Road to Wembley 2010/11 (4th Qualifying Round)

So for non-league teams, this was it. The final hurdle they would have to jump through to have a possible crack at a League team in the 1st Round proper. Few teams who started their cup run in August were still here and with the Premier teams of non-league coming in for this round, the real lower teams would need one hell of a performance to get to Round 1.

(A bath. And probably the reaction of the Bath City’s manager’s son when he found out who they’d drawn in this round)

After Swindon Supermarine had done football a favour by dispatching of gobshites Hungerford Town in the previous round. Their reward was a local West Country derby with Blue Square Premier side Bath City. Bath were finding their first season in the top flight of non-league football for ages after their relegation from the Conference National in 1997. Now a club on the up, they were in the relegation zone but as soon as they turn their large number of draws into wins, they’ll be fine.

While Bath were clear favourites for this tie, the opening game didn’t end up that way as it was goal-less at Marine. Bath did score through Phillips, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Fans who were there said the game was crap which was a shame, but Marine had a good attendance and a replay at Twerton Park.

The replay was a bit of a shocker as after a crap game on Saturday, Bath and Marine played a sensational game where Marine scored a late winner to come out on top 4-3. A bit of a shock as Bath are two divisions higher than Marine and did have home advantage for the replay, but this is the FA Cup! Even better for Marine who are now in the 1st Round proper for the very first time. They also have a winnable tie as they have drawn Blue Square North side Eastwood Town at home at the beginning on November. Come on Marine!!

ROAD TO WEMBLEY 2010/2011:

EXTRA PRELIMINARY ROUND: Elmore 1-5 Hamworthy Utd (Horsdon Park, Att: 247)

PRELIMINARY ROUND: Hamworthy Utd 2-2 Sherborne Town (County Ground, Att: 122)

PRELIMINARY ROUND Replay: Sherborne Town 3–0 Hamworthy Utd (Raleigh Grove, Att: 154)

1ST QUALIFYING ROUND: Wimborne Town 1-3 Sherborne Town (The Cuthbury, Att: 226)

2ND QUALIFYING ROUND: Sherborne Town 1-2 Hungerford Town (Raleigh Grove, Att: 138)

3RD QUALIFYING ROUND: Swindon Supermarine 4-0 Hungerford Town (Webb’s Wood Stadium, Att: 365)

4TH QUALIFYING ROUND: Swindon Supermarine 0-0 Bath City (Webb’s Wood Stadium, Att: 551)

4TH QUALIFYING ROUND Replay: Bath City 3-4 Swindon Supermarine (Twerton Park, Att: 665)