Bedfordshire clubs had a great day in the FA Cup Preliminary Round as 6 clubs made it through to join Bedford Town in the First Qualfying Round and pick up £1500 prize money for their victories.
The only sides to go out were Langford and Ampthill Town and that is because they lost to fellow Bedfordshire clubs! Spartan South Midlands League table toppers Langford narrowly lost out to Arlesey Town who had a Jamie Osbourne to thank as his goal on the hour was the only differnce between the clubs. Arlesey will now make the trip to Brentwood Town in the next round. Ampthill Town put up a stong display against Dunstable Town but a disputed Nick Nolan penalty after 20 minutes gave the Regiment a 1-0 half time lead and this was doubled by Stuart Strange just before the hour, that would have been a fair result but 2 goals in the last 5 minutes from Terry Billy and Stuart Sinclair added a gloss to the scoreline. Dunstable Town now travel to Canvey Island in the next round.
Barton Rovers saw off Essex Senior League side Burnham Ramblers as the set up a trip to Isthmian League side Ware in the First Qualifying Round. Barton got the best start possible when an own goal gave them a 2nd minute lead, Josh Sozzo then put away a penalty on the stroke of half time and BArton doubled their lead. A Burnham goal just after the hour wasn't enough to stop Rovers progressing. Stotfold had a cracking away win at early Eastern Counties League pacesetters Halstead Town as a Paul Donnelly penalty and a Callum Donnelly goal both in the first half was enough to send them through despite a consolation goal for Halstead in the second half, Stotfold have now set up a repeat of last seasons Beds Senior Cup Final as they will host Leighton Town in the next round who overcame Ryman League outfit Tilbury by 2 goals to nil, Ben Gallant broke the deadlock on 75 mins and Leighton secured their place in the next round thanks to an own goal on 85 minutes. Biggleswade United were the final side to put their name in the First Qualifying Round as they came from behind to beat Tring Athletic, after a goalless first half Tring struck within a minute of the restart but Luke Lincoln brought the score level after 65 minutes and and then 10 minutes later fired home a penalty to send United through.
FA Cup Preliminary Round Results:
Ampthill Town 0-4 Dunstable Town
Barton Rovers 2-1 Burnham Ramblers
Langford 0-1 Arlesey Town
Halstead Town 1-2 Stotfold
Tilbury 0-2 Leighton Town
Tring Athletic 1-2 Biggleswade United
FA Cup First Round Qualifying Fixtures: (13th Sept)
Boreham Wood v Biggleswade United
Brentwood Town v Arlesey Town
Canvey Island v Dunstable Town
Stotfold v Leighton Town
Ware v Barton Rovers
Wealdstone v Bedford Town