I’m up to 6,882 matches after three Emirates FA Cup extra preliminary round ties at the weekend.
On Friday evening I took a train from London Victoria to Whyteleafe in Surrey for Lingfield v Canterbury City on Whyteleafe FC’s 3G pitch.
The sky got darker and darker on the journey down and the rain was torrential from East Croydon onwards. It was slightly less heavy when they kicked off.
Canterbury’s No9 burst through the middle with just the keeper to beat and with about 10 seconds played I thought I was going to see the first goal of the 2015-16 FA Cup. But he tried a chip and it sailed miles wide.
The first goal actually came on 36 minutes, scored by the visitors in their all-green strip and they went on to win 3-0. The late start, an extended interval and lots of stoppages for injuries meant that the first train back to London was the 22.12. Fortunately it was a Friday, so I wasn’t bothered about getting home late.
I had the best shepherd’s pie ever at a restaurant in Purley on Saturday before continuing my train journey to Earlswood for Redhill v Pagham. The lady in the ticket office at Purley station had never heard of Earlswood and asked me to spell it.
FA Cup action from Redhill v Pagham
The Reds, with a new manager and team, had lost their first two Combined Counties League fixtures without scoring. They did manage a goal on Saturday, an equalising penalty at 1-1, but Pagham – from near Bognor – notched a winner near the end and now host Corinthian-Casuals in the next round.
Epsom & Ewell v Erith & Belvedere, aka ‘The Salts’ v ‘The Deres’, completed my FA Cup treble on Sunday.
Epsom share Chipstead FC’s High Road ground and that involves a long walk along country lanes without pavements from Chipstead station. This tie had a very quick goal. Erith’s No9 was played in down the right, his firm cross-shot was palmed away by the ‘keeper at full stretch, and No10 (the No9’s brother) fired home.
Half the crowd must have had stopwatches because I heard 14, 15, 16, 18 and 19 seconds given as the time of the goal. Epsom’s website has 19 seconds – so I’ll go with that for the moment. Erith also scored a minute or so into the second half and were comfortable 4-0 winners by the end.
I’ve now seen 471 FA Cup matches, including 43 Finals, and the next one should be the Wembley v Hillingdon Borough replay on Tuesday evening.
Twitter: @thebarberfan
