First Round Qualifying of the FA Cup Onward

It’s early rounds of the FA Cup - First Round Qualifying with these non-league teams just four games from the entry of the lower teams of the Football League a target for many of these clubs playing this weekend, testing themselves against league teams the goal.

Now this is my third team since I began the journey, Sholing FC who are my runner/rider until they are beaten. They drew Hamworthy United both of whom play in the Sydenham’s Wessex Premier League where Sholing are currently top of the league and Hamworthy seventh, six points behind the leaders. According to the few reports on the game, the home team dominated, but couldn't find the killer finish as this FA Cup game ended goalless and goes to a replay on Tuesday.

I know I bang on about it every time but I really enjoy the BBC’s showing of the early rounds of the FA Cup via the iPlayer. Yesterday the camera (Yes there is only one) was at Maltby Main, a team I am acquainted with from a previous year having followed them briefly and their lovely little ground. They play in the NCEL Premier Division and the visitor The Evo-Stik East Division. Due to regionalisation of the Cup at this level so another derby game. The visitors play in a high league than Maltby so they were the underdogs in this game. But it turned out to be a tight game that the visitors squeezed out a 2-1 win.

There was Welsh interest with Merthyr Town who play in the English football system and were playing away at Melksham Town where they ran out 4-1 winners. I forgot that Colwyn Bay another Welsh team playing in England went out in the last round.

Route to Wembley (Bold my Team)

First Round Qualifying - Hamworthy United FC 0-1 Sholing FC Att 149
First Round Qualifying – Sholing FC 0-0 Hamworthy United FC Att 230
Preliminary Round - United Services Portsmouth FC 1-3 Sholing FC Att 131
The Extra Preliminary Round - United Services Portsmouth FC 5 – 2 Andover Town FC Att -