By Mark Stillman
The NLP had difficulty narrowing down the top ties in this round. These are the featured matches in Sunday’s edition:
Biggleswade (13th Southern League Central) v York City (3rd National League)
Biggleswade have drawn the highest team in the northern section as they sit some 80 places below visitors York City.
The Waders are currently sharing Bedford Town’s The Eyrie stadium. In the league they’re mid-table with 13 points having scored and conceded 10. They defeated Canvey Island in the last round despite ending with nine men against a side a division above. With just 88 watching a Preliminary Round victory over London Lions, over 10 times that number could in attendance on Saturday to see if the Step 4 side can make a maiden voyage into round one.
York City are former FA Cup semi-finalists and haven’t lost in the qualifying rounds since 2021. Adam Hinshelwood’s side have conceded a league low seven, just two in their last eight games, and are unbeaten away this season. The York boss led Worthing to round one last year where they lost to Alfreton Town.
Hednesford Town (15th NPL West) v Gateshead (4th National League)
This contest has been given the television treatment as Steve King’s side look to upset the odds.
Hednesford Town famously reached round four in 1997 but before this season, the club hadn’t won an FA Cup game since 2020. The rejuvenated Pitmen are a different proposition now. They’ve scored at least three in a game on seven occasions this term but a spate of injuries recently means they’re without a league win in four. A bumper crowd with past players from the 1990s glory days is expected at Keys Park.
Gateshead will be looking to be party poopers. A 2-1 defeat at Tamworth on Tuesday was just their third loss of the season and they’ve scored in every away game thus far. They were successful at this stage in the midlands last year, overcoming Stourbridge, before losing at Yeovil Town in round one.
Chertsey Town (16th Southern Premier South) v Sutton United (9th National League)
Just over 20 miles separates these two Surrey rivals, now divided by just two divisions.
Chertsey sat four levels below Sutton last term, but their Isthmian South Central title earned them a place in Step 3 after a 27-year absence. Having first entered the FA Cup in 1950, the Curfews have never made round one, but they celebrated success at Wembley in 2019 having won the FA Vase. Mark Harper’s team have beaten Raynes Park Vale, Hanwell Town and Ashford United to reach this stage for just the second time in their history.
Sutton United are playing in the qualifying rounds for the first time since 2020. They captured the imagination in 2017, making the last 16 before losing to Arsenal. They make the short journey to Alwyns Lane on Saturday having just lost their four match unbeaten run at Hartlepool United.
Leiston (16th Southern Premier Central) v Dagenham & Redbridge (13th National League)
While Ipswich Town have gained more attention in Suffolk footballing circles in recent years, Leiston will be hoping to replicate the Tractor Boys’ success.
One of their joint managers, Darren Eadie, made around 200 appearances for Norwich City. He and Chris Wigger are looking to guide the Blues to the first round for the first time since 2008. They were seconds away from heading out in the last round, requiring Kyran Clements’ 95th minute intervention v Hornchurch before winning the replay. Having lost in the FA Trophy last week, there will be hopes to keep this cup journey continuing a little longer.
Dagenham stand in their way. The Daggers are without a win in three in an inconsistent start to the season. They’ll also be wary of last year’s 4th Qualifying Round where they lost at another Step 3 side – Bracknell Town.
Tamworth (14th National League) v Macclesfield (1st NPL Premier)
Macclesfield are looking to reach round one for the first time since reforming in 2021.
Confidence is high for them, but they travel to Tamworth who are mid-table in Step 1 following back-to-back titles. This is the first time they’ve started in the 4th Qualifying Round since 2013, when they eventually exited in round two to Bristol City. They’ve not made it through qualifying since.
Robbie Savage’s Macclesfield, unbeaten in all competitions, have scored 14 in their FA Cup run including five against National League North outfit South Shields.
Harborough Town (15th Southern Premier Central) v Bury (3rd NWCFL Premier)
Former FA Cup winners Bury will be looking to cause an upset at Leicestershire club Harborough Town.
Harborough, who only entered the FA Cup for the first time 11 years ago, hadn’t made it past the 2nd Qualifying Round until this season. A giantkilling success over Leamington was another highlight of a fine year, which saw them reach Step 3 for the first time in their history.
Bury are currently two divisions below the Bees and are the only Step 5 side remaining in the competition. Having won 3-2 at National League North Radcliffe last time out, the unbeaten Shakers will want to cause a stir at Bowden Park. They’ve not progressed past this round since the EFL club went out of business in 2019.
Horsham (15th Isthmian Premier) v Gorleston (16th Isthmian League North)
Headline makers Gorleston will look to cause another upset.
Horsham stand in their way. They made the news last year themselves, progressing to round two after they were awarded a win over Barnsley en route. They knocked out Dorking Wanderers in 2023 and replicated that last month before needing a replay to beat Margate.
Gorleston made the front page of the NLP following a 3rd Qualifying Round success over St Albans City. They’re one of three Step 4 sides (the others Hednesford Town and Bigglewade) still in the competition. They last made the first round in 1957 when they lost 10-1 at Gillingham.
Saturday’s fixtures (KO 3pm unless stated):
AFC Fylde v Rochdale
Aldershot Town v Bath City
Alfreton Town v Spennymoor Town
Altrincham v Solihull Moors
Barnet v Chelmsford City
Biggleswade v York City
Boreham Wood v Carshalton Athletic
Braintree Town v Bishop’s Stortford
Chertsey Town v Sutton United
Chesham United v Yeovil Town
Cray Wanderers v Tonbridge Angels
Curzon Ashton v King’s Lynn Town
Eastleigh v Southend United
Farsley Celtic v Kettering Town
Forest Green Rovers v Weymouth
Gainsborough Trinity v Boston United
Harborough Town v Bury
Hartlepool United v Brackley Town
Hednesford Town v Gateshead (3.30pm)
Horsham v Gorleston
Kidderminster Harriers v Guiseley
Leiston v Dagenham & Redbridge
Lowestoft Town v Weston-super-Mare
Maidstone United v Ebbsfleet United
Oldham Athletic v FC Halifax Town
Plymouth Parkway v Worthing
Rushall Olympic v Peterborough Sports
Scarborough Athletic v Chester
Tamworth v Macclesfield
Taunton Town v Maidenhead United
Wealdstone v Gosport Borough
Woking v Slough Town
Read up on all the games in Sunday’s NLP!
