Two are better than one

Two non-League clubs with an FA Cup pedigree linked up to form one club this summer - Hayes & Yeading United in the Conference South.

Yeading caught the Cup headlines more recently of the two with their exciting run through to the Third Round Proper in 2005.

They entered at the First Round Qualifying stage and accounted for Chelmsford City (1-0), Long Melford (2-0), Heybridge Swifts (3-2), Bognor Regis Town (2-0), Halesowen Town (2-1) and Slough Town (3-1) before landing a plum home tie against Premiership Newcastle United.

The tie was switched to the Loftus Road home of Queens Park Rangers and Yeading held their illustrious opponents for 52 minutes before going down 2-0 in front of 10,824 fans.

'Ding first entered The Cup in 1986 and enjoyed First Round Proper ties against Gillingham in 1993 (drew 0-0 at Hayes, lost replay 3-1) and Colchester United a year later (drew 2-2 at home, lost replay 7-1).

Hayes & Yeading United play their home games at the former Hayes FC's Church Road ground. Hayes have made more than 20 appearances in the First Round Proper over the years.

They came a cropper to the tune of 9-3 at Bristol City just after the war but since then have earned "giantkiller" status by knocking out Bristol Rovers (1-0 at home in 1972), Cardiff City (1-0 in a replay at Brentford in 1990) and Fulham (2-0 away in 1991).

But all that history is unlikely to leave Herne Bay, Saturday's opponents at Church Road in the Second Round Qualifying, quaking in their boots.

The Bay are handily placed in the Kent League and are now two wins away from equalling their best performance in The Cup. They have reached the Fourth Round Qualifying twice, more recently in 1986 when they lost 4-0 at Farnborough Town. Boro's reward then was a trip to Swindon.

The 80 winning clubs in the Second Round Qualifying will each pick up £3,750 from The FA's Prize Fund.