Cup Coverage
Ahead of Sunday's draw for the First Round of this seasons' FA Cup, Saturday saw the final round of matches to determine the 32 nonleague teams who will join League One and League Two clubs in the main draw in two weeks time.
Havant and Waterlooville pulled off the biggest upset of the day, routing high-flying Crawley 3-0 away from home. Havant famously reached the Fourth Round last year and will be hoping to repeat such heroics again. Ian Simpemba struck twice against the side he had previously captained, while Thomas Pinault was sent off for Steve Evans' men.
The man who made himself famous by scoring twice at Anfield was Alfie Potter, and the same player found the net again in Cup action on Saturday by sealing Kettering Town's progress with the final goal in a 3-0 triumph over Burton Albion in one of only three matches involving two Blue Square Premier sides.
Weymouth were the victims of an upset on their own soil, AFC Hornchurch stunning The Terras with an injury time goal to allow The Urchins to return to Essex with a 2-1 win. Salisbury City were the fourth and final side from their division to be knocked out by lower division opponents, Blue Square South leaders Team Bath secured a 1-0 win to reach the First Round for the second time in their ten year history.
Former Cambridge United loanee Alex McCarthy celebrated his debut in goal for Team Bath with a clean sheet. Bath have now fallen off the top of their division due to their lack of league action, but their Cup run will act as more than consolation.

Another side from the division to be sent tumbling was Rushden and Diamonds, who transferred their poor league form to the Cup, as the fell 2-0 to Southern League Premier side Evesham.
Kettering's win aside, the other all-Blue Square Premier clashes both ended in draws. York and Mansfield Town played out a goalless draw, York's ninth in seventeen fixtures in all competitions. Ebbsfleet United earned a replay after two Luke Moore penalties saw his side draw 2-2 at Woking, after Liam Marum had helped put The Cards two up inside the first ten minutes.
Five more sides from the top division of nonleague football require replays this week after sharing the spoils on Saturday. Forest Green Rovers could only draw 0-0 at Ashford Town, while Lewes were denied victory at Ridgeons League side Leiston in a 1-1 draw. Wrexham claimed the biggest attendance of the day, but the 3100 present could only see their side draw a blank against Eastwood Town.
Stevenage Borough required a goal inside the last ten minutes to grab a replay as their home tie with Horsham ended 2-2. The day's late kick off saw Durham City grab an injury time equaliser against Histon, The Stutes' goals in a 2-2 draw both coming from Josh Simpson.

Northwich Victoria's first fixture since the sacking of Dino Maamria ended early; they were leading AFC Telford 1-0 at home when the match was postponed at half time. Kidderminster Harriers were the only side to score five goals, each coming from a different scorer, as they came away from The Walks with a 5-1 away win over Kings Lynn.
Barrow were the only side to win by the same margin as they recorded an excellent victory, 4-0 away from home against Blue Square North leaders Tamworth. Torquay United moved to ten games unbeaten after a scare from Chipstead, two Tim Sills strikes in the closing minutes eventually securing a comfortable-looking 4-1 scoreline.
Oxford United and Grays Athletic both secured hard-fought 2-0 wins in their clashes. Jamie Guy opened the scoring as Oxford saw off Hayes and Yeading, while Grays beat AFC Totton, as both sides needed to wait until the second half to open the scoring against lower division opponents.
With Altrincham not facing Newcastle Blue Star until Sunday, Cambridge United and Eastbourne Borough were the final Blue Square Premier sides to be in action, and The U's former captain Matt Bloomer to thank as his own goal secured a 3-2 win at Boston United. Eastbourne also won by a single goal, 1-0 at Oxford City.

Despite their position as a Southern League Division One Midlands side, Bury Town recorded a big upset by seeing off Blue Square South side Basingstoke Town 4-1. Ryman Premier side Harlow joined them with a 3-0 win at Burgess Hill Town, as too did Dorchester following their single goal win at home to Bishops Stortford.
The world's oldest football club had the opportunity to make it to the First Round of the FA Cup for the first time in the 1880s, but Sheffield FC were unable to take the opportunity as they fell 3-1 to Blyth Spartans.
Sutton United also have some considerable history to them, and they were able to progress. Sutton were the last nonleague side to beat a top division team, Coventry City in 1989, and their 2-0 away win versus Aylesbury moved them to within two wins of being able to attempt to repeat that feat.
AFC Wimbledon set themselves up for the possibility of an ultimate grudge match with MK Dons by reaching the First Round courtesy of a 1-0 win at Maidstone United. Former Cambridge United centre forward Leo Fortune-West belied his age with the opening goal as Alfreton Town earned a 3-1 away win against Retford United.

Brackley progressed with a 1-0 win at Hampton and Richmond, while Droylsden and Belper Town must replay after a goalless draw. The same must happen for Hinckley United and Curzon Ashton after their 1-1 draw, with both sides claiming their goals in injury time.
The final match of the round saw the only hattrick of the day. Fleetwood Town came from behind three times to win 4-3 against Nantwich Town, as Andy Bell notched three times as his side grabbed a last minute winner to take their place as one of the 80 balls in the hat for Sunday's draw.
The draw is scheduled to take place at 1pm on Sunday, with nonleague sides eager to pit themselves against the bigger sides of the Football League and secure a big money game, while fans will be aware that their sides are a mere two wins away from a lucrative tie with the biggest clubs in England.
Matt Ramsay
















