31 NPL clubs await FA Cup draw

23 clubs successfully navigated first qualifying round ties at the weekend, with a further eight due to be involved in replays this week - including two all-NPL ties meaning there will be at least 25 NPL clubs in the next round.

NPL West Division side Prescot had a blistering first half performance to largely thank for their progress, as they beat NPL East side North Ferriby.

Cables led 3-0 at half time thanks to goals from John Murphy, James Foley and Francis Smith, and then made it four early in the second half through Jack Goodwin.

A stoppage then followed due to an injury to one of the assistant referees, which resulted in a (suitably qualified!) 15-year-old spectator stepping in to run the line for the rest of the match.

Cables boss Ste Daley said post-match: “First half I thought we were outstanding. Everything we’ve been working on, came together in the first half. It’s difficult to keep up the intensity we played first half and when you’re 3-0 up.

“We came out and scored again, then linesman got injured and there was a break in play, and that killed the momentum.

“There was always going to be a point where they rolled the dice a bit, and we stood tall for most of it. They got two goals and it probably flattered them in the end.

“Give me a home tie if we can!”

A through ball released Murphy to open the scoring inside seven minutes, as he fired through the legs of Lewis Exall, and they could have doubled their lead when a free-kick rattled the crossbar.

A handball in the box then gifted the opportunity for a second goal, enabling Foley to score from the penalty spot high to the keeper’s right, before Murphy again found space in behind and laid off for Smith to score a third.

The pick of the goals went to Goodwin, who cut inside and hit a curling effort that went in off the post four minutes in to the second half for 4-0.

After the stoppage, Ferriby worked their way back in to the game and got on the scoresheet when Oli Donald fired home from Josh Dennett’s long throw.

But their hopes of an unlikely comeback were thwarted when Amir Berchil saw his penalty saved by Mitchell Allen, and though they would find a second through a Donald header, it was too little too late.

Ferriby boss Chris Bolder said: “It’s a disappointing afternoon for us, we just weren’t at the races, particularly in the first half. We got punished severely by a bright, energetic, hard working team.

“In the second half we changed a few things and perhaps they’ve taken their foot off the gas, but we started to cause them problems and you never know if the penalty goes in. It was nowhere near good enough from us and we’ll dust ourselves down and go again.”

NPL sides through to the FA Cup second qualifying round: Anstey Nomads, Ashton United, Atherton Collieries, Bradford Park Avenue, Cambridge City, Carlton Town, Cleethorpes Town, FC United, Harborough Town, Hyde United, Lancaster City, Leek Town, Macclesfield, Marske United, Morpeth Town, Mossley, Prescot Cables, Spalding United, Stafford Rangers, Warrington Rylands, Whitby, Workington, Worksop Town.

In the draw but with a replay to come: Gainsborough Trinity/Matlock Town, Guiseley/Marine, Nantwich Town, Runcorn Linnets, Sporting Khalsa, Widnes

The draw is expected to be released today (Monday) at 1pm.

Photos by Darren Murphy