My Road to Wembey - Third Round Qualifying

Third Round Qualifying is upon us and my team AFC Sudbury faced a mammoth trip to Cornwall where their opponents were Truro City one of the remotest outpost of football on main land England.

Who are AFC Sudbury? Where is Sudbury? I have heard of the place but really have no idea where in England it is so to Google Maps. It’s a small market town in Suffolk kind of between Cambridge and Ipswich and AFC Sudbury ground is situated just outside the town. The club play in the North Division, Bostik League level 8 at King's Marsh where the capacity is 2,500 (200 seated. their record attendance is 1,800 with best FA Cup performance: First round, 2000–01 were they lost away at Darlington 6-1.

Truro City are National League South leaders and along with AFC Sudbury are only two games away from a place in the first round draw so plenty to play for. It was going to be a tough ask for Sudbury as the home team are inform having won their last seven games in a row and looking to make it eight.

The game was a one sided affair with really but the visitors took an early lead but it was even at half time 1-1. In the second half Truro run away with the game scoring three goals for a 4-1 victory and are now my new team, and are in the hat for tomorrows draw. Truro have never been further than the Third Round Qualifying of the FA Cup.

Twenty-four members of the National League will enter at this stage Fourth Qualifying Round and will join the 40 winners from the Third Qualifying Round. It will also mean Welsh interest is back with National League Wrexham in the draw. The draw will also include Shildon and potentially 1874 Northwich who have a replay to overcome. Both teams play at Level 9 of the football pyramid, the lowest-ranked teams still in the competition.

The road so far (My route in Bold)

• Third Round Qualifying - Truro City 4 – 1 AFC Sudbury Att 359
• Second Qualifying Round - AFC Sudbury 3-0 Chipstead Att - 169
• First Qualifying Round (Reply) - Chipstead 4-0 Littlehampton Town Att 129
• First Qualifying Round - Littlehampton Town 2-2 Chipstead Att 229
• Preliminary Round – Littlehampton Town 3-2 Eastbourne Att 177
• Extra Preliminary Round - Little Common 1-3 Eastbourne Att - Played at The Oval, Eastbourne