The Calm Before The Storm: FA Cup, Round 2…

The big boys are looming… time for the teams still in the FA Cup to fight for a win more than ever, because the all-important third round is next.

For the smaller teams, a win means an opportunity to possibly be drawn against the big English teams, which would give a massive financial boost – where else would you see the likes of Manchester United possibly playing Stourbridge, for example?

At this point, the most high-profile teams in the competition are from Leagues One and Two (who joined the competition in Round One Proper). Leading the charge in the second round in this group are 3rd placed Walsall from League One (Burton and Coventry were already knocked out in the last round), and for League Two leaders Oxford United and 3rd placed Northampton Town – who coincidentally have the same amount of points, but the former having a greater goal advantage.

It’s a time of relief for Northampton – having finally resolved their financial issues, they can look forward to taking on Northwich Victoria (from Northern Premier League Division One North, or the eighth tier of English Football – the lowest ranked team remaining in the competition). A victory for the Cobblers will give them their first 3rd round appearance in 10 years, and riding the wave they’re currently on – surely only a shocking “Cupset” would stop them…

One of the teams to stop them progressing? The aforementioned top team left at this point, Walsall, who visit a managerless Chesterfield – also in League One, but in 16th place and only 4 points above the relegation zone. Under caretaker manager Mark Smith, could they start a bounce-back by getting through to the third round of the FA Cup?

But what about the non-league teams? There’s ten of them left – along with Northwich Victoria who we mentioned earlier, there’s Salford City, Stourbridge, Eastleigh, Chesham United, Altrincham, Whitehawk, Forest Green, Welling and Grimsby. At least one of these teams will make the third round, as Stourbridge and Eastleigh play each other, but the question is how many others can make surprises against their upper tier rivals and become one of those 64 infamous numbers in the bag for the third round?

We’ll find out come 7PM this Monday coming…

Ashley Redman
PunkFootball Blogger Proper