UCL Review 2014-2015

FA CUP REVIEW: FOUR CLAIM TWO WINS

The First Round Qualifying stage proved to be a glass ceiling for member clubs as four of our sides made their exit from the Wembley trail after progressing through the Extra Preliminary and Preliminary Rounds, in the process earning £3,425 in prize money. There was little good fortune in the draw as three of our clubs had been paired with higher grade opposition. AFC Rushden & Diamonds had been our best performers in the 2013-14 campaign, and they had a decent mini run this time round. In the Extra Preliminary Round they breezed past Friday night opponents Oxhey 5-1 with a Fazel Koriya hat trick, Jason Turner effort and an own goal, following up with a Preliminary Round win over Bedford Town. Matt Gearing’s goal earned Diamonds a 1-1 draw at the Dog & Duck and they made confident progress in the replay, going through 3-0 with the marksmen Tom Lorraine, Turner and Gearing with a spot kick. A trip to step 3 high fliers Hendon in the First Qualifying Round saw a good Diamonds display go unrewarded as a single goal put them out. Boston Town picked up a couple of good wins on their travels. After drawing 1-1 at home to Walsham Le Willows in the Extra Preliminary Round they ran out 3-1 replay winners in Suffolk with two Matt Kennedy goals and one from Jordan Nuttell. A more impressive win still followed in the Preliminary Round as they emerged 4- 2 victors at neighbours Holbeach with Alex Beck, Kennedy, with a penalty, Callum Walker and Lori Borbely sharing the goals. A tough trip to Kings Lynn saw the Poachers outclassed as their step 3 hosts ran in seven unopposed goals. Two Josh Ford goals and one from Fraser Bayliss gave Wisbech a 3-1 success at Sleaford to start their cup run with an Extra Preliminary Round victory, and they followed up with a 2-1 home win over old friends from the Thurlow Nunn League Kirkley & Pakefield. Ford was again on the mark along with Stuart Cobb. In the First Qualifying Round the Fenmen travelled to Norwich United who edged a tight encounter by a single goal. AFC Kempston breezed past Northampton Spencer in the Extra Preliminary Round, Nyasha Sagwete and Sam Johnson on target in a 2-0 Kingsthorpe Mill victory, and in the Preliminary Round they disposed of Sileby 4-0 at Hillgrounds with a Ben Gallant double and singles from Grant Fryer and Scott Joseph. It transpired though that the Walnut Boys had fielded a player without international clearance leading to a re-instatement for Sileby who had beaten Hillingdon 3-0 in the Extra Preliminary Round with Brian Farrell, Dominic Okanu and Lynval Da Costa sharing the goals. Sileby failed to capitalise on their reprieve, exiting 3-1 to North Greenford in their delayed First Qualifying Round tie despite opening the scoring through Elliott Dent. Four further clubs had made Extra Preliminary Round progress before bowing out at the second hurdle. Holbeach had won 5-1 at Diss with Livo Dube scoring a hat trick and Ash Fuller and Jake Duffy one apiece. Thurnby had also opened with a big win, beating Lincoln Moorlands Railway 5-1 at Dakyn Road with Reece Morris netting twice and Ash Day, Matt Melbourne and Jurelle Phillip also appearing on the scoresheet. They performed well in a 3-1 Preliminary Round reverse at higher level Mickleover, Liam Canavan the marksman. Peterborough Northern Star beat visiting Team Bury 3-0 with Luke Hunnings, Phil Stebbing and Avelino Vieira sharing the goals en route to a 2-0 Preliminary Round defeat by Mildenhall. There was a replay success for Cogenhoe, 3-1 at Wembley with Dan Thomason and two goal Sam Heavey on the mark. That win earned the Cooks a glamour tie at home to Kettering, the Poppies running out 4-1 winners with Thomason the Cooks scorer.

Extra Preliminary Round victories earned clubs £1,500 apiece, making the total prize money won by our clubs in the competition £ 21,200 for the season.

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