Emirates FA Cup First Qualifying Round draw

Monday 14th September 2020

Royal Wootton Bassett Town's reward for their Emirates FA Cup upset victory over Didcot Town is another away trip against Southern League opposition as Sam Collier's side were paired with Cinderford Town in the competition's First Qualifying Round.

The tie is due to take place on Tuesday 22 September, 7.45pm kick off.

Cinderford saw off Bassett's Hellenic League Premier Division rivals Brimscombe and Thrupp with a 2-1 away victory in the Preliminary Round on Saturday.

The Foresters are yet to begin their 2020-21 league campaign, in which they will be led by former Bishop's Cleeve manager Stephen Cleal after he took over the reins from Paul Michael who departed for Yate Town in the summer.

Like Didcot, Cinderford are sure to represent extremely tough competition for Sam Collier's side.

A year after finishing fifth and advancing to the playoff final, in 2019-20 they sat eighth in Southern League Division One South and were again firmly in contention for a playoff spot when the season was brought to an early end.

Cinderford also have an excellent recent record in the FA Cup, having won through to at least the Second Quallfying Round in each of the last three seasons. They made it to the Third Qualifying Round in 2017-18 and in the past two years were eliminated by step two opposition in the Second Qualifying Round.

The Forest of Dean side's best ever run came in 1995-96 when they reached the Second Round. There, the Foresters narrowly missed out on a Third Round tie against Premier League Aston Villa after they were beaten in a replay by Gravesend and Northfleet.

Bassett though will be desperate to spring another upset - and if they do so it will mean Collier's team match the club's best ever FA Cup run, which occurred in 2011-12 when Dave Turner guided Bassett to the Second Qualifying Round.

If they are to achieve that, Bassett will also have to record their first ever win against Cinderford. The teams have met competitively just twice before, with Cinderford winning both game 3-0 when the teams were members of Hellenic League Division One in the 1990-91 season.

Last modified on Monday 14th September 2020 at 14:02.