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| THE WIDTH OF A POST IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CUP GLORY AND HEARTACHE. IN 2001, WITH THE SCORE AT 1-1 BETWEEN STOTFOLD AND ENFIELD TOWN MARK KIRBY'S EFFORT RATTLED THE WOODWORK ONLY FOR STOTFOLD'S GLEN LAMACRAFT TO HEAD HOME FOR THE EAGLES TO RECORD A MEMORABLE 2-1 VICTORY AND GIANT KILLING AS THEY WERE PLAYING AT STEP FIVE AT THE TIME AND TOWN AT STEP FOUR. AN INTERESTING FACT IS THAT STOTFOLD HAD 'LOST' IN THE COMPETITION THAT SEASON SUFFERING A DEFEAT TO KINGS LANGLEY IN THE PREVIOUS ROUND ONLY FOR THE RESULT TO OVERTURNED AS THE THEN SSMFL DIVISION ONE SIDE HAD FIELDED AN INELLIGBLE PLAYER. |
FA CUP EXTRA PRELIMINARY ROUND TIES
ties involving Spartan South Midlands League clubs
Haverhill Rovers v Hertford Town
Brantham Athletic v Hadley
St Margaretsbury v Long Melford
Hoddesdon Town v Stansted
Edgware Town v Holmer Green
Flackwell Heath v Baldock Town
Crawley Green v Rothwell Corinthians
London Tigers v Sun Sports
Tring Athletic v Desborough Town
Wellingborough Town v Stotfold
Burnham v Oxhey Jets
Cogenhoe United v Berkhamsted
Bedford v Welwyn Garden City
Cockfosters v Harpenden Town
Newport Pagnell Town v Biggleswade United
Wembley v Daventry Town
Harefield United v Northampton On Chenecks
Leverstock Green v London Colney
Hoddesdon Town were the most succesful SSSMFL team last season getting to the third qualifying round replay where they narrowly lost to then Ryman Premier Division Brentwood Town in a replay. This season they start with a home tie against an Essex Senior League team - Stansted visit Lowfield to play what will be a very different Hoddy team now under the management of ex Hertford Town boss Paul Halsey. Last season The Lillywhites won 4-0 at home to Sawbridgeworth Town.
Ex Hoddy boss Gavin Kelsey will be looking to get his new team on a good cup run - Hertford Town travel to Thurlow Nunn Premier Division side Haverhill Rovers.
Edgware Town make a welcome return to the FA Cup for the first time since 2008 when they went out at the second qualifying round stage away at Eastbourne Borough after beating Potters Bar Town and Raunds Town. Over the summer Mick Roche has left his job as manager due to work comitments allowing his assistant Fabio Valenti to take over as the number one. He will be assisted by another former Towner Jason Dale who was assistant to Steve Newing at Donkey Lane.
Wembley FC are always mentioned at this stage of the competition with their proximity to The National Stadium. They welcome Daventry Town to Vale Farm - Daventry will play in Division One of the United Counties League after they resigned from the Northern Premier Division One (South) at the end of last season. It was only in 2013 when they reached the First Round Proper losing at Chesterfield 2-0.
ties involving Essex Senior League clubs
Redbridge v Waltham Forest
Enfield 1893 v Tower Hamlets
FC Clacton v Eton Manor
Sporting Bengal United v Ipswich Wanderers
Wivenhoe Town v Hullbridge Sports
Barkingside v Hadleigh United
Whitton United v Basildon United
London Bari v Clapton
Barking v Takeley
Sawbridgeworth Town v Southend Manor
Stanway Rovers v FC Romania
Ilford v Burnham Ramblers
The tie that stands out for TheColdEnd is the East London derby at The Old Spotted Dog between tenant's London Bari and landlord's Clapton. Since 1980 the best run The Ton's have had in the competition has been to reach the second qualifying round three times in 1982, 1995 and 1998. Last season they fell at the first hurdle losing to Thurlow Nunn Premier Division side Stanway Rovers at home. London Bari entered the FA Cup for the first time last season losing 3-0 at Long Melford. The game should attract one of the best attendances in the extra-preliminary round.
Sawbridgeworth Town entertain Southend Manor in an all Essex Senior League tie looking to banish their poor record in the FA Cup. They first enterted in 2000/01 with only two victories coming in 2002 when they beat then Eastern Counites League side Harwich and Parkeston 2-0 and 2004 when they won at Wisbech Town 0-1. Their full record reads P17, W2, D3, L12, GF 19 and GA 46. Southend Manor fans will have fond memories of their amazing run to the Fourth Qualifying Round in season 2011/12 when they beat Takeley, Cheshunt, Romford, Chertsey Town and Leighton Town before losing to Kettering Town 3-1 at Nene Park - the score at half time was 1-1 and played in front of a crowd of 989 people.
Eton Manor face a trip to the seaside where they will play FC Clacton at The Rush Green Bowl with a chance to get revenge as the same two teams played at the same stage last season with the home side winning 3-1. Manor's best run in the competition came back in 1956/57 when they lost to Dunstable Town in the Fourth Qualifying Round. FC Clacton went on to lost at Ryman Division One (North) side Aveley last season. Their best run came famously in 1960/61 when as Clacton Town they played Southend United in the First Round Proper losing 1-3.
Enfield 1893 welcome Tower Hamlets to The Harlow Arena in another all ESL clash. Since they were formed in 2007 1893 have played in the FA Cup since 2009/10 when they reached the second qualifying round losing to Chelmsford City. Since then they haven't got past the Preliminary Round losing to London Colney 0-4 at home at the first stage last season. Tower Hamlets best performance was in 2010/11 as 'Bethnal Green United' they lost to Harlow Town in a first qualifying round replay.
MANY FANS OF THE PREMIER LEAGUE TEAMS HAVE STATED THE FA CUP HAS LOST IT'S MAGIC WHICH EVERY NON-LEAGUE CHAIRMAN, MANAGER, PLAYER AND SUPPORTER WILL TELL YOU IS ABSOLUTE RUBBISH. FOR MANY TEAMS "THE CUP" IS ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SEASON. IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME THEN TAKE A LOOK AT THE HIGHLIGHTS (courtesy of @etfctv) OF THE HITCHIN TOWN v ENFIELD TOWN THIRD QUALIFYING ROUND REPLAY FROM LAST SEASON WHICH I, AS AN ENFIELD TOWN FAN, CAN SAY WAS ONE OF THE BEST ATMOSPHERES AT A FOOTBALL GAME FOR A VERY LONG TIME. IT SHOWS THE UNIQUE BOND BETWEEN PLAYER AND FAN AT THIS LEVEL IS SOMETHING THE MILLIONS OF POUNDS SLOSHING AROUND IN THE TOP ECHELONS OF FOOTBALL CAN'T REPLICATE.
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