Match Report

Preview

Emirates FA Cup – First Round Qualifying

Diamonds travel to face Step 5 side Enfield FC in the FA Cup First Round Qualifying on Sunday afternoon (4^th September, 1:00 pm kick-off).

Assistant Manager, Chris Willmott, speaks ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup tie.

Manager, Andy Burgess, talks ahead of the FA Cup tie this weekend.

We will be running a combined supporters and players coach to the game. It will depart Skinners Hill (Rushden) at 9:45 am and is priced at £10 for members, £15 for non-members.

There are only 20 seats available so make sure to book your seat as soon as possible. Click here to secure your place.

Admission prices are as follows:

Adults: £5

Concessions: £3

U16s: £3

Our hosts

Enfield FC ground-share with Bishop’s Stortford at the R & D Advisors UK Stadium (CM23 5RG) and ply their trade in the Essex Senior Football League where they currently sit top of the table. They are on a fifteen game winning run stretching back to last season, and Enfield defeated Hullbridge Sports (3-1 H) and Ilford (3-0 A) to reach this stage of the competition.

The E’s are managed by Jamie Cureton and finished 5^th in the league last season (W22 D7 L11 F82 A40).

To find out more about the club, visit their website here.

Previous record

Diamonds have exited the competition in each of the last four seasons at this stage (L5-2 away at Coalville in 21/22, L0-5 at home to Newark FC in 20/21, L1-0 at Enfield Town in 19/20 and L2-1 at Hayes & Yeading in 18/19).

Their early seasons in the FA Cup brought much success and many memories, including reaching the Third Round Qualifying in 13/14 (when they beat Cambridge City at home who were two leagues above Diamonds and then drew level at Step 2 side Dover before losing 3-1) and 16/17 (beating Concord Rangers 3-1 away who again were two levels higher).

They reached the Fourth Round Qualifying in 15/16 where they took higher league opposition in Barwell to a replay at the Dog & Duck (courtesy of a Liam Dolman 95th minute equaliser), but they were eventually edged out 0-1. Rushden also took Alfreton, again two levels higher at the time, to a replay in the 17/18 Second Round Qualifying after being 2-0 ahead away from home, and they matched the visitors for long spells at Hayden Road only to be beaten 1-3.

Can’t make the game?

Our Radio Diamonds team will be providing live commentary as the action unfolds – tune in at mixlr.com/radiodiamondsafc. Listeners will be able to message with their comments and thoughts on 07394 309591.

We will also doing live updates on our Twitter account at twitter.com/AFCRD. Highlights and interviews will be available after the game at youtube.com/AFCRDTV.

Match preview: Ollie Mortimer