Tuesday 30th September 2014 - 7.45pm kick-off
THE FA CUP - QUALIFYING - SECOND ROUND ... REPLAY
I hardly expected to still be writing about the magic of the cup from Enfield's perspective, so far into the tournament; but The Towners earned a fighting draw, away at Priory Lane this Saturday. Their 'reward' is a replay tie this Tuesday night, at Donkey Lane, against their more senior Conference South opponents.
Eastbourne's crest features a stylised Martello coastal defence tower, from the Napoleonic war era; and a real backs-to-the-wall defensive performance was required to earn them the dubious honour of a midweek replay at the QEII.
Another non-league football blog (the long-established "The Cold End") provides excellent coverage of the first tie. I was unable to get along to the game myself, due to some visiting US relatives (see reference to Jack's pro-soccer initiation in my previous blog entry, below). I dropped them at Heathrow at around 2pm; but it was just about too late to make it down to the South coast for the game - and almost certainly too late to get a programme (again, see previous posts). By all accounts, Enfield were unlucky not to finish off "The Sports" at the first attempt - and missed a penalty, in the process ... whilst conceding one themselves, for the home side's equaliser. Despite more than 99 minutes of game time, neither side could find a winner. See details and highlights at http://thecoldend.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/all-back-to-donkey-lane-on-tuesday-night.html
The mighty Sussex seaside team features plenty of experience. Coach Tommy Widdrington may be remembered for his top flight playing career as a midfielder with Southampton (before going on to join Wigan Athletic, Grimsby Town, Port Vale, Hartlepool United and Macclesfield Town) and he has been an assistant manager in the Football League at Southend United. The club boasts a smattering of Caribbean exoticism, too; with squad players claiming Dominican, Grenadan and Antiguan nationality. There is also some recent FA Cup pedigree. During the 2005/06 season, the club reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time; holding League Two outfit Oxford United to a 1–1 draw at home, with winger Ollie Rowland, holding his nerve to score a 90th-minute penalty. Although the away replay was a different (and less memorable) story for the junior side.
Enfield's was just one of 77 fixtures (yes, it's a strange number!) played in the 2nd qualifying round of the FA Cup, on Saturday. Two more were played on Sunday (and yes, 79 ties is still a strange number!). So Enfield remain one of the many small teams whose (distant) dreams of playing the big fish, beating them and making it to Wembley remain alive. For now!
Meanwhile, and for those interested in the fates of 'other' Ryman League clubs this weekend, I can bring you the big news that Margate finally achieved their aim of exiting the tournament early, by cunningly engineering a 1-2 home defeat to Barton Rovers - a mid-table side from Division One Central of the Southern League (bad luck, Eric!). Margate fans can now focus their positive energies on Enfield's Tuesday night clash. Your intrepid reporter, of course, plans to be there; to bring you the big sporting story of the week.
Come On, You Town! Still living the dream ...
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