Season 2017-18 - Second Round Proper

Sunday 3^rd December 2017

Coventry City 3 Boreham Wood 0

Goals from Duckens Nazon, Marc McNulty & Jordan Shipley helped see Coventry City into Round Three of the Emirates FA Cup after a hard fought win over a physical Boreham Wood at the Ricoh Arena.

The hosts came into this one after seeing off Maidenhead United from the Vanarama National League in Round One whilst Boreham Wood had caused a big upset after the Vanarama National Leaguers came from behind to dump League One Blackpool out of the competition.

So League Two Coventry were the slight favourites although many expected this tie to be rather close and Wood win could not be ruled out.  And it was the visitors who had the first effort in the opening minute when Dan Holman struck an effort wide.

However the opening quarter hour was a fairly quiet affair and the next opening didn’t arrive until midway through the half when the visitors saw Bruno Andrade find space but saw his effort blocked, and the visitors were certainly giving their league two hosts plenty to think about.

But it was the hosts who were to break the deadlock in the 27th minute with their first attempt on goal, as Nazon played in McNulty and although his effort was saved, Nazon followed up to fire the loose ball home and the Sky Blues had a slender advantage.

This didn’t deter the non league visitors though and on the half hour only a superb block by Haynes prevented Andrade from shooting at goal, and eight minutes before the break a visitors corner dropped behind Ricky Shakes, but he could only hook over the goal.

And six minutes before the break the hosts made them pay by making it two goals from two attempts as Nazon turned provider this time, playing the ball through to McNulty and the keeper came to try and get the ball, change his mind and backtrack, but McNulty lofted it perfectly over his head and into the net.

Wood looked to respond and three minutes before the break looked to counter but Andrade’s effort was saved by Burge, and then right on half time the hosts saw a Shipley free kick evade everyone and go behind.

Five minutes of stoppage time were then added on and saw the hosts attack through Stevenson who slid in McNulty, and he in turn played in Shipley, but his effort was saved, and then Nazon saw a long range effort saved by Smith as the hosts finished the half strongly.

But it was those goals from Nazon and McNulty that saw the Sky Blues go into the break with a two goal cushion although the visitors probably felt a tad hard done by to be two behind at the half.

Half Time Coventry City 2 Boreham Wood 0

Wood knew they needed the next goal to harbour realistic hopes of a comeback and two minutes into the half saw Holman curl a shot wide for the visitors, however a minute later City made it three when Shipley netted his first Ricoh Arena goal, tapping home a McNulty ball across goal, and the hosts had that all important third goal.

In the 53rd minute Shipley struck a free kick inches wide as the Sky Blues threatened to end the contest with a fourth, whilst down the other end Andrade saw a shot comfortably saved by Burge.

The hosts took their foot off the gas for a time and saw Wood with a fair amount of possession again, and with fifteen minutes left almost found a goal back when Andrade put in a terrific ball across the six yard box and saw it almost turned in at the back post.

City responded and saw Biamou strike against the post before Haynes saw an effort from range saved by Wood keeper Smith as the Sky Blues looked to put more gloss on the scoreline, and with six minutes left Grimmer fired an effort towards Smith, who saved.

Coventry then saw Haynes put a ball towards the back post which was met by Vincenti who saw his effort saved, and the final chance of the contest came deep into stoppage time and saw Biamou somehow head wide.

However it mattered not as the hosts had done enough to see off a battling Wood outfit to progress into Round Three of the famous old competition.

Full Time Coventry City 3 Boreham Wood 0

Here are some photos of the day:-

So it’s the Sky Blues who progress into the third round and their reward was another home tie, this time against Premier League opposition in the shape of Stoke City, potential for an upset their and the first time in this cup run that City have been underdogs, maybe they will prefer this, who knows.

Anyway here is the Second Round Proper results in full:-

Friday 1^st December

AFC Fylde 1 Wigan Athletic 1

Saturday 2^nd December

Notts County 3 Oxford City 2

Milton Keynes Dons 4 Maidstone United 1

Port Vale 1 Yeovil Town 1

Shrewsbury Town 2 Morecambe 0

Stevenage 5 Swindon Town 2

Bradford City 3 Plymouth Argyle 1

Gillingham 1 Carlisle United 1

Forest Green Rovers 3 Exeter City 3

Fleetwood Town 1 Hereford 1

Sunday 3^rd December

Woking 1 Peterborough United 1

Newport County 2 Cambridge United 0

Wycombe Wanderers 3 Leatherhead 1

Doncaster Rovers 3 Scunthorpe United 0

AFC Wimbledon 3 Charlton Athletic 1

Mansfield Town 3 Guiseley 0

Gateshead 0 Luton Town 5

Blackburn Rovers 3 Crewe Alexandra 3

Coventry City 3 Boreham Wood 0

Monday 4^th December

Slough Town 0 Rochdale 4

Tuesday 5^th December

Replays

Peterborough United 5 Woking 2

Yeovil Town 3 Port Vale 2 (aet)

Wigan Athletic 3 AFC Fylde 2

Exeter City 2 Forest Green Rovers 1 (aet)

Wednesday 13^th December

Replay

Crewe Alexandra 0 Blackburn Rovers 1

Thursday 14^th December

Replay

Hereford 0 Fleetwood Town 2

Tuesday 19^th December

Replay

Carlisle United 3 Gillingham 1

With Hereford losing their replay on Thursday 14^th December against Fleetwood Town it meant that no non league sides will be in the Third Round Proper for only the second season in the history of the competition.  The only other season this occurred was in the 1950/51 season, so that is  rather disappointing to say the least. 

Anyhow here is the Third Round Proper ties in full as we are now joined by the big boys from the Premier League and Championship:-

Friday 5^th January

Liverpool vs Everton

Manchester United vs Derby County

Saturday 6^th January

Fleetwood Town vs Leicester City

Middlesbrough vs Sunderland

Ipswich Town vs Sheffield United

Watford vs Bristol City

Birmingham City vs Burton Albion

Aston Villa vs Peterborough United

AFC Bournemouth vs Wigan Athletic

Coventry City vs Stoke City

Bolton Wanderers vs Huddersfield Town

Yeovil Town vs Bradford City

Brentford vs Notts County

Queens Park Rangers vs Milton Keynes Dons

Exeter City vs West Bromwich Albion

Doncaster Rovers vs Rochdale

Blackburn Rovers vs Hull City

Cardiff City vs Mansfield Town

Manchester City vs Burnley

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Swansea City

Stevenage vs Reading

Newcastle United vs Luton Town

Millwall vs Barnsley

Fulham vs Southampton

Wycombe Wanderers vs Preston North End

Carlisle United vs Sheffield Wednesday

Norwich City vs Chelsea

Sunday 7^th January

Newport County vs Leeds United

Shrewsbury Town vs West Ham United

Tottenham Hotspur vs AFC Wimbledon

Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal

Monday 8^th January

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Crystal Palace

Some rather tasty ties in that round, my featured game comes from the Ricoh Arena for the third round running as Coventry City host Premier League Stoke City, I may even try and get to a game on the Sunday, chiefly the Tottenham Hotspur vs AFC Wimbledon clash at Wembley Stadium, we shall see!!!  That concludes this blog for now, back in a couple of weeks or so with a blog of the third round.

Season 2017-18 - First Round Proper

Sunday 5th November
Coventry City 2 Maidenhead United 0
Two goals from Jordan Ponticelli was enough to send the Sky Blues through to the second round of the FA Cup after a 2-0 win over Maidenhead United.

Jack Grimmer and Jodi Jones both chipped in with the assists on what was a comfortable afternoon for the home side.

The Sky Blues were presented with a golden opportunity to take the lead after just ten minutes.

Carl Pentney in the Maidenhead goal, scuffed his clearance straight into the path of Ponticelli who found Marc McNulty in the area with defenders scrambling back to clear off the line and it was Jake Goodman who hooked it clear.

McNulty was looking confident after scoring the opener last weekend and fired a thunderous effort just off the top of the crossbar from range.

City had the laead after half an hour. Jack Grimmer, who had been the stand-out player all afternoon raced down the right channel before cutting inside and finding Ponticelli on the penalty spot, in enough space for him to curl the ball into the far top corner.

Mark Robins' side doubled their lead just before half time. Jodi Jones skipped a number of Maidenhead challenges before making the most of a defensive error to find Ponticelli in space again to fire home his and the Sky Blues' second of the afternoon.

Half time saw the introdction of Max Biamou in place of Peter Vincenti, and the Frenchman foudn Jones in on goal almost straight away but the former Dagenham man was unlucky not to see his cut back find its way to the on-rushing McNulty.

McNulty appeared desperate to get on the scoresheet all afternoon, and did well to rise to Jones' cross on the hour mark but the former Pompey man headed just over.

Magpies striker Adrian Clifton found himself with Maidenhead's best chance of the afternoon with twenty minutes to go. The forward charged in on goal but sent his effort high over the bar from a tight angle.

Report and photo taken from www.ccfc.co.uk

So it's the Sky Blues who do a professional job on Maidenhead United and make it through to Round Two.  Sadly I wasn't able to make the Ricoh Arena due to travel issues out of Euston Station so instead I had to change plans and head over to The Valley for Charlton Athletic Vs Truro City in another First Round tie, and here is how that game went:-

Charlton Athletic 3 Truro City 1
Two Ben Reeves strikes helped the Addicks see off a plucky Truro City at The Valley to reach the Second Round Proper of the Emirates FA Cup.

The League One hosts went into this one as favourites due to their four step advantage over their Vanarama South opponents from Cornwall, but this is the cup and backed by almost 1,000 of their own fans they Truro were well up for the challenge.

The hosts created the first chance in the seventh minute when Forster-Caskey saw his header tipped onto the bar by Truro keeper McHale whilst two minutes later Charlton keeper Amos had to keep out a header from Harvey.

But on ten minutes the League One hosts grabbed the lead when a ball into the box found Reeves totally unmarked in the middle of the area and he smashed home and give the Addicks an ideal start.

Two minutes later Holmes went on a great run for the hosts and after driving into the box saw his cross shot deflected wide for a corner whilst down the other end in the 19th minute Keats tried his luck from range but it was easy for Amos in hosts goal.

However Truro were so close to an equaliser midway through the half as Richards saw an effort cleared off the line and just before the half hour Holmes struck one over the Truro bar, but it had been the visitors that had been the better side in the last few minutes of the contest.

In the 33rd minute a decent chance for Truro saw defender Gerring send a header straight at Amos and then barely a minute later down the other end Forster-Caskey forced a decent save from McHale.

Holmes saw a free kick tipped wide by Truro keeper McHale two minutes before the break but at the half the League One side only had a one goal lead and knew they were in a game.  Next goal was going to be crucial.

Half Time Charlton Athletic 1 Truro City 0

That next goal went to the hosts eight minutes into the second period and gave them some breathing space as Marshall cut inside and struck an effort which took a huge deflection, wrong footing McHale, and thumping into the back of the net.

The Addicks went for a killer third and two minutes later saw great play by Holmes eventually see him fire an effort straight at McHale before a terrific run by DeSilva saw him play in Marshall, but it was straight at McHale.

Truro though rallied and fired an effort straight at Amos and then on the hour mark got themselves right back into the tie when after both teams had efforts saved, Harvey headed a downward effort into the corner and sent the 996 Truro fans behind that goal wild.

Charlton tried to grab a quick third to try and settle the home sides nerves and in the 65th minute Fosu, just on as a substitute for the hosts, cut inside but saw McHale get down well to save his effort, but with twenty minutes left they did find a third when Reeves played a one two with Holmes and fired home via McHale’s hand to settle the tense feeling amongst the home crowd.

With fifteen minutes remaining it should of been four as a lovely lofted ball over the Truro defence found Forster-Caskey in acres of space, but he could only drill his effort wide, but Truro weren’t giving up and with eleven minutes left saw a good move result in a Neal effort being saved before another Truro attack saw another effort blocked, with the resulting corner seeing centre half Gerring head just wide.

With Truro throwing men forward they left themselves vunrable to a pacey Addicks counter attack, but the hosts made a right mess of a couple whilst Truro saw a miskick inside the hosts area trying to grab a second, and a crazy passage of play ended with the hosts passing up another opportunity.

With four minutes left Forster-Caskey somehow missed from close range as Charlton continued to look for a fourth, and two minutes later Fosu cut inside but sent an effort miles wide. Truro were looking out on their feet, but they had given everything in this one.

They so nearly found a second in stoppage time when Harvey saw an effort tipped onto the hosts bar, and from this Charlton broke through Holmes, but his effort was well saved by McHale at his near post.

And that was the last piece of action in this one and saw the League One hosts prevail but only after one hell of a tussle with the Vanarama South visitors who had done their club proud, just like the wonderful support received behind the goal all game.

But it is Charlton Athletic who will be in that Second Round Proper draw on Monday evening.

Full Time Charlton Athletic 3 Truro City 1

So in the end I managed to see a First Round tie, all be it not the one I set out to see on Sunday morning!!!

That monday evening draw saw Coventry City drawn at home again, this time to National League side Boreham Wood, who dumped Blackpool out in the First Round, so it proves to be a decent game that, lets hope I actually make it this time round!!!  Charlton Athletic were drawn away to AFC Wimbledon for anyone who is interested, would of been ironic had Coventry and Charlton been drawn against each other after what happened!!!

Anyway here are the First Round Proper results in full:-
Friday 3rd November
Port Vale 2 Oxford United 0
Notts County 4 Bristol Rovers 2
Hyde United 0 Milton Keynes Dons 4

Saturday 4th November
Shaw Lane 1 Mansfield Town 3
Stevenage 5 Nantwich Town 0
Bradford City 2 Chesterfield 0
Morecambe 3 Hartlepool United 0
Yeovil Town 1 Southend United 0
Peterborough United 1 Tranmere Rovers 1
Forest Green Rovers 1 Macclesfield Town 0
AFC Fylde 4 Kidderminster Harriers 2
Luton Town 1 Portsmouth 0
Shrewsbury Town 5 Aldershot Town 0
Hereford 1 AFC Telford United 0
Blackburn Rovers 3 Barnet 1
Ebbsfleet United 2 Doncaster Rovers 6
Boreham Wood 2 Blackpool 1
Colchester United 0 Oxford City 1
Plymouth Argyle 1 Grimsby Town 0
AFC Wimbledon 1 Lincoln City 0
Rochdale 4 Bromley 0
Carlisle United 3 Oldham Athletic 2
Cheltenham Town 2 Maidstone United 4
Crewe Alexandra 2 Rotherham United 1
Gillingham 2 Leyton Orient 1
Gainsborough Trinity 0 Slough Town 6
Northampton Town 0 Scunthorpe United 0
Wigan Athletic 2 Crawley Town 1
Gateshead 2 Chelmsford City 0
Newport County 2 Walsall 1

Sunday 5th November
Cambridge United 1 Sutton United 0
Guiseley AFC 0 Accrington Stanley 0
Leatherhead 1 Billericay Town 1
Coventry City 2 Maidenhead United 0
Dartford 1 Swindon Town 5
Woking 1 Bury 1
Solihull Moors 0 Wycombe Wanderers 2
Charlton Athletic 3 Truro City 1
Exeter City 3 Heybridge Swifts 1

Monday 6th November
Chorley 1 Fleetwood Town 2

Replays
Tuesday 14th November
Accrington Stanley 1 Guiseley AFC 1 (AET, Guiseley AFC won 4-3 on penalties)
Bury 0 Woking 3
Scunthorpe United 1 Northampton Town 0

Wednesday 15th November
Tranmere Rovers 0 Peterborough United 5

Thursday 16th November
Billericay Town 1 Leatherhead 3

So ten non league sides made it through to the Second Round Proper and were included in the draw for the final round before the big boys enter from the Barclays Premier League and Championship. 

And here is that Second Round Proper draw in full:-
Friday 1st December
AFC Fylde VS Wigan Athletic

Saturday 2nd December
Notts County VS Oxford City
Milton Keynes Dons VS Maidstone United
Port Vale VS Yeovil Town
Shrewsbury Town VS Morecambe
Stevenage VS Swindon Town
Bradford City VS Plymouth Argyle
Gillingham VS Carlisle United
Forest Green Rovers VS Exeter City
Fleetwood Town VS Hereford

Sunday 3rd December
Woking VS Peterborough United
Newport County VS Cambridge United
Wycombe Wanderers VS Leatherhead
Doncaster Rovers VS Scunthorpe United
AFC Wimbledon VS Charlton Athletic
Mansfield Town VS Guiseley AFC
Gateshead VS Luton Town
Blackburn Rovers VS Crewe Alexandra
Coventry City VS Boreham Wood

Monday 4th December
Slough Town VS Rochdale

That concludes the First Round Proper, I'll be back (hopefully) with a report from the Ricoh Arena as well as a results round up and Third Round draw in my next blog towards mid december time.

Season 2017-18 - Fourth Qualifying Round

Saturday 14th October 
Maidenhead United 2 Havant & Waterlooville 1
So it was FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round day and I was over at York Road to see Maidenhead United and Havant & Waterlooville do battle for a place in the First Round Proper.

This was the hosts first encounter in this seasons FA Cup as being a Vanarama National League side (Step One) they receive a bye to this round.  For Havant this was their third tie after the Vanarama National South side (Step Two) entered at the Second Qualifying Round stage.

The hosts probably started as favourites in this one although it was the visitors who would of been happier of the two sides in a rather scrappy opening quarter hour but midway through the half the hosts struck when after Barratt had been fouled, he got back up and the referee played on and saw Barratt strike a terrific effort into the far corner beyond Young and give the hosts the advantage.

Three minutes later Havant came close to wiping out that lead when hosts keeper Pentney somehow kept out a Lewis close range header, and just past the hour mark Havant saw a Rose effort cleared off the line.

In the 34th minute the hosts broke forward and ended with a ball going across goal, then two minutes before half time Barratt’s pace took him beyond the Hawks back line but keeper Young managed to rush from his goal and thwart any danger.

And just before half time Clifton burst into the visitors area and put in a good ball that was hacked clear by the Hawks backline, and it meant the hosts had a slender lead at the break.

Half Time Maidenhead United 1 Havant & Waterlooville 0

The visitors probably felt unlucky to be behind at the break but four minutes into the second period found an equaliser when moments after Rose had seen another effort cleared off the line, Havant kept the pressure up and saw a loose ball drop to Prior who volleyed home and we were all square.

However Maidenhead so nearly restored the lead almost immediately when firstly Clifton headed over the Hawks bar and then secondly Barratt managed to get in but lifted his effort miles over the bar.

Just before the hour mark another good ball into the Hawks box saw hosts forward Clifton head wide of the near post and then on the hour mark came the closest to retaking the lead when Odametey thumped an extraordinary effort against the bar. It had been the hosts best spell of the game for sure.

But just past the hour mark Havant almost took the lead when a good move ended with the ball rolled into the path of Tarbuck, but his effort was well beaten away by Pentney for a corner, which was headed well wide in the end.

A rather scrappy period followed but as we approached the final few minutes you felt it was the hosts who were more intent on finding a winner as the visitors seemed happy to earn a replay and take Maidenhead back to the south coast on Tuesday.

With five minutes remaining Hawks keeper Young had to be alert to beat away a Pritchard effort from thirty yards out, but as we hit the ninety minute mark the board went up for three additional minutes, so three minutes for someone to find a winner.

And in the first of those minutes the hosts pounced to find that winner when Upward ran onto the ball and smashed a terrific effort across Young and into the far corner to spark scenes of joy amongst the home contingent.  It was a shame for Havant who had played so well throughout but had fallen late on.

Pritchard almost sealed it for the hosts when after bursting into the area could only loft an effort wide of the post, however the hosts saw it out to take their place in the First Round Proper draw on Monday evening.

Full Time Maidenhead United 2 Havant & Waterlooville 1

So it's the Vanarama National Side who progress into the First Round Proper of the competition and the Monday evening draw saw them pitted against Coventry City, FA Cup winners from 1987, at the Ricoh Arena at the beginning of November.  Promises to be an exciting cup tie.

Anyway here are the Fourth Qualifying Round results in full:-
Saturday 14th October
St Albans City 1 Boreham Wood 3
FC Halifax Town 1 Tranmere Rovers 3
Solihull Moors 1 Ossett Town 1
South Shields 1 Hartlepool United 2
Chorley 0 Boston United 0
AFC Telford United 3 FC United Of Manchester 1
Harrogate Town 1 Gainsborough Trinity 2
Nantwich Town 1 Kettering Town 1
Buxton 1 Gateshead 2
Guiseley AFC 6 Shildon 0
AFC Fylde 1 Wrexham 0
Kidderminster Harriers 2 Chester 0
Scarborough Athletic 0 Hyde United 2
Stourbridge 0 Macclesfield Town 5
Brackley Town 3 Billericay Town 3
Dagenham & Redbridge 0 Leyton Orient 0
Eastleigh 1 Hereford 2
Aldershot Town 1 Torquay United 0
Bath City 0 Chelmsford City 0
Oxford City 1 Bognor Regis Town 0
Maidenhead United 2 Havant & Waterlooville 1
Haringey Borough 2 Heybridge Swifts 4
Woking 1 Concord Rangers 1
Hampton & Richmond Borough 0 Truro City 2
Dover Athletic 0 Bromley 0
Slough Town 1 Folkestone Invicta 0
Burgess Hill Town 0 Dartford 1
Maidstone United 2 Enfield Town 2
Margate 1 Leatherhead 2
Paulton Rovers 2 Sutton United 3
East Thurrock United 0 Ebbsfleet United 0

Sunday 15th October
Shaw Lane 2 Barrow AFC 1

Replays
Monday 16th October
Chelmsford City 1 Bath City 0

Tuesday 17th October
Ossett Town 1 Solihull Moors 2
Boston United 3 Chorley 4 (AET)
Kettering Town 0 Nantwich Town 1
Billericay Town 2 Brackley Town 1
Leyton Orient 1 Dagenham & Redbridge 0
Concord Rangers 1 Woking 2 (AET)
Bromley 3 Dover Athletic 0
Enfield Town 1 Maidstone United 3 (AET)
Ebbsfleet United 3 East Thurrock United 0

Season 2017-18 - Third Qualifying Round

Saturday 30th September 2017
Hayes & Yeading United 0 Havant & Waterlooville 4
My Emirates FA Cup journey continued with my first ever visit to the SKYex Community Stadium as Hayes &Yeading United hosted Havant & Waterlooville in a Third Qualifying Round tie.

The hosts, who ply their trade at Step Four in the non league pyramid in the Evo Stik Southern One East, had knocked out Brimscombe & Thrupp (Hellenic League, Step Five), Maldon & Tiptree (Bostick North, Step Four) and FC Romania (Essex Senior League, Step Five) to get this far although the last two were both after replays so it had been anything but straightforward.

Visitors Havant are two steps above in the Vanarama South (Step Two) and entered the competition in the last round and saw off Merthyr Town from the Evo Stik Southern Premier (Step Three) to set up this tie here.  It was no surprise that the visitors came into this one as favourites too.

The visitors threatened an opener as early as the second minute as a goal mouth scramble saw the ball scrambled off the line before the follow up came back off the post and was then cleared away.

The visitors continued to dominate early proceedings and on eleven minutes saw a close range effort blocked, and on twenty five minutes the hosts lost the ball on the left flank outside their own box and saw Havant play a good ball across the six yard area but it evaded everyone and went away from danger.

As the game went past the half hour mark Hayes began to grow into the contest and saw a free kick saved, but with nine minutes of the half remaining the visitors should of gone in front when a cutback to Harris saw the visitors centre half get his feet all wrong and miskicked the ball away from point blank range when any decent contact would been a certain goal.

And just before the break Prior volleyed a decent effort wide for the visitors however the half did end goalless and although Hayes were competing well the visitors probably should of been in front, however it meant an interesting second half awaited us.

Half Time Hayes & Yeading United 0 Havant & Waterlooville 0

However early on in the second half the hosts had a terrible start as they were reduced to ten men as skipper Mentis was dismissed for a second yellow, and it was double trouble as the skipper had to be stretchered off anyway after injuring himself in making the tackle.

It was a set back the hosts never recovered from as the visitors pounced on having an extra man and nine minutes into the second half took the lead when a corner came out to full back Williams and he beat a defender before thumping an effort into the far corner and finally give the Hawks the advantage.

And just five minutes later it was two for the visitors as Williams turned provider, sending in a pinpoint cross to Prior who sent a downward header into the back of the net, and barely a minute after it was three goals in six minutes when Woodford headed home a corner from close range, as the hosts were being totally overrun at this stage.

And in the 63rd minute it should of been another for the visitors but Williams fired way over after cutting inside onto his right foot, and then midway through the half Hayter, on as a second half substitute, should of scored but saw his effort drift an inch or so wide of the hosts far post.

With twenty minutes remaining another second half substitute Tubbs saw an effort saved by Hayes keeper Smith, before another effort was blocked by an overworked home defence.

However with just over fifteen minutes remaining the visitors did add a fourth when after Hayes keeper Smith came out and headed a ball clear, it went straight to Hayter who from about 35 yards out fired a brilliant effort over the stranded keeper and into the net.

Moments later Tarbuck saw an effort cleared off the hosts line, whilst down the other end with ten minutes left Gordon curled a free kick straight into the arms of Havant keeper Young, who in all honesty hadn’t had much to do in this tie.

With five minutes left hosts keeper Smith pulled off a wonderful save from a Hayter header but the visitors ended up strolling into the Fourth Qualifying Round and await Monday’s draw in anticipation.

For Hayes it was all over for another season, they had competed well up until that Mentis red card, but after that were completely outclassed by their higher league opponent’s but should take pride in reaching this stage of the competition.

Full Time Hayes & Yeading United 0 Havant & Waterlooville 4

And the draw gave Havant an away tie at York Road, Maidenhead United, who play in the Vanarama National League, a league above Havant in the pyramid.  Ironically York Road is the former home of Hayes & Yeading United as they groundshared with Maidenhead whilst their new stadium was built.  Anyhow it should be another decent cup tie.

Right here are the Third Qualifying Round results in full:-
Saturday 30th September
Ashton Athletic 0 Chorley 1
1874 Northwich 2 Ossett Town 2
AFC Mansfield 0 Boston United 2
Stafford Rangers 1 AFC Telford United 1
Newcastle Benfield 0 Kidderminster Harriers 1
Nantwich Town 3 Nuneaton Town 1
Boston Town 2 Hyde United 3
Banbury United 2 Shildon 3
Scarborough Athletic 2 Stratford Town 2
Basford United 2 Kettering Town 3
Shaw Lane Association 2 Lancaster City 1
Buxton 2 Alvechurch 1
Stockport County 3 FC United Of Manchester 3
Leamington 0 Gainsborough Trinity 0
Stourbridge 3 Alfreton Town 1
South Shields 3 York City 2
Harrogate Town 0 Bradford (Park Avenue) 0
Swindon Supermarine 2 Paulton Rovers 3
Enfield Town 3 Phoenix Sports 0
Hayes & Yeading United 0 Havant & Waterlooville 4
Hereford 2 AFC Hornchurch 0
Slough Town 2 Poole Town 1
Brackley Town 4 Braintree Town 1
Concord Rangers 3 Dorking Wanderers 0
East Thurrock United 2 Harlow Town 2
Chelmsford City 2 Weymouth 1
Cinderford Town 2 Hampton & Richmond Borough 3
Oxford City 4 Leiston 2
Margate 2 Herne Bay 0
St Albans City 2 Bridport 1
Heybridge Swifts 2 Frome Town 1
Truro City 4 AFC Sudbury 1
Eastbourne Borough 0 Bognor Regis Town 2
Bath City 3 Hemel Hempstead Town 0
Needham Market 1 Dartford 6
Haringey Borough 4 Bideford AFC 1
Folkestone Invicta 2 Aylesbury United 1
Hungerford Town 1 Billericay Town 1
Burgess Hill Town 1 Wealdstone 0
Ashford Town (Middx) 1 Leatherhead 2

Replays
Monday 2nd October
Bradford (Park Avenue) 0 Harrogate Town 2

Tuesday 3rd October
Ossett Town 0 1874 Northwich 0 (AET, Ossett Town won 5-4 on penalties)
AFC Telford United 4 Stafford Rangers 1
Stratford Town 1 Scarborough Athletic 4 (AET)
FC United Of Manchester 1 Stockport County 0
Gainsborough Trinity 2 Leamington 0
Harlow Town 1 East Thurrock United 2
Billericay Town 6 Hungerford Town 1

So the 40 winnings sides now join the 24 Vanarama National League sides in the Fourth Qualifying Round, and here are those 32 ties which take place over the weekend of 14th October:-
FC Halifax Town VS Tranmere Rovers
Solihull Moors VS Ossett Town
South Shields VS Hartlepool United
Shaw Lane Association VS Barrow AFC
Chorley VS Boston United
AFC Telford United VS FC United Of Manchester
Harrogate Town VS Gainsborough Trinity
Nantwich Town VS Kettering Town
Buxton VS Gateshead
Guiseley AFC VS Shildon
AFC Fylde VS Wrexham
Kidderminster Harriers VS Chester
Scarborough Athletic VS Hyde United
Stourbridge VS Macclesfield Town
Brackley Town VS Billericay Town
Dagenham & Redbridge VS Leyton Orient
Eastleigh VS Hereford
Aldershot Town VS Torquay United
Bath City VS Chelmsford City
Oxford City VS Bognor Regis Town
Maidenhead United VS Havant & Waterlooville
Haringey Borough VS Heybridge Swifts
Woking VS Concord Rangers
Hampton & Richmond Borough VS Truro City
Dover Athletic VS Bromley
Slough Town VS Folkestone Invicta
Burgess Hill Town VS Dartford
St Albans City VS Boreham Wood
Maidstone United VS Enfield Town
Margate VS Leatherhead
Paulton Rovers VS Sutton United
East Thurrock United VS Ebbsfleet United

So it's the business end of the Qualifying Rounds now as the winning 32 sides go through to the First Round Proper of the competition and a chance of a crack at sides from League One and Two.  My featured game of course will be at York Road for Maidenhead United Vs Havant & Waterlooville.

As I write this (it's still over a week till the Fourth Qualifying Round games) the hosts sit 13th in the National League having won six, drawn three and lost five whilst Havant & Waterlooville sit in the last play off spot in the National League South, in seventh, after six wins, two draws and four defeats.

Maidenhead's form over the last five games is three wins and two defeats whilst for Havant it's two wins and three losses so its a mixed bag for both.  Will Maidenhead's home advantage and higher league status count?  Or will Havant cause an upset here, if it is such a thing, as their side contains some very useful ex league players.

It sure proves to be a decent match at York Road, and also another round full of action and drama no doubt!!!  I'll be back with a blog on the Fourth Qualifying Round once it's completed in about two weeks time.