Trophy finalists clash
By David Barber. Monday, 08 November 2004.
The FA Trophy’s First Round was played at the weekend and amongst the 82 ties were a Hornchurch victory at Arlesey Town with an Under-19 side and a Hendon win before a 1,184 crowd at Claremont Road against AFC Wimbledon.
Slough Town rattled in seven against Dorking and there were six-goal salvos from former Trophy winners Altrincham and from two clubs still in The FA Cup, Histon and Yeading.
The Second Round draw was made at Soho Square this morning, featuring those clubs who survived the weekend’s First Round ties. Second Round matches are scheduled for 27 November and the 22 Conference National clubs, plus Trophy holders Hednesford Town, will enter at the Third Round stage.
Two clubs who have appeared in a Trophy Final in the last five years, Kettering Town and Burscough, will meet in the Second Round at Rockingham Road.
Bishop’s Stortford, Trophy winners more than 20 years ago, travel to Lewes in East Sussex and Barrow, who lifted the Trophy in 1990, entertain Rothwell Town.
After a traumatic week in which it was reported that Conference South pacesetters Hornchurch had asked their first-team squad to find new clubs, the last thing the "Urchins" would have wanted was an important Trophy tie on the Saturday. But a team of youth players grabbed a 1-0 win at Arlesey and Tony Maynard’s 41st-minute effort has earnt them a Second Round tie at Cinderford or Cambridge City.
AFC Wimbledon, seven points clear at the top of the Ryman League Division One and playing in the Trophy for the first time this season, took their usual army of fans to Hendon and saw their team hold the hosts to a 0-0 scoreline at half-time. Then Dave Anderson’s former charges won the tie with goals from Eugene Ofori and Mark Nicholls (two) and now go to Taunton Town, a club they once played in the Trophy at QPR’s ground.
Two-time Trophy winners Altrincham have an away tie at Gainsborough Trinity. Alty notched six at home to Ossett Albion and there were six different scorers at Moss Lane.
Histon warmed up for Saturday’s all-ticket FA Cup clash with Shrewsbury Town with a 6-2 Trophy win at Dunstable, Ian Cambridge netting four times, and their Trophy journey continues at Waltham Forest or East Thurrock United.
Yeading’s Davis Haule weighed in with a hat-trick as they crushed Croydon 6-1 a week ahead of the FA Cup tie with Halesowen. In the Trophy they now face Billericay, who are also still in the Cup.
Middlesex rivals Hayes, who may get 2,000 for Saturday’s visit of Wrexham, scored a last-minute Trophy winner to knock out Bashley and now have an intriguing Second Round tie at Tooting.