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.
Comments
Post a Comment