GARY'S SCARECROW FESTIVAL, AND OF FOOTBALL

Yesterday, I watched Penistone Church FC lose comfortably in the Extra Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup, beaten by Cheadle Town 1-3. So Church can relax from the dreams of earning themselves much needed money for every cup round win. Cheadle can march on with £1500 in their coffers. There are 184 ties played over this weekend in the Cup.

Hinckley AFC from Leicestershire playing in the village of Heather, brought forward their cup tie against Heanor Town following an important clash on the Saturday with their annual scarecrow festival. They played on Friday at 7.45pm. Here's Gary Lineker, one of the exhibits. They drew 1-1. Ascot United also brought forward their tie with Milton United as the local racecourse, quite a famous one, was running the Shergar Cup classic and 30,000 spectators were expected in the Berkshire area. Ascot cruised home by a length 2-0.
Down the road a piece, Cheddar enjoyed their first entry to the great cup after 125 years and get a second stab drawing with Bodmin Town 2-2.

Kirby Muxloe, another Leicestershire village got through without playing as Bardon Hill withdrew from the competition, bit sad and Crawley Down Gatwick thumped Hailsham Town away, 7-5, but it got close after the airport side were 5-1 up at half time.Y

Yaxley beat Huntington Town 12-0 and Peterborough Sports notched up 8 to none against Gorleston.

Highest scores in the FA Cup include the famous 26-0 1st Round beating by the Invincibles, Preston NE, over Hyde in October 1887. Nottingham Forest, also in the 1st Round, scored the highest away win over Clapton in January 1891, 0-14.
Dulwich hamlet have been involved in two largest aggregate scores; an 8-7 win over St Albans City in November 1922 and a 7-7 draw with Wealdstone in November 1927, both 4th Qualifying rounds.

In Finals, the Bolton loss to Blackpool in 1953 remains the highest aggregate score, 3-4, along with Blackburn Rovers 6-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday in 1890. Bury scored the most goals in a final win beating Derby 6-0 in 1903. Bit of an anti-climax for the Rams fans.