The FA Cup has started it’s 150th edition, and after the year we have all had, that alone is reason enough to celebrate. The glory of the FA Cup is that, theoretically, it is still possible for the smallest sides to make it all the way. There is no extra advantage conferred for wealth or status. On the day, each team goes against the other on their own merits. Upsets, tin-foil trophies, and a showpiece final in May. Try telling Leicester the cup has lost its glamour.
Lakenheath v Mulbarton Wanderers
Thurlow Nunn Premier League rivals Lakenheath and Mulbarton Wanderers played out a thrilling draw in what was Lakenheath’s first ever FA Cup match, with a 2-2 scoreline a fair result at the end of proceedings.
The hosts started brightly, with Avis finding the net after just three minutes from a McIntosh cross, but despite a spell of pressure couldn’t find a second. As half time approached Mulbarton came back into the game and Baird found the equaliser after a quick counter-attacking move to send the sides in level at the break.
Mulbarton carried their momentum into the second half and before the hour had their second. A foul on Altay allowed Baird to put the ball into the box, and Altay did well to turn it home. Despite some Lakenheath pressure and tempers beginning to fray, the away side looked to progress until the 99th minute, when a bouncing ball outside the area was volleyed into the top corner by Casey to bring the scores level. They go again on Tuesday night.
Martyn Green @TheUntoldGame
Mildenhall Town v Wroxham
Mildenhall Town booked their place in the FA Cup Preliminary Round after beating Thurlow Nunn Premier Division rivals Wroxham 1-0 in a tightly contested match at Recreation Way. The only goal of the game was scored on the hour mark by the Hall’s summer signing Natty Stewart, who curled the ball home neatly after being teed up by Dan Brown. Wroxham enjoyed the lion’s share of possession throughout the afternoon and struck the woodwork three times but home goalkeeper Josh Pope was successful in holding onto a hard-earned clean sheet. In the next round of the competition, Mildenhall will travel to Cambridgeshire to take on Yaxley.
George Wilson @GWilson1000
Handsworth v AFC Mansfield
Both teams started well in this Northern Counties Premier league tie. Played in blustery conditions both teams settled quickly with some neat passing. No early chances to either team but afc Mansfield should have taken the lead after the best move of the game, with the Mansfield centre forward Kackach missing his header form inside the six yard box, after some good cross field play. Another great chance was brilliantly saved by Townsend in the Handsworth goal after a forward break. Another two good chances to Mansfield and a solitary shot for Handsworth, kept the teams level despite Mansfield’s efforts on goal. In knockout football chances need to be taken.
Both teams settled in the early part of the second half but neither teams creating chances. The game changed on 58 minutes after a moment of madness by the Mansfield keeper, resulting in a yellow card and penalty. Gascogne dispatched the penalty and within a period of ill discipline and disruption Mansfield had a player sent off after two silly yellow cards, before Haworth scored the second and virtually handed the tie to Handsworth.
Handsworth saw the game out against ten man with ease and now look forward to another home tie against local higher opposition opposition in Stocksbridge Park Steels. It should be a terrific local Derby. Mansfield will go away regretting their missed chances and breakdown in discipline.
Credit to the referee Sam Clayton who kept his calm throughout despite a number of players losing theirs.
Andy Davis @spireite1964
Larkhall Athletic FC v Lymington Town FC (Saturday 7th August 2021)
There aren’t as many sloping pitches as there used to be. One of my rare 11-a-side appearances was on a fiercely sloping pitch at Sheffield Hallam Uni (Sheffield Poly back then) for a crack outfit from the Stats department. Daffern, Waite, Gascoigne, Johnson, Blogg, Kendall, Sime, LeVoi, French, Hillman and Simon’s Mate are names that were destined for greatness until the match began. After taking an early lead we lost 2-1 and I was dropped (correct decision by the team manager, me). That’s sloping pitches for you.
Oxford United, Barnet, several others but perhaps most famously Yeovil were furnished with The Sloping Pitch back in the day. Add to that list Larkhall Athletic FC and their home at Plain Ham on the outskirts of Bath. Programme notes advise that after the land being used as allotments during World War II, The Larks moved back to the ground in 1951. After another 24 years of sloping around, the ground was levelled in 1975 to accommodate senior football.
Many species of Lark thrive in dry habitats. The Larks of Larkhall Athletic (and indeed the Linnets of Lymington Town) were faced with a very wet habitat for this FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round tie. Several torrential downpours gave the Plain Ham drainage (improvement works in 2004 and 2011) something to cope with, but the pitch held up well to the task of hosting this entertaining match-up between two teams from Southern League Division One South.
Before kick-off I noticed possibly the smallest stand I’ve ever seen, The White Stand. Apparently, this is where The Guy With The Pole (it’s not quite Vic Reeves’ Man With The Stick) houses himself to rescue balls stuck up in the trees which surround two sides of the attractive ground. A very long scaffolding pole is often called up for action, but sadly I didn’t get to witness any such rescue missions.
The first 45 minutes were hard-fought with each ‘keeper called into action a couple of times. The Larks seemed to be gaining the upper hand with a flurry of corners and goalmouth action towards the end of the half, but it was 0-0 at the break.
An early second half free-kick and flick saw Harry McGrath open up the scoring for Lymington, prompting 15 minutes of The Larks laying siege to the Lymington goalmouth. Alex Lambert brought The Larks back on level terms with a decent header from a corner just before the hour mark. The crowd of 145 then enjoyed an end-to-end final half-hour before coming to terms with the seemingly inevitable replay. Harry McGrath had other ideas, stepping up to take advantage of some pinball in the box to net the winner for Lymington with just a couple of minutes remaining.
Full Time: Larkhall Athletic 1 Lymington Town 2
This was an enjoyable return to The FA Cup, a lovely (but wet) setting and a decent pint of Dorset Ale in the friendly atmosphere of the clubhouse. Thanks to Larkhall Athletic for hosting and best of luck to Lymington Town in the preliminary round at home to Portland United or Bournemouth FC. And, of course, best of luck to both teams in the league this season.
David Johnson @PlanetDaj
This report first appeared on https://longandwindingroadtowembley.blogspot.com/2021/08/emirates-fa-cup-202021-extra.html
Corby Town v Woodbridge Town
Corby Town kicked off their FA Cup Preliminary Round tie against Woodbridge Town, who ply their trade in the Thurlow Nunn League, the level below The Steelmen.
They had the worst possible start as they went 1-0 down after only 6 minutes. Callum Sinclair running clear on goal and slotting past Steelmen keeper Conway. One final chance for Woodbridge in the first half was fumbled, and from this point, it was domination by the home side who dominated possession and the biggest chances. O’Brien hit an effort off the bar for the home side, and a header cleared off the line, meant that the Woodpeckers went in at half time in the lead.
Three further chances for O’Brien in the second half and a couple of missed efforts from Sinclair, came and went in the middle of the second half.
As 85 minutes hit the clock, the game turned on his head as Duffy hit a free kick straight at the Peckers keeper who fumbled the ball, and in came Steve Diggin to level the score. The Steelmen fans now roaring on the team to take the game to the opposition and get the second goal, were duly rewarded. A short corner taken on the left, was whipped in by Diggin and headed on goal by Sandy, which was again fumbled by the Peckers keeper and in came Hartley to slot the ball home. The Steelmen now leading going into stoppage time, didn’t relent. The third and final goal for the home side was slotted in by Diggin for his second of the game to finish the tie off.
Corby Town’s remarkable record of being unbeaten at this stage of the competition, now reaches 77 games.
The #RoadToWembley continues for The Steelmen, where they now face Soham Town Rangers at home on 21st August 2021.
Ryan Norman @RyanNorman_
Potton United v Eynesbury Rovers
Potton United won this battle of the United Counties teams but were pushed all the way by Eynesbury Rovers. The hosts romped into a 2-0 lead in 20 minutes as Amandi slotted home a rebound and Wilson drove home a 20 yard free kick.
The visitors had a shout for a penalty turned down as keeper Schmid appeared to take the man not the ball, before halving the deficit on the half hour. Rovers continued to press after the break as the heavens opened.
They were helped when Potton’s Andrews saw red but, despite plenty of possession, could not find the leveller. Instead Potton advance to face Walsham Le Willow in the next round.
Our thanks to all of our FA Cup reporters.
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