The FA Cup
First Round Qualifying
Saturday 10 September 2005




Wessex League Gosport Borough have yet to reach The FA Cup's First Round Proper in their 61-year history but they could just manage it this time.

In their three ties this season they have racked up 16 goals and Jamie Laidlaw has notched ten of them. The former Chichester striker's brace on Saturday knocked out Eastbourne Town 2-1 at Town's Saffrons ground and he had already scored a hat-trick against Sandhurst Town (before changing his boots!) and five against Mole Valley.

Gosport, a four-minute ferry ride from Portsmouth, were slow to get going in Saturday's First Round Qualifying tie and went behind to Gary Brockwell's close-range effort for Eastbourne on 12 minutes. The Sussex side, in the bottom half of the Sussex County League's Division One, could have been three or four goals up at the break and Borough were definitely let off the hook. Then they went on to dominate the second period, with lethal Laidlaw rifling left-footers into the top corner on 70 and 89 minutes. Three more wins will take them into the First Round.

Brook House of the Ryman League Division Two have no Cup form but did win through to the Fifth Round in last season's FA Vase. The Middlesex outfit, near Hayes, were top scorers in The Cup at the weekend, winning 9-1 against Clacton Town at Farm Park.

Trevor Dennison opened the scoring after four minutes, Dean Papali aded another seconds later and there were further strikes from Papali, Tom Bryson, Danny Murphy, Dennison, Ian Jones (two) and an own goal. It was the second time the Seasiders from Clacton had conceded nine this season.

Kent League Tunbridge Wells had hit the headlines with their protracted penalty shootout in the last round, winning 16-15 after a record 40 kicks, but their Cup dreams are already over. They found themselves a goal down in three minutes at Met Police, with former AFC Wimbledon marksman Kevin Cooper on target, and Wells could have lost by a lot more than 2-0.

Legendary Cup fighters Hendon and Tooting had mixed fortunes, John Frendo grabbing a hat-trick as the team that once held Newcastle to a draw at St James' Park saw off Biggleswade 6-0 at Claremont Road and the side that drew with the eventual Cup winners Nottingham Forest at home crashed 6-2 to a rampant Fisher Athletic.

There were 1,619 at AFC Wimbledon to see Ashford Town (Middx) equalise at 2-2 in the last minute but just 60 to witness Cradley Town's 6-0 defeat to Eastwood Town. The Second Round Qualifying draw is being made this morning at 11.