Four Down, One Still Standing

It turned out not to be a great day for those CCL clubs still competing in the Emirates FA Cup on Saturday, as four of our five clubs were defeated, with just Hartley Wintney now flying the flag for the League.

They face a replay at Fleet Town on Tuesday evening after a 1-1 draw on Saturday. Hartley were quick out of the blocks and should probably have scored more than the one they did get in the first half. Fleet came back in the second period though and levelled the tie.

The draw for the 2nd Qualifying Round has been released and the winners of tomorrow’s replay will find themselves playing outside England as they travel to Southern League Merthyr Tydfill.

MCFA President Jim Taylor was at the tie between Bedfont & Feltham and AFC Rushden & Diamonds and has sent us the following report:

FA CUP 1st QUALIFYING ROUND

BEDFONT & FELTHAM v AFC RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS

Bedfont & Feltham’s spectacular FA Cup run (2 ties, 4 matches and a penalty shoot out) came to an end at the Orchard on Saturday agains AFC Rushden & Diamonds, two steps their senior in the non-league pyramid.

Although their Southern League Central Division opponents deservedly won the match by 2 goals to 1, they had to work hard for their victory.

Both sides had half chances during a fairly even opening spell but the visitors gradually put the home defence under increasing pressure. They took the lead after 32 minutes when Dan Quigley headed Elliot Lamb-Johnson’s cross wide of the despairing Sam Johnson-Freeman’s left hand.

Bedfont had a good chance of equalising within 3 minutes. Swift running striker, Michael Campbell was upended in the penalty box. However, keeper Matt Finlay, diving to his right, saved Jacobe Lamb’s accurate but slightly under-hit kick.

Bedfont did equalise on the stroke of half time through Michael Campbell’s well struck cross shot after Steven Eyango-Bwanga had hit the crossbar.

Ten minutes after the break, Bedfont were reduced to 10 players when Matt Ward was shown a second yellow card. However, the numbers were evened up within 2 minutes, when a reckless tackle earned Rushden’s Jack Ashton a straight red card.

The visitors’ winning goal was also scored by Dan Quigley, who volleyed Claudio Hoban’s corner kick home in the 63rd minute.

Bedfont & Feltham’s team was Sam Johnson- Freeman, Matt Ward, Robert Mitchell (Yusuf Jimacle 72 mins), Karle Carder- Andrews (capt), James Ward, Danny Leech, Luke Craig (Joel Bernard 72 mins), Ellis Jones-Aryeh, Michael Campbell, Jacobe Lamb and Steven Eyango-Bwanga.
Jim Taylor