3:27pm Tuesday 31st August 2010
THERE will not be any FA Cup romance involving our non-league football clubs this season, after defeats at the weekend.
Waltham Forest were beaten by an in-form Enfield Town, leaking three goals in a six-and-a-half minute spell in the second half during the preliminary FA Cup round tie.
But the scale of the defeat was limited by Stags keeper Jason Willis, who pulled off a string of saves to keep his side in it at 0-0 during the first half.
Deputy boss Tony Murphy said: “We were matching Town in the second half after we switched formation to deal with them, and it was working until we gave away a penalty, on 72 minutes.
“Now we need to take our chances and be better for this weekend at Harlow Town, because we need to start getting some points on the board.”
Elsewhere, Waltham Abbey boss Paul Wickingham admitted he was 'disappointed', as his young side held out for almost an hour against East Thurrock United, but lost 3-0 in the world-famous competition.
“We defended very well for 54 minutes and then their goal from a cross which beat everyone was very hard to take,” he admitted.
Wickingham lauded the 'hell of a lot of potential' he says there is within the new-look Abbey team, after United struck again on 75 minutes and then wrapped the match up with a third goal nine minutes from time.
This weekend, Abbey host high-flying Needham Market in Ryman League Division One North, after drawing 2-2 with table-toppers Brentwood Town on Monday.
“It’s been a harder start for us than I would have liked, but we showed against Brentwood that we’re capable of matching any side,” the boss added.
Meanwhile, Waltham Forest's Bank Holiday Monday game was a 2-0 defeat to East Thurrock, who are riding high near the summit of Division One North.
Elsewhere, Leyton did not compete in the FA Cup this season.
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