30 Aug 2008
VIDEO: FA Cup - East Thurrock United v Hatfield Town

Watch the highlights as East Thurrock United knock out Hatfield Town in our featured Road to Wembley tie

The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON
Preliminary Round
Sunday 31 August 2008
Winning clubs will receive £1,500 from The FA



It could only happen in The FA Cup.

A side facing a long battle against relegation are hosting another gunning for promotion, but find themselves 3-0 down with just 20 minutes left.

They pull one back but are immediately reduced to ten men and losing their centre-half to concussion, before a miracle comeback and a 95th-minute wonder-goal ensures a 3-3 draw to round off an incredible cup tie.

It sounds too good to be true but that was what Bishop Auckland managed to achieve at the weekend as they denied Consett FC in their FA Cup Preliminary Round tie.

And Bishop Auckland’s manager, Brian Honour, was stunned by the outcome.

"It’s not good for the heart, I can tell you that," jokes Honour, whose side are struggling in the Northern League Division One.

"It was an absolutely incredible game that just summed up the magic of The FA Cup. We will play Consett twice more in the league this season and if the situation was the same with 20 minutes to go we would never have come back.

"But it has happened today and it shows you how much this means to all the players."

Lee Ellison was the hero, chipping into the top corner from 20 yards deep into injury-time after Gavin Parkin had fired a double to haul Bishop Auckland back into the clash.

But Honour admits he faces a tough test in Wednesday’s replay and is struggling to put out a team.

"We were scheduled to have a league game on Tuesday so the players have got time off work on that day, as we have to do in the non-League," explained Honour.

"Now it’s on a Wednesday I’m not sure what we will do – I’m trying to do a head count and find out how many bodies we have, but I’m sure we will do our best to recreate the spirit we showed today."

Elsewhere Stanway Rovers were the biggest winners, beating Barkingside FC 4-0, while there were also wins for Pickering Town, Southam United, Sittingbourne, Eastbourne Town and Aylesbury United.

But Dulwich Hamlet and Broxbourne Borough V&E face a replay after playing out a 1-1 draw.

The First Round Qualifying will take place over the weekend 12-14 September and each of the 116 winners will claim £3,000 in FA Cup prize money.

Click on the video above for action from our feature game, East Thurrock United v Hatfield Town.