FA Cup First Qualifying Round - Saturday 2 September

[Rhodes]

Just three SSML Club's remain in the competition compared to five at this stage last season:

Saturday 2 September (all kick off 3.00pm)

FA Cup First Qualifying Round
Barton Rovers v Milton Keynes Irish
Brighlingsea Regent v Sawbridgeworth Town
FC Romania v Needham Market

[Rhodes]

And then there were none, a disappointing FA Cup season for SSML Club's:

Saturday 2 September

FA Cup First Qualifying Round
Barton Rovers 2 Milton Keynes Irish 1
Brighlingsea Regent 2 Sawbridgeworth Town 0
FC Romania 0 Needham Market 3

[Rhodes]

No longer SSML but I see that Leighton Town were comprehensively beaten in their FA Cup First Qualifying Round tie yesterday, a groundhopper from another Forum was present:

FA Cup First Qualifying Round
Leighton Town 1 Cambridge City 6
Admission £6 (concession) Attendance 727
The FA Cup seems to suit Cambridge City as they secured their third away win in this season’s competition. After a fairly even first twenty minutes it was City who took the lead when some neat close control let Brad Rolt wriggle clear and slot the ball past the home keeper. City should have added a second soon after but this time Rolt could only turn a cross onto the post with the goal gaping. Leighton came close to an equaliser when Barrett’s shot came back off the post but his teammates were unable to force the ball home despite a number of follow up efforts. Instead it was City who extended their lead just before half time when a clever move left Battersby clear on the left and his cross was converted by Joe Hood. A quick check of the Leighton X/Twitter feed at half time advised that it had been “2 chances for Cambridge, 2 goals.” Presumably the tweeter had missed the shot that hit the post and a drive from Bridges that went narrowly wide.
If the first half had been relatively well balanced the second certainly wasn’t. Taylor Parr volleyed in from close range after a corner, Hood scored his second when put clear through, and substitute Ryan Ingrey tapped home after the ball was headed back to him to leave City five goals ahead with just an hour gone. Ironic cheers greeted a goal for Leighton when Sayell seemed to guide a free kick into the far corner of the net via his shoulder. It mattered little as Bruce Tsinonis finished a flowing City attack to restore the five goal margin and confirmed City’s place in the next round.
My only other visit to Bell Close was about seven years ago. No noticeable changes to the ground other than the addition of a small group of well lubricated and raucous youths bellowing at the referee from the terrace behind the goal although the flurry of scoring early in the second half soon quietened them down. Its about a mile’s walk from the ground back to the station so it was good of the referee to only add on a couple of minute at the end of normal time and allow the 1712 back to London to be caught with ease.

[Rhodes]

On 03/09/2023 at 13:11, Rhodes said:

And then there were none, a disappointing FA Cup season for SSML Club's

The draw for the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round, made earlier today, with sadly no SSML Club's still in the competition:

https://www.thefa.com/news/2023/sep/04/emirates-fa-cup-second-round-qualifying-draw-20230409

[Rhodes]

The Cold End featured the three ties on Saturday on his excellent Blog:

https://thecoldend.blogspot.com/2023/09/spartan-south-midlands-league-weekend.html

[Rhodes]

On 03/09/2023 at 13:11, Rhodes said:

Saturday 2 September

FA Cup First Qualifying Round
FC Romania 0 Needham Market 3

Over 100 photographs from this tie, courtesy of groundhopper Local Bus Driver, it was always a difficult draw for FC Romania in front of a disappointing attendance of just 71:

Edited October 18, 2023 by Rhodes