Sports Blog 16/11/2016: FA Cup 1st Round Replays Preview – Brackley Town vs Gillingham/Dover Athletic vs Cambridge United, Wednesday 16th & Thursday 17th November 2016

Following the exit of a bizarrely Tim Sherwood-led Swindon Town on Monday, has the FA Cup first round proper got any more surprises in store with its final 2 replays?

First up on Wednesday evening is a trip to Brackley Town for Gillingham, at 7.45pm on BT Sport 1. The first attempt at this fixture ended up being a bit heart-breaking for Brackley; after breezing through the qualification rounds, with 14 goals and none conceded in 3 games, the National League North side immediately displayed their cup confidence, finding themselves up 2-0 after 27 minutes. By the end of the first half, however, it was 2-2 following a brace from Frank Nouble – who heads into the replay at a Super Mega PGM of 20-24 – with neither side able to find another goal before the end of the game.



For Gillingham, of course, it was a case of blushes spared. The Gills have endured a rather dilapidating few months in an incredibly tight League One; they currently find themselves in 17th place, just 3 points away from 21st place MK Dons but, oddly enough, only 6 points away from Bristol Rovers and Peterborough United at the bottom end of the play-off patch.

Having escaped a scalping in the initial tie Justin Edinburgh can’t really afford to trip up again, especially since his side have won just 5 times in the league. Luckily for the Gills’ manager his team appear to be favourites to meet Blackpool in the 2nd round, with Spreadex offering a Gillingham/Brackley Town (h) Goal Supremacy spread of 0.5-0.7 alongside a Total Goals spread of 3-3.2.

Thursday night then sees Dover Athletic host Cambridge United, at 7.45pm on BT Sport 1. Unlike Brackley’s early lead against Gillingham, Dover left it late to equalise against Cambridge; after trailing throughout the 2nd half it took an 82nd minute strike from Ricky Miller, the National League’s top scorer with 14 goals, to ensure a replay at the Crabbie Athletic Ground. After missing out on promotion last season Dover are once again knocking on the door of the play-offs, only a single point away from jumping into the top 5. Fortunately manager Chris Kinnear won’t have to worry too much about Dover’s league performance on Thursday given that their weekend fixture is against Guiseley, who sit one place from the bottom.



Cambridge, meanwhile, are in need of some good news. It’s sort of remarkable that Shaun Derry has managed to hold onto his job this season; United failed to pick up a win in their first 8 games, drawing 3 and losing 5, and while their form has improved since then they still find themselves stuck in 17th place in League Two. Exit at this early point may be the straw that breaks the camel’s the back, especially since Cambridge have lost 2 of their past 3 league ties.

Given that by the end of the season the sides may have switched their respective leagues it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that the hosts aren’t underdogs, with Spreadex offering a Dover/Cambridge United Goal Supremacy spread of 0-0.2 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.6-2.8.