By Kirk Asiedu, a member of the Young Reporter's Club. Kirk says, "I'm a young aspiring sports journalist with a passion to bring content to people in an effective unconventional way. Football is a part of my being. It has taught me values as person, and has now very much become a part of my career path. I seek to promote footballing talent among ethnic minorities, showing the world that you don’t have to be born in a certain part of the world to be a world class footballer. I am also looking to return to my country one day to engage in a role amongst the Ghanaian football association as well as work to eradicate corruption in African football once and for all."
Walthamstow were one of three Essex Senior League sides left in the Emirates FA Cup, along with Saffron Walden Town and Takeley, so the pressure was on to remain in the competition when they took on Beaconsfield Town in the first round qualifying.
Before kick-off you could see the sense of community among the Walthamstow ranks. The fans almost looked like family members who had come together to enjoy a game of football.
While men, women and children filled the ground, an elderly man with a wooden ratchet came out to the stands selling raffle tickets and it was at that point you realised The FA Cup is more than a competition. It’s community, fellowship and fun.
And Walthamstow fan Andrew Miller feels very strongly about this.
He said: “When the competition progresses it becomes less about football and more about the glitz and the glamour.
“This is where the real magic is. We make The FA Cup what it is because we carry the magic.”
Within three minutes Walthamstow demonstrated their no-nonsense style of defending as their left-back Lee Flynn blasted the ball outside tache stadium following a Beaconsfield attack.
Ten minutes into the first half a defensive mistake from Beaconsfield provided James Peagram with a decent opportunity to break the deadlock, but he chipped wide when one-on-one.
Beaconsfield were finding luck through the middle of the park, particularly through Louis Stead who was hitting passes left, right and centre. A Beaconsfield attack on the half-hour mark forced a Walthamstow defender to head the ball off the line, a clearance which was met with a huge roar from the fans. This was the final piece of action of the first half.
Beaconsfield Town came out firing after the break and began asserting their dominance.
Their pressing paid dividends when they drew first blood 10 minutes into the second half through midfield maestro Stead.
Not long after, one became two as substitute Alex Cathline finished low into the bottom left corner.
Walthamstow managed some last-gasp efforts in the last 10 minutes but Beaconsfield Town held their nerve and booked their place in the second round qualifying.
If you're aged between 18 and 24 and interested in joining The FA's Young Reporters' Club, please e-mail Editor@TheFA.com with an excerpt from an essay, match report or interview you have written. Tell us a bit about yourself, too, and we may well get in touch with you ahead of the next round.
