Sunday, 21 October 2012

FA Cup: First Round Draw

Having seen rounds upon rounds of qualifying, the first round of the FA Cup begins seeing clubs from non-league face clubs from League One and Two. Teams in the Championship and Premier League don't come into the competition until the third round, giving some of the lower sides the opportunity for a cup run. 

picture: uk.eurosport.yahoo.com
Last years final was played in front of a massive crowd at Wembley which saw Chelsea beat Liverpool 2-1. Goals from Ramires and Didier Drogba saw the London side win the cup beating Liverpool whose goal was scored by Andy Carroll. Chelsea's win saw them go level with FA Cup final wins with Liverpool with both clubs on seven wins. Manchester United lead the table with 11 wins.

This year's final will be once again played at Wembley on Saturday 11th May 2013.

The first round will see 40 ties played between clubs from as low as the fourth tier of non-league in the Evo-Stick league. Arlesey Town of the Evo Stick Southern Premier league will face 1987 winners Coventry City in one of the ties of the round. Isthmian League side Met Police have also progressed through qualifying and face a first round game at home to League One side Crawley Town. 

Current conference leaders Newport County needed two late goals in their final qualifying game to take their tie against Yate Town to a replay. If they come through the test against the Evo-Stick southern south and west side then they will face League Two side Cheltenham Town. Cambridge City will host MK Dons while an Essex derby is guaranteed as Colchester United face the winner of Chelmsford City and East Thurrock who need a replay. 

Luton Town and Wrexham both made it through their qualifying games as they both face non-league opposition. The Welsh team face Alfreton Town while Luton have to also wait for a replay as they will host either Nuneaton or Telford United. Winners of the competition in 2008, Portsmouth, face fellow League One side Notts County, while Sheffield United travel to League Two side Bristol Rovers. 

The ties will be played the weekend of 3rd/4th November 2012. 

First Round Fixtures:

Kidderminster Harriers v Oldham Athletic
Boreham Wood v Brentford
Chelmsford City/East Thurrock v Colchester United
Met Police v Crawley Town
Luton Town v Telford Utd/Nuneaton
Portsmouth v Notts County
Bishop's Stortford v Hastings Utd
Fleetwood Town v Bromley
Forest Green Rovers/Dartford v Port Vale
Torquay Utd v Hyde/Harrogate Town
Bournemouth v Dag & Red
Morecambe v Rochdale
Swindon Town v Macclesfied Town
Cambridge City v MK Dons
Cheltenham Town v Yate Town/Newport County
Dorchester Utd v Plymouth Argyle
Coventry City v Arlesey Town
York City v AFC Wimbledon
Bury v Exeter City
Chesterfield v Hartlepool Utd
Doncaster Rovers v Bradford Park Ave
Gillingham v Scunthorpe Utd
Aldershot Town v Hendon
Lincoln City/Halifax Town v Walsall
Wrexham v Alfreton Town
Southend Utd v Stockport County
Crewe v Wycombe
Bristol Rovers v Sheff Utd
Hereford Utd v Shrewsbury Town
Mansfield v SLough Town/Gosport Boro
Barnet v Oxford Utd
Rotherham Utd v Stevenage
AFC Fylde/Ilkeston Town v Accrington Stanley
Gloucester City v Leyton Orient
Burton Albion v Altrincham
Guiseley v Barrow
Northampton Town v Bradford City
Preston NE v Yeovil Town
Braintree Town v Tranmere Rovers
Carlisle Utd v Ebbsfleet Utd

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