London Calling: Middlesex hosts pedigree guests in FA Cup Round One

Barnet worked hard to beat Leiston 3-2 in the last round

London fared well in the FA Cup 1st round draw with seven of the capital’s nine teams being drawn at home.

This article looks at how the clubs based in the western half of the capital fared. Those clubs are Barnet, AFC Wimbledon, Boreham Wood, Hampton & Richmond Borough and Hayes & Yeading United.

We will look at Charlton Athletic, Cray Valley PM, Dagenham & Redbridge and Leyton Orient in a separate article.

There is no shortage of FA Cup ties for West Londoners to not be allowed to go to, with four of the five drawn at home. The old county of Middlesex itself hosts three games.

Here are our five previews for teams from the Western half of London:

BARNET v BURTON ALBION

Having navigated a difficult trip to Leiston in Suffolk, the Bees will be delighted to have secured a home draw.

With no fans allowed in, the ability of the fixture to attract a large crowd is sadly not a factor so the lure of a League One opponent is less important than the current form of that side.

Jake Buxton’s Derbyshire club have had a brutal start to the season and sit bottom of League One. Since beating Accrington Stanley 2-1 on September 19th, they have gone six games without a win. They have also conceded 11 goals in four cup games.

To their credit, they have staunched the flow of goals and only conceded one in each of their last three games.

If Barnet coach Peter Beadle thought the struggling opponent were there for the taking, he may even be given heart by how close Leiston ran his side in the last round.

Barnet have won two and lost two of their league matches, one each at home and away. They sit 12th out of 24. After visiting Wrexham on October 27, they have 11 days break before the Burton game.

The Brewers have Peterborough (A), Blackpool (H), and Shrewsbury (A) before then.

That gives Beadle 270 additional minutes of scouting. This one is set up for a shock despite the two division gap.

BARROW v AFC WIMBLEDON

There were few longer journeys available for AFC Wimbledon. Carlisle may be technically further away but it’s on the M6. To get to Barrow, you need to turn off at the A590 at the Milton exit, continue northwest to Sizergh and the head south west to Lindale.

At that point the road heads northwest again to Newby Bridge before the long final descent south to Barrow at the far southern tip of the Furness Peninsula.

The Dons sit 16th in League One with nine points from eight games. Barrow are winless in eight games on their return to League Two but have drawn five of those. The last two games were exciting home draws; 3-3 with Bolton and 2-2 with Walsall.

In the EFL Cup and EFL Trophy, they have three additional draws, meaning eight of their eleven games have ended equal at 90 minutes. There will be extra time allowed in this fixture. It’ll probably be needed.

The Dons have scored only three in their last six league games and are perhaps counting days till they can enter their new stadium at which point, their season will feel it has really begun.

This tie looks hard to call at this point. Both sides really have their focus elsewhere; Barrow on securing their first league win and Wimbledon on securing entrance to their new home.

Northern clubs sent on their travels in FA Cup First Round draw

Lincoln City, Scunthorpe United and Hull City at home, Grimsby Town away – Humberside’s club’s learn FA fate

BOREHAM WOOD v SOUTHEND UNITED

Boreham Wood of the National League have a home tie with Southend United who are bottom of League Two in one of the draw’s more likely upsets.

The Essex side have lost six of eight matches prior to Oldham at home tonight. They have lost the last three without scoring. All their cup games have ended in defeat.

Boreham Wood must be licking their lips despite being in a league below. Since losing at Wrexham on the opening day of the season, the Hertfordshire club have kept three clean sheets in four games.

Like neighbours Barnet, they must fancy their chances of eliminating a side who play in a better league.

HAMPTON & RICHMOND BOROUGH v OLDHAM ATHLETIC

Oldham at home is a glamour tie for the National League South side. At the time of the draw Borough sat 17th with just two games played. Their victories over Corinthian, AFC Hornchurch and Hemel Hempstead in the FA Cup carry much more weight at this point.

Niko Muir scored after just seven minutes at Hemel Hempstead and the Middlesex side held on to that lead.

Founder members of the Premier League, Oldham are now third bottom of League Two although they should improve as they play Southend tonight. Their one win though was glorious, a derby win away at Bolton with a winner by Zak Dearnley in the 95th minute.

That highlight apart, it’s been a struggle and with Salford and Cheltenham to come in he league, before the cup tie, nobody at the Beveree will be writing this one off.

HAYES & YEADING UNITED v CARLISLE UNITED

Carlisle United are used to long bus journeys when drawn away but they could be forgiven for flying to this one. Hayes and Yeading United play two miles from Heathrow. Currently eighth in the Southern League Premier Division South, a home tie with a league side would be a dream come true in more normal days for the Level 7 side.

Only 13-years-old, Hayes & Yeading had a marvelous 2-0 win at nearby National League Wealdstone. They beat Truro 3-1 in the game before that, just after two 0-0 draws with Chipstead (in the Cup) and Beaconsfield Town in the league. They haven’t actually lost since a visit to Poole om September 26th, a seven game unbeaten streak.

Carlisle may have surprised themselves a little with their good start to the season. They have 14 points from eight league games and lie seventh in League Two. Prior to tonight’s match with Morecambe, they are on a five-game unbeaten league run.

The distance traveled won’t be too much for Carlisle to navigate. The quality gap may be for Paul Hughes’ side.

More regional FA Cup previews

London teams in the FA Cup 1st round.

BARNET v BURTON ALBION

BARROW v AFC WIMBLEDON

BOREHAM WOOD v SOUTHEND UNITED

CHARLTON ATHLETIC v PLYMOUTH ARGYLE

HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE v CRAY VALLEY (PM)

DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE v GRIMSBY TOWN

HAMPTON & RICHMOND BOROUGH v OLDHAM ATHLETIC

HAYES & YEADING UNITED v CARLISLE UNITED

LEYTON ORIENT v NEWPORT COUNTY