmings scored twice as Oxford ended Merstham's dream
Seventh-tier Merstham were competing at this stage for the first time in their history but there wasn’t any upset against an upwardly-mobile Oxford United. Kane Hemmings (pictured), who scored 21 goals for Dundee in the Scottish Premiership last season, scored a brace in Oxford’s 5-0 victory.

There was another 5-0 success on Saturday for a League One side and that came from Northampton Town. Lowly Harrow Borough were no match for the in-form Cobblers at Sixfields. Among the goalscorers was the ex-Portsmouth and West Ham United midfielder Matt Taylor.

One of his former clubs and 2008 winners Pompey have a miserable recent record in this competition and it continued this weekend as they were beaten 2-1 by Wycombe Wanderers at Fratton Park. Wycombe famously made the semi-finals of this competition themselves in 2001 and can continue to dream this time around of repeating the feat. ‘The Beast’ himself, Adebayo Akinfenwa scored the winning goal for Gareth Ainsworth’s side in the last 10 minutes.

Another former FA Cup winning side that has fallen from grace is Blackpool. A Premier League side just five seasons ago, they are now plying their trade in League Two and the relationship between fans and owners is at rock-bottom. A 2-0 home victory over Kidderminster Harriers won’t be the storyline of the weekend but at least the Tangerines have their first cup victory in the bag in five seasons.
Trying to rebuild
It is 12 years since Millwall reached the FA Cup final and they’ve had a difficult domestic campaign in League One but they avenged last season’s exit at the hands of their league rivals Southend United. Mahlon Romeo hit a late winner to take the Lions through 1-0. They were the first team to book their place in the hat for the second round.

Tough times have also hit Milton Keynes Dons. Relegated last season from the Championship and without a manager after Karl Robinson’s departure, they were fairly fortunate to beat Spennymoor Town 3-2 despite racing into a three-goal lead inside 15 minutes.

Continuing the theme of teams who have struggled in recent campaigns; Charlton Athletic have had a miserable year. Relegated and constant protests against the ownership of the club have led to many fans turning their back on the team. There were many empty seats at The Valley at the weekend but the Addicks did knockout League One leaders Scunthorpe United 3-1.

1987 winners Coventry City’s troubles have been well-documented for many years now but they are also in the hat for Monday night’s draw, although they will need a replay after drawing 1-1 against Morecambe.

Bradford City will be sick of the sight of Accrington Stanley this season. Knocked out on penalties in the EFL Cup by the League Two side, it was a case of déjà vu in the FA Cup at Valley Parade. Accrington’s 2-1 victory means there will be no repeat of the shocks the Bantams pulled off in 2015 against Chelsea and Sunderland.

Lastly, the most entertaining game of the weekend came between non-league St Albans City and Carlisle United. Eight of the weekend’s 130 goals were scored here and it was the League side that prevailed; 5-3 the final score. Much-travelled Jabo Ibhere scored twice for Keith Curle’s side as they extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 17 games.

There has been plenty of action this weekend and whilst there maybe weren’t quite the amazing stories people were hoping for, the Emirates FA Cup continues to deliver in terms of entertainment and drama. The second round draw takes place on Monday evening.

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