After kicking off the qualifying rounds way back in August, the FA Cup finally enters the first round and there’s no shortage of non-league representation. This weekend is always one of the most fascinating in the footballing calendar as it can be guaranteed to throw up the odd fallen big name against a semi-pro minnow, or teams with plenty of history of giant-killing together, albeit in different circumstances.
This year is no different with several non-league teams traveling to or hosting league opposition, in some cases big draws. And what they’re all hoping for is to take one step closer to the third round and, like Burton, Exeter or Leeds, get a result against the likes of Manchester United.
We’re not going to preview every game (largely because it would take us ages to write) but we will pick out our selected highlights from the first round. Do feel free to chip in with your predictions.
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Probably the most interesting tie, in terms of sub-plots, can be found down in Kent, where Gillingham host Dover Athletic of the Conference South. It’s not just the local derby aspect that makes this one of the games of the round. In the close season, then-Dover boss Andy Hessenthaler left to take over at Gillingham. He then poached his recommended replacement in the Whites hot seat, Ian Hendon, just 18 days into the joy, as well as player-coach Nicky Southall. With the Gills yet to find top gear in the league, many Dover fans will be looking forward to the possibility of a spot of revenge. Served cold, naturally.
If we’re talking local derbies, then FC United of Manchester’s trip to Rochdale also stands out. This is the first time FCUM have made it to this stage of the competition in their short life-span and Karl Marginson’s team did well to see off Conference side Barrow in the last round. Spotland should be nearly packed for the Evo-Stick Premier side’s visit, although Dale are a strong side and could find themselves in the unusual role of heartbreakers rather than heartbroken for once.
Naturally, many neutrals eyes will be at Edgar Street where Hereford United, a team always associated with giant killing, host Hythe Town, the lowest ranked side in the competition. The Kent Premier Division side started back on August 14th with a 4-0 win over Bookham, and became the first team from their league to reach the first round in 53 years when they beat Staines Town. But they have the misfortune to be playing Hereford at a time when the Bulls have hit a spot of form and are unbeaten in three, having scored 10 goals.
More eyeballs, however, will be on the televised clash between Conference side Southport and League One’s big boys, Sheffield Wednesday. The Sandgrounders were the first team from the old Third Division (North) to reach the quarter finals of the cup in 1931, while Wednesday have won the competition three times and were runners up twice. Under Liam Watson, newly-promoted Southport are no pushovers and will fancy their chances of, at the very least, pushing their more illustrious opposition to a replay.
League Two’s top pair of Chesterfield and Port Vale face tricky non-league ties as well, to Harrow Borough and Dartford respectively. Ryman Premier strugglers Harrow outclassed Eastbourne Borough in the final qualifying round and their intelligent, plain-speaking manager David Howell has a habit of unearthing rough gems, and will be looking to 19-year-old Troy Hewitt to prove he can cut it against the in-form Spireites. Meanwhile, Vale have stumbled a little since topping League Two last month and manager Micky Adams will be wary of taking the Darts’ lightly and their swish, environmentally friendly Princes Park.
League One table toppers Brighton and Hove Albion host another club with FA Cup history. Woking took then-Premier League Coventry City to a replay in 1997, having already beaten Millwall and Cambridge United, and if the Cards repeat their giant-killing exploits at the Withdean, it’ll be a result to rank with previous memories. Graham Baker’s team will have a tough job though - the Seagulls are the form team in their division and Gus Poyet has his team playing positive, attacking football and even the presence of Elvis Hammond in Woking’s attack may not be enough to see them through.
Several league teams look vulnerable to an upset against strong non-league opposition from the Conference, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see any of the following as casualties. Torquay United have to travel to Mansfield Town, with the Gulls having just picked up their first win since August, while Mansfield are only six points off the play-offs. Rushden & Diamonds, who continue to impress under Justin Edinburgh, host League One’s Yeovil Town side, who have struggled to get going on the road this season and currently sit in the relegation zone.
Forest Green Rovers may current be one spot off the bottom in the Conference but Dave Hockaday’s team got a good win against York at the weekend and host a Northampton Town team who’ve only just arrested their own slide to just outside the League Two drop zone. Tamworth may fancy their chances against an entertaining Crewe Alexandra team who are great value going forward but have a very leaky defence, while Conference South play-off hopefuls Nuneaton Town travel to a horribly out-of-form League Two Lincoln City.
Finally, a few more local(ish) derbies to finish off with. Only one division may separate Corby Town and Luton Town, but the Steelmen know they’ve drawn one of the bigger clubs and can be sure of a bumper crowd. Blue Sqaure Premier Luton are unbeaten in three but Corby are solid at home, having lost just once on their own patch, and will need no motivation to take down one of non-league’s biggest clubs.
It’s an all League One London affair at Victoria Road, where Leyton Orient make the short trip east to Dagenham and Redbridge. Both sides are battling relegation and struggle for consistency, which should make this an absorbing contest. A good cup run could lift both clubs’ seasons.
To round off, a game that won’t attract much in the way of glamour but, irrationally, I think could be an upset waiting to happen. League Two basement boys Barnet, who have utterly failed to kick on under Mark Stimpson, host Charlton Athletic. Not so long ago, this would have been a Conference versus Premier League fixture, but the gap has now narrowed (although Barnet will do well to avoid returning to non-league this season), but Charlton are going through a period of transition following their failure to win promotion last season and showed last season against Northwich Victoria that they’re vulnerable to an upset. Sometimes the basement boys have one good cup game in them and this could be in. At 13/5 for a Barnet win, I’ll be having a (probably misguided) flutter on this one.
Tags: Barnet, Brighton and Hove Albion, Charlton Althetic, Chesterfield, Corby Town, Dartford, Dover Athletic, FA Cup, FC United of Manchester, FCUM, Gillingham, Harrow Borough, Hereford United, Hythe Town, Luton Town, Port Vale, Rochdale, Sheffield Wednesday, Southport, Woking