Emirates FA Cup First Qualifying Round, Saturday 5th September
The first Saturday in September saw the latest round of the Emirates FA Cup take place, the First Qualifying Round, which is the third qualifying stage of the competition, and I will be concentrating on the four Essex Senior League sides who have made it through to this stage, which is a great achievement, and those sides are Woodford Town, Frenford, Romford & Hullbridge Sports.
All four have won two ties so far to get through, and if any of them could win their latest tie, not only would it mean they were another stage further along qualifying (and only three more wins away from the First Round Proper!!!) the prize money would increase further still, which at this level is gold dust for these clubs, the magic of the cup certainly has not diminished at this level I can promise you that.
The main focus on this blog will be from Creasey Park, Dunstable, as Woodford Town travelled there along with myself as I chose this tie to go and cover, but once I have blogged on that I will then look back at the other three ties too, but as said, lets start in Bedfordshire...
Dunstable Vs Woodford Town
Now my late fathers side of the family are from this area, my grandparents lived down the road in Luton, my cousins, one of which used to grace the pitch at Creasey Park for the old Dunstable Town back in the 90s, both live in the Leighton Buzzard area, my father was actually born in Luton and grew up there, and my late uncle was also raised along with my father in Luton before living in Dunstable.
I had also never seen a game at this ground, I had been to the clubhouse before for a function, but that was it, so it seemed fitting that this would be my choice of game, considering they were up against a side I know well from covering the ESL, Woodford Town, who again are expected to challenge for promotion this season, especially after the return of Shane Baptiste as manager.
Woodford would have gone into this game confident of progressing into the next round as well, Dunstable are in the Spartan South Midlands Premier, the same level as the ESL, but sit down in 12th after six games having only picked up seven points in that time, Woodford though have only five points from four games so far and sit eighth in the ESL standings, but with it being early days the table is hard to take much from right now, and this of course is the FA Cup, so a much different proposition.
Dunstable also had already knocked out ESL opposition in the shape of Ilford at Cricklefield before seeing off North Greenford United, 4th in the Combined Counties Premier North with four wins from five, at home in the last round, so they would certainly be no pushovers, although Woodford had won at Biggleswade United, who are currently joint top of the league Dunstable play in, two rounds ago, before seeing off Sawbridgeworth Town to reach this stage.
So, although the outcome of this one was hard to call, one thing that was certain was a Step Five club making it into the Second Qualifying Round, but which one, well, Woodford began the game on the front foot, which kind of set the tone for the majority of the contest, and were ahead inside the opening fifteen minutes, a cross into the box seeing George Kebi power a header beyond hosts keeper Tyler Josephs.
Solomon Ofori had a great chance to double the visitors lead when another flowing attacking move involving Jibran Ahmed, Marko Protic & co, saw the winger in on goal but he could only fire wide of the far post, the hosts had fleeting attacks but the visiting defence stood firm and were more than a match for anything the hosts could muster, but the feeling at half time was that Woodford felt they should have been further in front and the hosts were still very much in this contest and could cause issues if the visitors dropped their levels.
The hosts tried to respond after the break and make sure they grabbed the next goal, if their was one of course, but once again the visiting back line defended well and keeper Ashlee Jones didn't have too many saves of note to make throughout the game, a testament to his defence in front of him that when the home side did attack, the formed a barrier that was hard to break through.
The more the half went on though it was Woodford who were creating the opportunities, but time and time again they failed to add a second goal that would give them some breathing space, and the more chances they passed up, you felt they might end up paying for it, the visitors were a constant threat down the flanks, and after getting down the left once again a ball into the box saw the hosts block several attempts at goal before Ahmed managed to thump the ball past Josephs and finally hand Woodford a two goal cushion in the 75th minute.
And the game was done n dusted five minutes later as Woodford added a third, Ahmed, who had been superb all game, sent in a lovely ball from the right and substitute Mohammad Lawal beat his marker to the ball to convert from close range, and the game now had more of a score line to reflect the balance of play overall, Woodford had been much better in many areas and proved too strong for the hosts.
Fair play to Dunstable, they kept going despite the now losing cause, and they were rewarded in stoppage time when they netted a consolation, Daniel Forde was superb strength to hold off his marker and fire a powerful effort beyond Jones high into the net, it was too little too late though for the home side who go out of the FA Cup and by all accounts had not performed like they could do today.
Take nothing away from Woodford though, it had been a terrific performance and they thoroughly deserved their win, and it means they are through to the Second Qualifying Round of this famous old competition, well done to them.
Full time Dunstable 1 Woodford Town 3
Let's now go onto the other three ties involving ESL clubs and see if any of those could get through and join Woodford Town in the next round.....
Frenford Vs Enfield Town
Now Frenford have started the season well, three wins from three in the league so far and wins against Spartan South Midlands side Harlow Town, a game that was moved to Frenford which certainly helped, & then seeing off Step Four opposition in the shape of Southern League One Central Haringey Borough at home to get to this stage of the FA Cup, but they arguably had the hardest of the ties between the ESL clubs for sure.
This is because they were at home to leaders of the Isthmian Premier, that's two levels above, in the shape of Enfield Town who had five wins from six so far, they entered the competition at this stage due to their level, so it would be one hell of a test for the hosts, an impossible one some may say, but this is the FA Cup, so you never know.
Frenford had nothing to lose, all the pressure was on their opponents, and a bumper crowd of 362 had turned to watch, well, the visitors did lead at the break but only by one goal after Thomas Aveoustidis netted ten minutes before the break and the hosts were still right in this cup tie, but then saw Billy Leonard double the visitors lead early in the second half to give them some breathing space.
And Sam Youngs and Leonard added late goals to rubber stamp the visiting sides authority and add more gloss to the outcome, and it was job done for the Isthmian Premier leaders, Frenford bow out and can now concentrate on continuing their excellent league form and see where it takes them.
Full time Frenford 0 Enfield Town 4
Harleston Town vs Romford
Romford were up against a side who had started the season in similar fashion to themselves, Harleston Town, who are at the same level as their opponents in the Thurlow Nunn Premier, both have one league win so far this season, and both have won two FA Cup matches to reach this stage.
Romford had knocked out Spartan South Midlands Premier Baldock Town and then required a replay to see off Barton Rovers, who actually compete in Step Four and the Southern League One Central, whereas Harleston had won two all Thurlow Nunn Premier ties against Great Yarmouth Town and then Dereham Town to reach this round and give themselves a chance of more prize money.
This was a hard one to call, and another all Step Five clash, meaning one was guaranteed progression, but the tie was almost done n dusted inside twenty minutes as the hosts raced into a three goal lead, Jake Reed netting in the seventh and eleventh minute before a 19th minute penalty from Josh Durham had the hosts in dreamland.
It had been an awful start from the visitors, and it was one they could not recover from ultimately, Prince Sikiru did net one back midway through the second half to give the visitors some hope, but it wasn't to be and Romford crashed to a very disappointing loss and go out of the FA Cup.
Full time Harleston Town 3 Romford 1
Hendon Vs Hullbridge Sports
This would be a tough one for Hullbridge Sports, away at Step Four opposition in the shape of Hendon, who play in the Isthmian League South Central and are sitting in second spot having won three out of four in the league so far, they had already seen off ESL opposition in the FA Cup, SOUL Tower Hamlets, before beating fellow Step Four side in the shape of Southern League One Central Hertford Town, also at home, and had netted four goals in each of those home FA Cup ties.
Hullbridge though have started the season well, three wins from four in the league and two FA Cup wins, just like their opponents, seeing off Step Four opposition in the shape of Southern League One Central Hadley at home before they travelled to Combined Counties Premier North Harefield United and netted a narrow win there to set up today's tie at Silver Jubilee Park.
This would be a step up though for sure, and like Frenford one of the hardest draws between all the ESL sides in this round, but Sports had nothing to lose, again like Frenford, as all the pressure was on Hendon, but they didn't seem to worry about that and were quickly two goals up in nineteen minutes thanks to Isaac Stones & Jordan Williams, and when Reece Nicholas-Davies made it 3-0 just past the half hour mark, Hullbridge were in tatters.
They did pull one back two minutes later though through Oli Spooner, but were soon three goals behind again when Stones added another seven minutes before the break, Hullbridge were 4-1 down at half time and needing a miracle to stay in the competition.
Kieran Jones did pull one back to make it 4-2 just past the hour mark, but Stones then completed his hat trick soon after that before Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica made it 6-2 with just under twenty minutes remaining, a Taylor Lawrence penalty made it 6-3 with ten minutes to go, but the scoring was completed a minute from time when Jack Hayes put through his own goal and complete a rather humbling afternoon for the visiting side.
Full time Hendon 7 Hullbridge Sports 3
It all means that Woodford Town are now the sole representatives left in the FA Cup for the ESL this season, commiserations to Frenford, Romford & Hullbridge Sports, who all crash out but can be proud of the run they made and the money they collected for winning two games in this competition. For Woodford, they are now just three wins away from the First Round Proper, dare to dream.....
There were six league games taking place this weekend too, as twelve sides who went out in previous rounds were continuing their league campaigns, here is a brief look at what happened today.....
Barking 4 Ilford 1
Basildon United 2 Clapton Community 0
Benfleet 1 Sporting Bengal United 0
Great Wakering Rovers 1 Harwich & Parkeston 1
Saffron Walden Town 2 West Essex 0
SOUL Tower Hamlets 0 Halstead Town 1
Arion Svarqa, Michael Okafor, Josh Gruby & Ryan Pickles were all on target for Barking as they netted four in victory over Ilford at Mayesbrook Park, Daniel Izakor had brought The Foxes level late in the first half but that was as good as it got for them, and The Bees picked up their first win of the season after first half goals from Chinedu Duru & Bade Aleketu were enough to see of Clapton Community at Gardiners Close.
A late Jacob Wiggins penalty saw Benfleet to a narrow win over Sporting Bengal at Woodside Park, GWR were held at home by Harwich & Parkeston, Louie Bloom putting the visitors ahead early in the second half but Jack Mitchell made sure of a point for the hosts when levelling in the 65th minute, and Walden saw goals second half goals from Ollie Miles & Emmanuel Okunwobi hand them a timely win after what has been a poor start to the season.
And finally, Halstead Town saw an Alfie Cleal goal ten minutes from time hand them a very handy win at Mile End against SOUL Tower Hamlets, a result that sends the visitors to the top of the table.
Here is that early season table, in case you are interested.....
That completes the bumper blog from today, hope you have all enjoyed reading!!!
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