The 2019-20 Emirates FA Cup kicked off this weekend with 182 ties and 603 goals.
The extra preliminary round consists of teams from Step 4-6 of the English football pyramid, with the lowest-ranked sides nine tiers below last season’s winners, Manchester City.
The Cup got under way on Friday night. Bexhill United scored the opening goal of 2019-20 Emirates FA Cup as Jack Shonk gave them a surprise lead against Eastbourne Town. But Tyler Scrafton’s hat-trick soon helped the Southern Combination Premier side to a comfortable 6-1 victory.
Saturday’s early kick-off saw Broadbridge Heath advance to the preliminary round for the first time following a hard-fought 1-0 win at Punjab United. George Goodwin’s own goal proved the difference between the sides in a close-fought tie.
Meanwhile Dunstable Town’s Chris Stapleton scored after just 14 seconds in a 3-2 win over Chipping Sodbury Town. It was one of the fastest FA Cup goals, but still 10 seconds slower than Ashton United’s Gareth Morris back in 2001.
In one of the results of the round, ambitious United Counties League Division One (Step 6) side Melton Town caused a dramatic 2-1 upset at Worksop Town. The visitors scored twice in the dying stages. Trailing 1-0, Kadeem Price equalised on 90 minutes before Jordan Lever scored the winner six minutes into added time to stun the Northern Premier League side.
Northwich Victoria – the first team to knock Liverpool out of The FA Cup back in 1892 – will be hoping for another famous run, but they will need to come through a replay first. Steve Wilkes side were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Silsden after Aidan Kirby’s added-time penalty kept the Northern Counties East League Premier Division side in the competition by the skin of their teeth.
Rylands suffered defeat on their Emirates FA Cup debut. The Warrington-based club, owned by Wayne Rooney’s agent Paul Stretford, won the North West Counties League Division One South title last season, but lost 2-0 at Runcorn Town thanks to a brace from Dave Forbes.
Westfields, the last team to reach the Emirates FA Cup first round from the extra preliminary stage in 2016-17, must come through a replay to stand a chance of repeating that feat. The Hellenic League Premier Division side were held to a 1-1 draw at Congleton Town.
The highest scorers of the day were Whickham, who thrashed Harrogate Railway Athletic 10-1. Carl Finnigan scored four, while Matt Pattison grabbed a hat-trick.
Long Eaton United enjoyed a healthy 8-2 win at Bottlewood Town. Niall Towly scored a 15-minute hat-trick, eventually finishing with four goals.
Sunderland Ryhope Colliery Welfare – the only club competing in this year’s Emirates FA Cup whose name contains the words ‘FA Cup’ – drew 0-0 with fellow Northern League Division One rivals Sunderland Ryhope Community. It was a repeat of last year’s match up, which the latter won 5-2.
And Wembley are still in the competition, too. Their Vale Farm stadium is only two miles from Wembley Stadium and a 1-1 draw away at Hayes ensures a trip there is still not impossible.
Sunday saw nine ties and 33 goals. Eastern Counties League South side Barkingside came from behind to beat Stansted 4-1. Ali Rajim, Francesco Balestrini, Elliot Scott and Joe Oates all got on the scoresheet at Cricklefields.
Bristol’s oldest football club, Roman Glass St George, scored late to win 3-2 at Winslow United and secure their first Emirates FA Cup victory in 66 years.
Worcester City comfortably beat Stone Old Alleynians 4-1. Carl Heeley’s side are best known for stunning Liverpool in 1958-59 to reach round four. More recently, they also beat Coventry City in round one in 2014-15 before going on to lose to Scunthorpe United in the longest-ever penalty shootout (14-13).
Elsewhere, Whitton United survived Harry Wales’s red card to win 2-1 at West Sussex. Jamie Cole scored the winner 11 minutes from time.
Two goals from Isaac Mafor-Jacobs helped Hoddesdon Town defeat Brantham Athletic 2-0 in a game played at Ware FC.
Godmanchester Rovers won 3-2 at Northampton On Chenecks at Billing Road. Rovers’ best Emirates FA Cup run came in 2009-10 when they reached the first qualifying round where they lost to Northampton Spencer.
And 304 fans visited football’s oldest football stadium as Staveley Miners Welfare won 2-0 away at Hallam’s Sandygate Road.
There are still two more ties to play as Burnham host Tring Athletic and Molesey take on Sutton Common Rovers. There are also 38 replays across Tuesday and Wednesday ahead of the Emirates FA Cup preliminary round, which is scheduled over the weekend of Saturday 24 August.
All victorious sides receive £2,250 and are now 12 rounds away from a potentially fairytale trip to the Final which takes place at Wembley Stadium on 23 May 2020.
