The draw for the Emirates FA Cup second round qualifying was made on Monday lunchtime and one of the stand-out ties pits Pitching In Southern League Premier Central high-flyers Quorn and Kettering Town together.
Both teams have started the season strongly, with new-boys, Quorn, adapting well to their new surroundings having won the Northern Premier League Midlands Division at a canter last term.
They hit eight without reply past Sherwood Colliery to make FA Cup progress on Saturday, whilst Kettering were 4-1 winners at Long Eaton United.
Leading by example at Quorn is inspirational skipper, Reece Fyfe, who made his 100th appearance for the club recently.
“To reach this milestone is a huge achievement for me,” Fyfe told us. “To get to a century of appearances at any club is something to be proud of and I hope that there are many more to come for me here.
“I don’t remember too much about my first game, other than we were at home. I joined when Quorn were in Step 5, I came in from Ilkeston Town knowing that I needed to play regular football again and try to get back to my best.
“I was given the platform to do that here and I haven’t looked back since. So much has changed on the football side of things at the club; players have come and gone yet somehow I have managed to stay here and be part of the journey.
“The club as a whole is doing amazingly as well, the stadium/club house is getting developed bit by bit, which is what the people who come down every week deserve, and we’ve also given them plenty to cheer about on the pitch too.
“Going into the Premier Central this season, it’s just as challenging as I expected it to be. I knew it would be combative, technical and physically demanding, but as a team we are more than up for the fight.
“We are more than capable of competing at this level, as just one defeat from our opening five League games suggests. Before we even kicked a ball this season, we would have snapped your hand off for that.
“The one big difference I can see, though, is in the final third. Last year we were able to get away with missing chances, because we knew we’d get at least two or three more eventually, but this year if we don’t manage to score, we can easily get punished down the other end.
“Personally, I feel that I have started the season really well; barring getting cramp against Worcester City in the first game! Since then I’ve grown again, like the team, and we have proved that we are up for the fight that this League demands from us.
“We have to keep pushing and wanting to be better, whilst bringing our own qualities to every game.
“The FA Cup draw is a tough one for both teams. We have home advantage, so we are happy about that, but at this stage of the competition, it’s as hard as it could possibly be for both ourselves and Kettering.
“It would be nice to have a run in this competition, of course it would, but our main aim is to establish ourselves at Step 3. There were a lot of predictions from outside the club over the summer that we would struggle, but that only gives us extra motivation to prove them wrong.
“As long as we keep reaching the standards that we know we are capable of and doing the right things, we will be okay.”
A staunch supporter of his grandson, Fyfe’s grandad watched him help the team chalk up a 5-2 victory over Stratford Town last month before sadly passing away the following day. Fyfe has taken to the field in the games since then with the kind of courage and determination that made his grandad so proud of him and that has made him such a popular and much-loved figure amongst everyone at Quorn FC.
The rest of the Emirates FA Cup second qualifying round draw involving our member clubs is, as follows:
Having beaten Worcestershire rivals, Bromsgrove Sporting, an away tie at Racing Club Warwick awaits Evesham United. Meanwhile, if Worcester City can overcome their replay at Chasetown, they face a home encounter with Premier Central rivals, Banbury United.
There’s a home tie for Alvechurch against Leamington, as Stamford head to the winners of the Bourne Town v Shepshed Dynamo replay. Redditch United are on their travels as they go to Buxton, Spalding United will be hoping to make home advantage count against Alfreton Town and if Harborough Town can firstly overcome Leek Town, they will be at home to Worksop Town.
The winner of the Stratford Town v Halesowen Town replay go to Grimsby Borough as Stourbridge await to find out whether their destination will be Sutton Coldfield Town or Abbey Hulton United. Royston Town host Brentwood Town and Bury Town welcome Woodford Town.
If Hitching Town beat Potters Bar Town they will host St. Albans City and it’s home advantage for Leiston against Hackney Wick. There’s an interesting match-up between Enfield and Enfield Town, whilst Hertford Town go to Chelmsford City.
AFC Sudbury will be at home to Aveley, whilst Real Bedford entertain Bishop’s Stortford if they can first overcome Hemel Hempstead Town. Needham Market host Eynesbury Rovers as Berkhamsted hit the road with their destination Billericay Town. A trip to Burgess Hill Town is on the agenda for Farnham Town, whilst Hanwell Town will host Bedfont Sports Club if Cray Wanderers can be disposed of first.
There is a home draw for Chertsey Town against Cray Valley (PM), whilst Bracknell Town, if they can beat Dartford, would welcome a Tadley Calleva outfit who removed Weymouth from the competition at the weekend. Walton & Hersham will go to either Hayes & Yeading United or Whitehawk, whilst Flackwell Heath head to the lowest-ranked team left in the competition, Soul Tower Hamlets. Winner of the Winchester City v Fareham Town replay will host Sholing as Taunton Town welcome Weston super Mare in another mouth-watering draw. Likewise, Wimborne Town’s home clash with Bath City also captures the imagination.
The in-form Brixham AFC welcome Dorchester Town as Gloucester City will be at home to Chippenham Town if they can overcome AFC Portchester. The winner of Didcot Town v Poole Town goes to Gosport Borough, whilst Hungerford Town and Swindon Supermarine go head-to-head.
Finally, Westbury United or Yate Town will entertain Oxford City and Shaftesbury or Exmouth Town will welcome their Division One South rivals, Frome Town.
IMAGE: Quorn FC
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