UCL Review 2015 16

FA CUP REVIEW: RECORD WINS TALLY FOR LEAGUE

The league enjoyed its best ever season in the FA Cup with member clubs recording a total of 28 wins and earning prize money of £50,975. All our clubs made their exits by the Second Qualifying Round stage but nonetheless there were many memorable moments along the way.

28 clubs started out in the Extra Preliminary Round and seventeen made progress as the league enjoyed its best ever day in the national competition.

Two Division One sides put out Premier opposition with Peterborough Sports marking their return to the FA Cup after a 93 year absence with a single goal success at Eynesbury, Avelino Vieira the marksman, Thrapston put out hosts Rothwell Corinthians 2-1 with a Ben Morgan penalty and Jedd Whiteman winner. Redressing the balance for the top flight slightly were Northampton Spencer who progressed 3-0 at Whitworth with Alex Lowery, Jake Gartland and Ryan Lovell on target. Scott Coupland hit a hat trick as Deeping crushed early season league leaders Boston Town 6-1, Billy Oliver, Scott Mooney and Dan Flack also making scoring contributions. Kirby Muxloe’s first FA Cup tie as a UCL club saw them beat Heanor 3-1 at Ratby Lane with two Pradeep Bahrey goals and one from Sam Wilson while Oadby also beat Midland League opposition, progressing 3-1 at Quorn with Ryan Seal, Ollie Brown-Hill and Sam Grouse sharing the goals. Leicester Nirvana thrashed hosts Blaby & Whetstone 5-0 with two goal Ash Day, Reece Morris, Pearson Mwanyongo and Suleiman Nassor all on target while a fine Harborough comeback saw them defeat Shirebrook 3-2 at Bowdens Park with Jack Burrows and two goal Jordan Crawford turning the tie the Bees’ way. Cogenhoe were our biggest winners of the round, 6-0 at Bedford with Ross Harris, Lewis Leslie, two goal Taylor Orosz, Luke Emery and Alfie Taylor on the scoresheet while Newport Pagnell outgunned Holmer Green 6-2 with Josh Crawley scoring four including a nine minute first half hat trick, Sam O’Neill and Fazel Koriya also on the mark for the Swans. Rob Hughes gave Wisbech a 1-0 win over Diss while Yaxley’s debut on their new artificial surface saw them progress 2-1 against Gorleston with goals from Jon Stead and Deakan Napier. A Brian Farrell penalty and late Stuart Macmichael winner saw Sileby through 2-1 against Sun Postal while Glenn Turner’s goal took Raunds through 1-0 at home to Crawley Green in an all step 6 tie. Three clubs progressed in replays. Holbeach were far too strong for Ely as Josh Ford and Gary King scored two apiece in a 4-0 success in the Fens, while AFC Kempston overturned a two goal first half deficit to beat Oxhey 3-2 in a match played at Biggleswade Town due to the Walnut Boys’ floodlight problems. Jason Turner’s double hauled Kempston level with Alex Stoyles scoring a late winner. Long Buckby became the fourth Division One side to progress as a penalty from Ed Kostiuk saw them beat step 5 Harefield at Station Road. The Preliminary Round saw seven of seventeen clubs jump the second hurdle on the Wembley trail. Three of them took higher grade scalps with Long Buckby taking pride of place with a 2-1 derby defeat of Daventry, two steps higher in the non league structure. Second half goals from Calum Yeates and Simon Barby gave Buckby a famous victory. Also flying the Division One flag were Peterborough Sports who outgunned higher grade hosts Newmarket 5-3. Avelino Vieira starred for Sports with a four goal haul, Jordan Macleod completing the nap hand. Deeping also beat higher level opposition, a first half Scott Mooney goal seeing off Ryman League visitors Dereham 1-0. There were two all-Premier ties. In a Leicestershire derby goals from Ben Stephens and Rob Morgan took Oadby through 2-0 at Harborough while Gary King was the Holbeach matchwinner in a 1-0 success at Wisbech. Cogenhoe made smooth progress, 3-0 at home to Spelthorne with Jack Bowen, Dean Lukeman and Alfie Taylor sharing the goals while there was an impressive win for Yaxley who beat Godmanchester 4-1 at In2itive Park with Dan Cotton, Tobi Ogbonna and two goal Andy Furnell sharing the Cuckoos’ goals.

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