Ryan Walmsley rounds up the London results in the FA Cup…
Only two local non-league teams remain in the hat for the second round draw after East Thurrock and Barnet both crashed out. Dartford were the only team to progress following the tie of the round, whilst Concord Rangers’ name stays in the draw after a postponement.
Separated by a division but just 10 miles and eight positions, Bromley’s local derby with rivals Dartford certainly lived up to its billing. The sides shared seven goals at The Fortress Stadium, with six of them coming in a topsy-turvy second half.
Louis Dennis gave Conference South outfit Bromley a dream start as he scored inside the first minute to give the Ravens a very early lead.
But this was merely the calm before the storm. The Darts quickly turned the game on its head following the break with two goals in quick succession courtesy of Danny Harris and Ryan Hayes before Moses Ademola pulled Bromley level after being behind for just 60 seconds.
Dartford were soon 3-2 up when Tom Bradbrook netted but they were pegged back for the second time as Danny Waldren levelled.
But it was Bradbrook who scored the decisive goal with nine minutes to go as his header put the Darts into the second round of the FA Cup for the first time in 30 years.
Conference leaders Barnet faced off with League Two promotional hopefuls Wycombe Wanderers at the Hive. The Bees took an early lead through the prolific John Akinde before Paul Hayes converted from the penalty spot to level the score.
Sam Togwell’s red card on the stroke of the half-time turned the tie in the visitor’s favour and in the second half the Chairboys made their one man advantage count. Goals from Aaron Pierre and Sam Wood put the game out of 10-man Barnet’s reach before the home side’s misery compounded when Andy Yiadom picked up a second yellow card.
East Thurrock United’s 550 mile round trip proved fruitless as the Ryman North Premier side lost to the Football League’s basement club. Despite Hartlepool sitting bottom of League Two, the 62-place and three-tier gap proved to much for the Essex club to overcome as a Jonathan Franks brace ended the Rocks’ foray in the FA Cup.
Concord Rangers’ wait to play in the first round proper for the first time will go on as their game away at Mansfield was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at Field Mill. The Conference South side will have to travel north again on the 18th November.
Selected FA Cup Second Round Draw:
Bradford City v Dartford
Cambridge United v Mansfield/Concord Rangers