The results were: Leyton Orient 2 Oxford United 1 (Youth), Gillingham 4 Bromley 1, QPR 5 Garston 0 (Women), Invisible 7 Alba 2 and Wembley 0 Potters Bar Town 1.

The action began last Wednesday with Orient v Oxford in the FA Youth Cup First Round Proper.

The Youth Cup seems to provide the highlights of the season for managers, players and fans alike at that level – and this was a typically hard-fought affair before a crowd of 236 in the new West Stand at Brisbane Road.

Extra-time was very much on the cards. It was 1-1 deep into stoppage time and both teams had run themselves into the ground. Then the O’s netted a 93rd-minute winner.

Their right-back won a throw-in near the halfway line but as he bent down to pick the ball up, an Oxford player virtually kicked it out of his hands. The referee surprised me – but apparently nobody else – by awarding a free-kick, which was launched towards the far-post and headed firmly into the net by the tall left-back.

Two minutes further on into added time Orient’s No.10 went into a tackle with both feet and, having injured himself in the process, was simultaneously sent off and carried off. I’m not sure I’ve seen that before. They charged £5 for a seat by the way, two pounds more than Brentford for a match in the same competition the night before.

"The Barber" saw his 52nd FA Cup First Round Proper match on Saturday and Gillingham v Bromley at Priestfield Stadium didn’t disappoint. I was at the ground a full two hours before kick-off – but what can you do with one of the worst cases of "Cup fever" known to medical science?

The 4-1 result in Gills’ favour sounds clear-cut but it was only 2-1 with six minutes to go and the Ryman Leaguers were pushing hard for an equaliser.

When the Bromley No.10 scored in front of their fantastic travelling support at the open end, I did a loud clap and shouted "Yes!" A split second later I remembered I was in the middle of a stand reserved for home fans. It went very quiet around me for a couple of minutes. Who’s that rascal cheering for the away team?

Sunday afternoon was dry and bright, so I walked the three miles from Hayes Station to Brook House FC (and back) for QPR v Garston in the FA Women’s Cup Second Round Proper.

One of the purple-shirted Garston girls was "being ill" behind their goal just before kick-off and her side was 3-0 down in 16 minutes. Then a Rangers player went down injured – I don’t remember seeing anything untoward – and she was put delicately onto a stretcher.

We were speculating in the stand about the nature of the injury when we heard the QPR manager say grim-faced: "She’s snapped all her ankle ligaments". It could be an early end to the season for her.

Rangers won 5-0 and I counted 35 people watching. There was no programme or team-sheet, a little disappointing for an FA competition match.