Nerves and the call of nature stopped Halstead Town boss Mark Benterman from savouring the end of his side’s shock victory in the previous round.
All Benterman demanded from his players was a respectable performance against Thurrock, a team who lie two divisions above in the pyramid.
But after Tom Cook and Joe O’Hare fired the Humbugs into an early an unexpected lead – suddenly the pressure was on to preserve their Emirates FA Cup run.
AFC Sudbury v Halstead Town
The Emirates FA Cup
First Round Qualifying
3pm, Saturday 3 September 2016
The Wardale Williams Stadium
Winners receive £3000 from prize fund
By Chris Bailey
"With 20 minutes to go we scored an unfortunate own goal, and I was so nervous that at one point I had to go to toilet – I must have drunk about five litres of water before the game!" said Benterman.
"I heard a roar at 3-2 and thought they’d scored another one because we had our backs against the wall. But we held on – we had a lot of luck out there, and it was a proud moment to win the game.
"It’s our best run in ten years and the way we’ve done it has been superb, to beat a Step Five and then a Step Four team.
"We thought we could ruffle a few feathers against Newmarket Town in the extra preliminary round, we felt like we were going in the right direction so it was not too much of a surprise that we beat them.
"We then went to Thurrock with nothing to lose but that all changes when we were 2-0 up with 12 minutes gone. Someone must have been looking down us."
Halstead are now one of only 11 teams from Step Six of the National League System that still remain in the competition and the prize for their toil is Saturday’s trip to AFC Sudbury.
Though Halstead are based in Essex, Suffolk side Sudbury is just an eight-mile drive north – but they are more familiar with their reserves than their first team.
"I think Sudbury were expecting they’d be playing Thurrock, so we’re a surprise package in that sense – we play their reserves in our league, there’s always been a history between us," said Benterman, whose side play in the Eastern Counties Football League.
"It’s been phenomenal exposure for the club, around 1,500 people combined have come to our last four or five home games and we were unbeaten in August."
Emirates FA Cup history
Halstead twice reached the third round qualifying during the 1990s, but had not returned to first round qualifying since losing to Enfield on penalties in the 2009-10 season.
AFC Sudbury, of the Isthmian Premier, have once reached the first round proper when they faced Darlington in 2000.
Did you know?
Halstead have already helped leave an indelible mark on this year’s competition as the footballing fraternity came together to support two footballers who were seriously injured earlier this summer.
Newmarket Town’s Shaun Whiter was forced to have both legs amputated after being involved in a car crash along with his friend and Soham player Joey Abbs.
All gate receipts from Halstead and Newmarket’s extra preliminary round game were donated to the pair, though the initial game was rearranged after the Jockeys’ Matt Hayden suffered a leg break.
Benterman said: "It was fantastic for our club to be able to do something, we are part of the football family and we were only happy to donate in aid of that charity – the total was near £1000 in the end.
"It was just unfortunate that the day was ruined when the poor lad broke his ankle.
"But there was free entry for the rescheduled game, and we had about 235 people there which was a great turnout.
"Football came together for those two lads and I know a lot of other clubs have helped too."
One to watch
Joe O’Hare is just 18-years-old but is already making a nifty habit of scoring in The Emirates FA Cup.
The teenager, on loan from Chelmsford City for the entire season, came off the bench to spark a 2-1 turnaround against Newmarket Town before – with assistance from the wind – he scored a long-range effort that David Beckham would be proud of.
"Joe is a young lad who has come in and hadn’t played in The FA Cup before," said Benterman.
"He then scored the winner against Newmarket Town, before scoring from the halfway line against Thurrock. That’s given him so much confidence.
"We’ve got him for the whole season, he’s a great lad with a bundle of energy – and he’s come up with the goods this year, I know Chelmsford are excited about him.
"They are a National League South side so it’s been hard for him to get games there, but I think Chelmsford are happy that he’s in the right place."
The Prize
The near-neighbours will battle it out for a £3000 pot, while the winner will also progress to second round qualifying.
