FA Cup 2012/13: 2 Devon Clubs Carry the Flag to the 2nd Qualifying Round

Won’t be long until the Devon league clubs feature in the first round proper. But still 3 rounds of games to be played first. This Saturday (22nd September) sees the 2nd qualifying round being played. 2 Devon clubs will feature.

The 2 ties are:

67 Buckland Athletic v Bath City
76 Gosport Borough v Bideford AFC

Buckland will be delighted to entertain former Conference side Bath City., now in the Blue Square South. If Toolstation Western League Premier  side Buckland win, then it will be considered the upset of the round. There should be a good crowd at Homers Heath.

A tricky tie for Bideford who have to travel to Hampshire and face Gosport Borough. Both teams are struggling form in the Evo-Stik League Premier Division. Bideford lost at AFC Totton during the week, whilst Gosport lost at home to St Albans. A crowd of over 300 will be expected at Privett Park.

Other ties to look our for are: Truro City entertain AFC Totton, Frome take on Weston-Super-Mare, Grays Athletic host Maidstone United, Sutton United play Bromley in possibly the tie of the round, Dover take on local rivals Tonbridge Angels, Curzon Ashton are still in the cup and will be playing Bradford Park Avenue.

A very useful £4,500 await the winners of this round. No new teams come in at the 3rd qualifying round, so just 20 ties to be drawn on Monday morning by the FA.

With Wembley FC having been ditched out of the cup, ESPN and the sponsors Budweiser retain their position of taking no interest in these rounds. A reminder that theFA need to look for new sponsors who’ll take better care of the traditions of the cup.

At the moment I intend to go and see the Gosport Borough tie with Bideford, though the lure of the Grecians at Southend is great!