FA Cup Preview: Maldon and Tiptree v Morecambe

Can the Jammers get to the Second Round for the second year in a row? Some Shrimps stand in the way!


We all remember Maldon & Tiptree's glorious run to the Second Round of the FA Cup last season, and their glorious league form before the 2019-20 campaign shuddered to a halt due to coronavirus. With a large change in personnel over the summer it would have been easy to doubt the Jammers ability to repeat those feats, but here we are once more as they are about to entertain Morecambe in the FA Cup First Round whilst still unbeaten in the Pitching In Isthmian League. Should their League Two opponents worry?

Perhaps they should speak to Leyton Orient to find out!

The Jammers go into this match- which kicks off at 1245PM, by the way- on the back of seven consecutive victories- which include three cup or trophy triumphs over higher division opposition. They've averaged two goals in every competitive match so far, and are conceding far, far fewer- eight in twelve matches- so they don't have any worries at either end of the field.

Morecambe are ninth in League Two, and on current form have won only one of their last six matches- but are unbeaten in their last two. Nine times in the previous eleven seasons the First Round is as far as they've got, so they'll be desperate to go further this time around, but will also be burdened by the expectation that comes from being favourites, professionals and four steps higher than their hosts.

By the way, and in unrelated news, Morecambe FC serve some of the best football pies in the known world! At the 2020 British Pie Awards they won twice- the ‘Dessert Pie’ category for their Bramley Apple Pie and the ‘Sports Pie’ category for their Lamb & Vegetable Pie. It's a shame they can't bring some with them down the M6!

The Jammers road to Round One:

PRE HERTFORD TOWN A 1-0
1Q HAVERHILL ROVERS A 3-0
2Q GRAYS ATHLETIC H 2-2 Maldon & Tiptree won 5-4 on penalties
3Q BRAINTREE TOWN A 1-0
4Q HARINGEY BOROUGH H 1-0

The match will be shown live on the BBC iPlayer and on BT Sport Extra.

Where next?

Four Bees Bees busy in lockdown as Basildon add a quartet
Gulls make the Second Round- whilst Stortford come so close, but lose at the last Canvey Island and Bishop’s Stortford appeared in fan-free FA Cup First Round ties this afternoon, both against higher ranked sides- and both delivered magnificent performances. A round up of a pulsating afternoon of cup football.

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