One Year On: The FA Cup 4QR Story Of Last Season

18 Oct 2018 By Sam Elliott

The FA Cup is full of excitement of course but it’s also full of anxiety and dread.

There have been a number of headlines made already. Don’t ask Chester fans their thoughts after being dumped out by Step 5 assassins Dunston UTS.

Or Boston United supporters for that matter, going down - and out - at home to Peterborough Sports.

The FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round rarely disappointments the sporting romantic, so we’ve gone back a year to recalled the stories from October 2017.

There were two huge upsets on a weekend where a number of National League clubs fell in their first game in the competition.

The biggest perhaps came on the Sunday. Barrow, who enjoyed a decent first few months, were on the wrong end of a big story.

Shaw Lane Aquaforce - now not even in existence - won 2-1 as the Barnsley-based Evo-Stik League side sprung a big surprise in Yorkshire.

That wasn’t it. While most didn’t know about Shaw Lane’s potential, the threat of Hereford was obvious.

The Bulls took the scalp of Eastleigh on their own turf with the Spitfires knowing exactly how to beat the odds in years gone by.

“When the draw came out, it was one that we were happy with and felt we would come here and perform,” said manager Peter Beadle at the time.

Wrexham went out at the first stage - losing by the odd goal at AFC Fylde. While a few years ago it would have been a massive upset, it didn’t surprise too many considering the Coasters great rise.

Chester tumbled out - lower league Kidderminster too strong at Aggborough.

FC Halifax were gone at the first stage, Tranmere Rovers won 3-1 at the Shay while Leyton Orient beat Dagenham in a replay in an all East London affair.

Thanks to a number of same-division draws, a few Non-League top flight clubs fell.

Torquay United missed out on a run thanks to Aldershot Town and Dover has a disaster in their replay as they went down 3-0 at Bromley.

Ryman League Billericay beat Brackley - a side going for promotion in the National League North as were Harrogate, who tumbled out against Gainsborough Trinity.

Who are this year’s headline makers going to be?