Six rounds have already been played in this season’s FA Cup, but tomorrow sees the introduction of the big boys and sides from League One and League Two enter the fray. 32 non-league teams have battled to this stage and will be looking to get their names in the headlines by producing one of this season’s giant-killings.
FA Cup First Round Preview
Haringey Borough v AFC Wimbledon
Five years ago, Haringey Borough recorded an attendance of just 17 people for a league match. On Friday night, they are expecting around 2,500 people to cram into their Coles Park ground as they welcome League One outfit AFC Wimbledon.
This is the first time the club, located just one mile along White Hart Lane from Spurs’ new ground, have reached the First Round proper and they are the only team to have survived since the preliminary round that was played back in August.
Borough, who only don’t even have a full team of contracted players, are no strangers to stern tests in this competition, having come from behind to win in three of their games so far, but this game against Neal Ardley’s struggling AFC Wimbledon side will surely be a step too far.
Metropolitan Police v Newport County
In Saturday’s standout fixture, Southern League Premier Division South side Metropolitan Police will play host to League Two’s Newport County. The Met sit 12th in the table and a crowd of 96 saw them defeat Farnborough 4-3 last weekend at Imber Court.
A capacity crowd of around 3,000 is expected this weekend, with plenty of Newport supporters making the trip across the M4 from South Wales.
Reaching the first round equals The Mets’ best performance in the FA Cup when they reached this stage in 2012/13 and were knocked out via a 2-1 home defeat to Crawley, who were then in League One.
A performance such as that one could see them cause an upset here against Newport, who have started well in League Two but haven’t gone beyond the fifth round of the cup since 1949.
Hampton & Richmond v Oldham Athletic
The final match of the FA Cup weekend, to be played on Monday night, sees National League South outfit Hampton & Richmond host League Two’s Oldham Athletic.
The Beavers have already equalled their best FA Cup performance by making it to this stage, just as they did in 2000/01 and 2007/08, whereas Oldham have made it to the semi-finals on three occasions, most recently in the 1993/94 season.
Oldham have struggled upon their relegation back to League Two this season while Hampton sit fourth in their league, so this could be the perfect opportunity for them to cause an upset, especially with the game being broadcast live and under the floodlights/
All Fixtures
Friday
Haringey Borough v AFC Wimbledon
Saturday
Maidenhead United v Portsmouth
Accrington Stanley v Colchester United
Aldershot Town v Bradford City
Barnsley v Notts County
Bromley v Peterborough United
Bury v Dover Athletic
Chesterfield v Billericay Town
Crewe Alexandra v Carlisle United
Ebbsfleet United v Cheltenham Town
Exeter City v Blackpool
Gillingham v Hartlepool United
Grimsby Town v MK Dons
Lincoln City v Northampton Town
Luton Town v Wycombe Wanderers
Maidstone United v Macclesfield Town
Metropolitan Police v Newport County
Morecambe v FC Halifax Town
Oxford United v Forest Green Rovers
Plymouth Argyle v Stevenage
Rochdale v Gateshead
Scunthorpe United v Burton Albion
Southend v Crawley Town
Southport v Boreham Wood
Sutton United v Slough Town
Swindon Town v York City
Torquay United v Woking
Tranmere Rovers v Oxford City
Walsall v Coventry City
Yeovil Town v Stockport County
Sunday
Alfreton Town v Fleetwood Town
Barnet v Bristol Rovers
Chorley v Doncaster Rovers
Guiseley v Cambridge United
Hitchin Town v Solihull Moors
Mansfield Town v Charlton Athletic
Shrewsbury Town v Salford City
Weston-super-Mare v Wrexham
Port Vale v Sunderland
Monday
Hampton & Richmond v Oldham Athletic
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