The 52nd season of The FA Sunday Cup started with the first round ties at the weekend. David Barber, The FA’s historian and superfan, watched FC Bengals play Victoria Millers at Uxbridge FC.
I had to keep it simple on Sunday, with tube suspensions on the Bakerloo, Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines, walking to Regent’s Park for LBS Alumni v KPMG Dynamo in the London Accountants League. I managed to make it back to Paddington for the 13.15 ‘Sunday Cup Special’ to West Drayton.
It’s a 15-minute walk from the station to Honeycroft, Uxbridge’s ground since the ‘80s. I decided to stand behind the goal at the far end but before I’d even got there, there was the drama of a first-minute penalty.
Victoria Millers kick off on a sunny afternoon in Middlesex
Millers’ No.9, Jake Newman, was held back inside the box but it looked like some mutual grappling and I wasn’t completely surprised to see the ref apparently wave away all the appeals.
Play moved upfield, with the suspicion of a foul near the halfway line, when the ref suddenly pointed to the spot for that penalty, which No.7 David Bell coolly fired into the bottom corner, opposite the one the ‘keeper had thrown himself towards.
For the rest of the half FC Bengals had more of the chances. One long-range effort bounced on the bar, an indirect free kick about eight yards out went soaring into the car park and then No.9 thumped in an equaliser after controlling the ball with his hand – according to the visitors’ No.2.
Millers’ ‘keeper Lee Baxter made four or five outstanding saves in that first half and they lived dangerously early in the second period, the home No.9 being denied first by a post and then by a lunging defender on the line in the space of three seconds.
The two sides met in first round of The FA Sunday Cup at Uxbridge
Millers whacked countless balls up for the willing Newman to chase and, playing on the shoulder of the last defender, he was bound to get lucky sooner or later.
He slid a shot past the ‘keeper as he came out and, with no-one near him, sprinted to a corner flag pole which he volleyed over the fence encircling the pitch and into the old turnstile block.
He was booked by the ref and the pole was retrieved by the groundsman after play had continued for a few minutes. It turned out to be the winner of an excellent contest in which both teams had been committed to attack.
I was one of 18 spectators, watching my 6,920th match. Northamptonshire-based Millers now progress to entertain Upshire from Epping in Essex in the next round on 15 November.
You can keep up to date with The Barber and his grassroots tales via Twitter @thebarberfan
