The Second Qualifying Round of the F.A.Cup was played out last weekend. In our cup Tracker 'March to the Arch' we were following the tie between AFC Hornchurch and Brentwood Town. It was a great tie which went to a replay. Brentwood’s reward for going through was £4,500 and a home tie in the 3rd Qualifying Round against Conference South club Woking. It must be the furthest that they've gone in the FA Cup in their history (which is something that we're check out) so it's onwards and upwards for the Blues.
We've taken both reports directly from Brentwood's website which is http://www.brentwoodtownfc.co.uk/
The first game was at Hornchuch and saw Brentwood earn a replay after a 0-0 draw at Bridge Aveneue on Saturday 25th September.
Ryman Premier side Hornchurch were the favourites going into this tie and if it wasn’t for Brentwood’s hard-working defence and goalkeeper Andy Hall, the Urchins would have progressed into the next round.
The best opportunity of the first half fell to Urchins forward Jo Flack in the 39th minute. Flack worked the opening himself but Hall made a good save with his legs.
Hall saved again from Jonathan Hunt seven minutes into the second half and then made his best save of the afternoon to keep out a Martin Tuohy header following a Billy Coyne long throw in the 60th minute.
After Danny Dafter was booked for a challenge on Urchins’ Jordan Collins, Brentwood found themselves defending a number of free kicks and corners, but the back four of Darren Blewitt, Reiss Noel, Nikki Beale and Ryan Doyle held firm.
Beale made a number of clearances deep in the Blues penalty area including one which found its way as far as the stadium car park. Into injury time, Hall made another save from Ross Wall and had done enough to get a second chance on Tuesday.
AFC Hornchuch: Smith, Coyne, Collins, Styles, Fletcher, Dormer, Morrish (Eyong), Hunt, Flack, Tuohy (Wall), Spencer
Brentwood: Hall, Doyle, Blewitt, Noel, Beale, Dafter, Okojie, Muir, Remy, Elb (Ryan) Carlos
The replay at Brentwood on the 28th of September was a tight affair as Brentwood sealed a passage through to the 3rd Qualifying round. A 91st minute goal from skipper Darren Blewitt finally broke the deadlock and gave Brentwood the vital 1-0 win over Hornchurch.
Blues, who are yet to concede a goal in this season’s competition, earned themselves £4500 in prize money from the FA and a place in the 3rd Qualifying Round where they will have a home tie with Conference South club Woking.
Brentwood gradually got on top of their Ryman Premier opponents as the first half progressed and Joao Carlos, Nick Muir, Danny Dafter and Anthony Ryan all threatened to open the scoring.
The Urchins looked stronger at the start of the second half and Jo Flack caused problems in the 48th minute with a run to the goal line and Brentwood were grateful that Blewitt was on hand to clear his low cross in the six-yard box.
Nikke Beale had a golden chance in the 57th minute but his header from a Ryan Doyle free kick flashed just wide of the post.
Tommy Black and substitute Tambeson Eyong caused Blues some problems in the second half but centre-backs Beale and Reiss Noel were again in top form. Hornchurch had a good spell late in the second half and could have taken the lead had another sub Martin Tuohy managed to convert a Tommy Black cross in the 79th minute.
However, Brentwood weathered that storm and the game looked destined for extra-time as the game went into injury time. But when Blues were awarded a free kick Ryan Doyle hit a ball deep into the penalty area where Blewitt rose high to score with a magnificent header into the far corner.
Brentwood: Hall, Doyle, Blewitt, Noel, Beale, Dafter, Okojie, Muir, Remy, Ryan, Carlos
Hornchurch: Smith, Coyne, Spencer, Styles, Fletcher, Hunter, Black, Hunt, Flack (Tuohy), Wall, Morrish (Eyong)
Goal:
Brentwood Town 1 AFC Hornchurch 0 (Darren Blewitt 90+1)
Hornchurch's Videographer Rob Monger caught Blewitt's goal and put it on youtube, which you can see by playing this embedded video.
As ever a report on Brentwood’s next game at home to Woking the game will be up on our blog over that weekend so we can find who has progressed through to the fourth stage of the march to the arch.
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