It’s the third round of the FA Cup, but not called the third round, because that would be confusing, apparently. As our clubs inch their way along the Road to Wembley, The Untold Game has reporters around the country telling us what they saw. Because we can’t be everywhere ourselves, even if we’d like to be.
Mulbarton Wanderers 2-2 Welwyn Garden City
Step Five Mulbarton kept their Road to Wembley alive with a creditable draw against Step Four Welwyn Garden City. The away side were ravaged by suspensions and injuries and fielded a much-changed side, especially in defence, where they spent most of the game looking shaky and disorganised.
As in the previous round, Mulbarton started the tie quickly, creating a number of chances against the unfamiliar Welwyn Garden City defence, and taking the lead after only 11 minutes, when a goalkeeping error dropped the ball at Ben Thompson’s feet. That should have sparked the away side into life, but Mulbarton continued to have the better of the half. WGC looked dangerous on the break however, despite not being able to put together sustained pressure, and they struck just before the half-hour, a looping ball over the top of the defence falling kindly to be slotted home. WGC finally sparked into life after that, and carved out several good chances, while Mulbarton still had more possession The sides went in level at the break.
The second half started in much the same fashion as the first, and again it took only 10 minutes for Mulbarton to take the lead, James Page drilling into the corner from range after some neat build-up play from the home side. WGC finally came to life and showed their Step 4 superiority with half an hour to go and began to dominate the ball, while Mulbarton continued to provide a threat on the break. Two substitutions, those of Kinoshi and Vasey, freshened the away sides legs and finally they found their breakthrough as they won a penalty with 12 minutes to go. Eliot Bailey scored it and despite some late pressure, the game finished at 2-2.
WGC won the replay 2-1 to set up a tie with Bedford Town
Martyn Green, @TheUntoldGame
Balham 0-2 Merstham Town
With Balham having put in two good performances so far in the FA cup and Merstham having struggled a little, to their start of the season. I think most of the 125 crowd were expecting a cup upset. Sadly that wasn’t the case, but they were treated to a very good game of football.
Merstham started the game brightly, using their experience of playing at a higher level, to put Balham under pressure right from the off. Balham seemed to struggle to cope with the pace that Merstham had started. The first real chance came on 16 minutes and the visitors should of taken the lead, with Merstham captain James Richmond heading over from a Chace Jacquart Free kick.
This seemed to spark Balham into life and some lovely one touch play, on the edge of the Merstham area, led to an chance that fell to Balham’s Sam Pagno. Who’s effort went straight at the keeper.
Even though Balham settled into the game as the half went on. It was Merstham who were in control and were having a lot of joy down Balham’s right, with Merstham’s Dylan Adjei-Hersey causing Balham a lot of problems.
Marstham’s pressure almost resulted in them going into half time one up. Merstham’s Yannik Monga-Ebwa defence splitting pass, putting Chace Jacquart through one-on-one with the balham keeper. But Haydn Read did really well to smother the chance.
Balham came out for the second half sensing the game was there for the taking. Sirak Hegassi was starting to find some space down Balham’s left wing and was unlucky not to find the target with an effort, after a lovely bit of skill, abled him to cut inside the full back and let fly.
Balham were starting to win the physical battle too and Balham’s left back Kojo Kyei, who looked seemed to enjoy the challenge of playing a team two leagues above, beat his man to the ball and with a strike with the outside of his foot, was only inches away from finding the top corner.
but it was Merstham’s quality that proved to be the difference in the end and settled the game with 2 goals in the last 10 minutes.
The first coming from a overhit corner, which Tahjae Anderson did well to keep alive. The ball fell kindly to Jacquart, who’s smart finish found the top corner of Balham’s net.
Both Jacquart and Anderson were involved again for the second. Jacquart’s free kick found Anderson out on the right hand side of the Balham penalty area, where his cross was met at the back post by Serge Makofo, who headed in from a yard out.
So with Balham out, we now follow Merstham into the next round, where they will meet Margate/Thame United at the brilliantly name The Whisky Bible Stadium
Merstham will play Margate in the next round.
Chris at @3men_football
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Handsworth 2-0 Coventry United
With both teams of equal standing in their respective leagues and a confident start to the new season this game promised to be a tight and competitive match. With £2250 prize money for the winners, there was a lot at stake for both clubs, with vital funding supporting their season’s work. More valuable would be a fourth game in this competition and a chance to stage a game against higher opposition particular with clubs entering the draw from the National league.
With a crowd almost twice the number of their last game, expectation was high and with a coach full of backing from The midlands both teams were well supported.
Having watched all three Handsworth ties, the game played out in the same way as the other two. The away side saw the better of the early chances but Handsworth settled and took their chances with a solid and disciplined defensive performance with Coventry giving everything but not creating the cutting edge around the penalty area where it matters, despite dominating large amounts of possession throughout the game.
Coventry, with good vocal backing and with the support of a drummer, played to a fast rhythm in the early stages and could have been ahead as early as the second minute with their fast flowing forwards getting behind the Handsworth defence. However, the same defence soon became accustomed to their roles and picked up their game do prevent any open chances with Sheffield steel and grit.
With no chances created in open play it was the throwing ability of Handsworth’s right back Nana Nyarko, just Seventeen years old, who launched a huge throw into the area with Jack Harrison scoring with his head inside the six yard box.
With no real threat to the Handsworth goal and a litter of petty fouls this game was a scrappy affair, with little in terms of creativity and attacking creativity. Both teams willing to concede needless and numerous free kicks brought only frustration in both teams’ play. On the half time whistle this boiled over with the subs bench of both teams squabbling with each other as the teams left the pitch.
The second half was a repeat of the first half with both teams huffing and puffing, without creating too much to worry the keepers of both teams. Handsworth struggled to maintain possession, inviting Coventry to attack relentlessly, without opening up the well drilled defence. Despite changes the Handsworth goal stayed intact.
With the referee being kept busy with silly fouls and free kicks, Handsworth took their chance from a set play on 76 minutes. A free kick form 35 yards was curled into the box, with a Coventry defender deflecting the ball past his own keeper for Jamie Oliver to put the ball into an empty goal. Resulting in celebratory scenes from the Handsworth team and supporters.
There was no coming back from a hard working Coventry side and with another break down in discipline two minutes later, they were reduced to ten men after their sub, Camwell was quickly shown two-yellow cards and being dismissed.
Both teams could have won this tie, Handsworth once again weathering a fast start from their opponents before taking their chances.
The officials have to take great credit for their patience and calmness, when players were keen to press the self-destruct button. Each game will become tougher for Handsworth but they have shown they are well equipped to give a strong account of themselves. Coventry will go home disappointed but should be pleased by their efforts in this year’s competition.
Handsworth will play Halesowen Town in the next round.
Andy Davis @Spireite1964
Jersey Bulls 5 v 1 VCD Athletic
Jersey Bulls’ impressive FA cup performances continued with a 5-1 thrashing of a disappointing VCD Athletic.
Following the 10-1 demolition of Horsham YMCA in the preliminary round, they brushed aside their visitors with a commanding display.
In a game played in sweltering temperatures, Sol Solomon was the star of the show once more with 2 well taken goals & a delightful assist for the opening goal scored by Fraser Barlow.
The frenetic opening period was followed by a more sedate 2nd half with the heat taking its toll as the players required drinks breaks to cool down.
Prince marked an impressive substitute cameo with the 4th before Luke Campbell blasted home from the spot in injury time to make it 5.
Bulls will be hoping for another home tie as they edge closer to the dream of the first round proper in November.
Jersey Bulls will face Sutton Common Rovers in the next round.
Jersey Spurs @Jer5eySpurs
Worksop Town 3-0 Newport Pagnell Town
Prior to kick-off an impeccably observed minute’s silence at The Windsor Foodservice Stadium, home of Worksop Town, noted the passing of Lance Hardy. Lance spent many years at BBC Sport covering World Cups and other major events but started his journalism at The Worksop Trader and had a long affinity with the club, playing a leading role in the club’s recent recovery from financial challenges. Programme notes tell the story of long-standing and close relationship between Lance and Worksop Town.
The fourth oldest association football club in the world, founded in 1861, Worksop Town’s ‘Tigers’ roared in the FA Cup in 1955/56; Bert Trautmann’s season. A year when my team, Birmingham City, reached the final and lost to Man City and the incapacitated German goalie. The result doesn’t change no matter how often I watch the 2018 film ‘The Keeper’. Always 3-1. Every time.
In that season Worksop made the third round. Qualifying wins over Brunswick Institute, Beighton Miners Welfare, Bentley Colliery and Corby Town saw The Tigers progress to the first round proper where Skegness Town were dispatched. A pre-Christmas roasting of The Bantams (Bradford City) after a replay saw The Tigers into the third round where the cup run ended with defeat at Swindon Town.
Newport Pagnell’s Swans on the other hand were aiming to equal their best FA Cup performance. They reached the second qualifying round in 2008/09 after victories against VT (now Sholing), Cirencester Town and Marlow. The Blues of Fleet Town brought the run to an end, but here were The Swans looking to emulate that 2008/09 achievement.
Tigers v Swans. There’s only one way to find out….
The match was played on Worksop Town’s high quality 3G surface; a surface permitted in the National League and lower leagues, as well as in all rounds of the FA Cup.
The Tigers were dealt an early blow with a fifth minute injury to Ben Tomlinson, but this didn’t get in the way of their positive, attacking start. A Lewis Gibbons far-post header from a well directed free-kick put Worksop 1-0 ahead after 11 minutes. The Swans piled on the pressure to win a succession of corners and had a few half-chances, but failed to convert. After some high tempo end to end action Worksop took back control as the first half closed and began to boss the game but weren’t able to get that all important second goal. Half time 1-0.
Encouraged by a lively and vocal crowd of 481, The Tigers continued their dominance into the second half and it was no real surprise that they extended their lead. Steven McDonnell converted from the penalty spot on the hour after a foul by the Newport Pagnell goalie. More end to end action and full-on commitment from both sides made for an entertaining second half. The Tigers added a final flourish in the 87th minute with a cracker of a volley from Aaron Sennett-Neilson.
This was a deserved 3-0 win for The Tigers who definitely earned their stripes in an entertaining match. Despite no shortage of effort, commitment and drive it wasn’t to be for The Swans who will need to look to next season to match and maybe beat their previous FA Cup record.
Best of luck to both clubs for the rest of the season.
Worksop will play Bromsgrove Sporting in the next round.
David Johnson @PlanetDAJ
This report first appeared on https://longandwindingroadtowembley.blogspot.com/
Felixstowe and Walton 1-3 Great Wakering Rovers
Here we go: A second visit to the Goldstar Ground in Felixstowe continuing this year’s #RoadtoWembley.
The match was between Felixstowe & Walton United and another of my local sides, Great Wakering Rovers who had beaten Heybridge Swifts in the Preliminary Road at home. There was a good crowd in attendance who were able to enjoy the warm and sunny weather that Felixstowe was experiencing, with some much of the local area being subjected to low lying grey cloud. Felixstowe started brightly and were straight on the front foot against their opponents, putting them under pressure right under the first whistle.
On 10 minutes, Billy Holland gave the Seasiders a deserved lead with a well taken shot. From there, the Seasiders continued to control the game but Great Wakering started to come more into the match with a couple of well-taken shots but which did not trouble Callum Robinson in the Seasiders’ goal.
Great Wakering had the best of the last 10 to 15 minutes of the first half and it continued in much the same way at the start of the 2nd half. Great Wakering Rovers equalised on the 57th minute with a well taken goal by Martin Tuohy and he scored a 2nd goal 3 minutes later, giving Rovers a deserved lead. Rovers continued to come forwards and create charges, and they scored a 3rd goal through Adam Vyse on 76 minutes.
The referee issued a number of yellow cards in the 2nd half for petty fouls that were committed – and Felixstowe looked like they might score a consolation goal as they took control of the last 15 minutes of the game but it was never to materialise and it is Great Wakering Rovers who go into the hat for the 2nd qualifying round draw on Monday.
Great Wakering Rovers will play Peterborough Sports in the next round.
Steve Street @SteveStreet71
Alton 1-3 Sholing
The energetic atmosphere before Kick-off at Anstey park was matched by Sholing’s bright start, as they found themselves 1-0 up within 11 minutes as a low cross from the left was converted by Daniel Mason. 10 minutes later Sholing doubled their lead, with Daniel Mason nodding home his second of the day from a corner.
Looking like it would be a long day for The Brewers, they responded well and pulled one back from the penalty spot to go into halftime 2-1 down. Sholing started the second half in similar fashion, regaining their two-goal lead from another corner. Alton huffed and puffed but couldn’t find that elusive second goal to set them up for a grandstand finish. Thanks to some organised defending, that’s how the game stayed.
Sholing travel to Tiverton Town in the next round.
@MyRoadtoWembley – check out your nearest FA Cup game at MyRoadtoWembley.com
