Christmas Comes Early as the FA Cup Returns

Article by e-Football Correspondent David Naylor

The magic of the FA Cup will adorn our screens again on Friday night as the first round gets underway. The competitions big-boys don't join the footballing revelry until round three although I'm sure we'll be treated to one or two giant-killings and other exciting episodes in the trophy's maiden weekend....

The Voyages....

Hertfordshire-based Boreham Wood of the Conference South take on League One Carlisle United as Boreham bid to reach the dizzying heights of round two for the third time in their history. The two sides are three leagues apart although Carlisle boss Graham Kavanagh will be dreading the mammoth 600-mile round trip in store for him and his team. Plymouth Argyle face a similarly arduous journey as they play Lincoln City.

The Minnows....

Lowly Daventry Town will look to overcome a colossal gap of 94 league places when they face Chesterfield on Saturday. The former played out their FA Trophy second round tie on Tuesday in front of a not-so-bumper crowd of just 124 Daventry-die-hards but are unlikely to be fazed by their encounter against 1997 semi-finalists Chesterfield.

The Derbies....

A tantalising Yorkshire derby lies in wait as Rotherham United play host to Bradford City. Both sides are going well in League One although league form will be swept aside as the rivals lock horns at the auspiciously-named New York Stadium. Scunthorpe United and Grimsby Town are situated just 30 miles apart but any local affability will vanish for an afternoon when the Mariners descend on Glanford Park where both cup glory and bragging rights will be at stake.

The Boys from Biggleswade....

Wonderfully named Biggleswade Town face Stourbridge in an all Southern League Premier Division clash that could see the latter reach round two for an impressive second time in three years. Stourbridge beat Plymouth in the first round two years ago to secure what has been expressed as the greatest moment in their history although gaffer Gary Hackett has placed cup romance on one side as the Glassboys aim to be in the hat for another round of captivating cup action.

The Ones to Watch....

West Yorkshire based FC Halifax Town's dismal away form sees them occupying a mid-table spot in this season's Conference yet three promotions in four years have demonstrated Town's potential pedigree and Saturday's trip to MK Dons could see the Shaymen react convincingly to last week's 3-0 reverse at Alfreton. The Dons will be no push overs though as last season's run to the fifth round will testify.

The Been There, Done That....

Preston North End boss Simon Grayson has enjoyed some fabulous FA Cup triumphs in the past- the most notable of which occurred in January 2010 when a Jermaine Beckford strike for Leeds consigned Manchester United to their first third round defeat under Sir Alex Ferguson's prodigious supervision. Grayson also oversaw sterling draws away at both Spurs and Arsenal when in charge of The Whites and will hope his current charges can overcome Edgar David's Barnet this weekend.

The Games on The Box....

AFC Wimbledon v Coventry City (Friday, 7.45 KO), Bishop's Stortford v Northampton Town (Saturday 14.00 KO), Shortwood United v Port Vale (Monday, 7.45 KO).

The Full Fixture List....

Morecambe v Southend United
Walsall v Shrewsbury
Boreham Wood v Carlisle United
St Albans City v Mansfield Town
MK Dons v FC Halifax Town
Bristol Rovers v York City
Tamworth v Cheltenham Town
Grimsby v Scunthorpe United
Bury v Cambridge United
Corby Town v Dover Athletic
Colchester United v Sheffield United
Oxford United v Gateshead
Hartlepool United v Notts County
Wrexham v Alfreton Town
Chesterfield v Daventry Town
Bristol City v Dagenham & Redbridge
AFC Wimbledon v Coventry City
Preston North End v Barnet
Bishop's Stortford v Northampton Town
Burton Albion v Hereford United
Rotherham United v Bradford City
Gillingham v Brackley
Salisbury v Dartford
Accrington v Tranmere Rovers
Brentford v Staines Town
Stevenage v Portsmouth
Shortwood United v Port Vale
Leyton Orient v Southport
Peterborough United v Exeter City
Torquay United v Rochdale
Braintree Town v Newport County
Oldham Athletic v Wolves
Lincoln City v Plymouth Argyle
Kidderminster Harriers v Sutton United
Hednesford Town v Crawley Town
Stourbridge v Biggleswade Town
Welling United v Luton Town
Macclesfield Town v Swindon Town
Wycombe Wanderers v Crewe Alexandra
Gloucester City v Fleetwood Town

© e-Football 2013 All rights reserved no part of this document or this website may be reproduced without consent of e-Football