WINCHESTER City travel to Bulpit Lane to face fellow Southern Premier League South side Hungerford Town in their FA Cup Second Qualifying Round replay on Tuesday the 17th of September, with kick-off at 7:45pm.
After a hard fought 1-1 draw in the first game, played at Winchester’s temporary home ground in Basingstoke, the Citizens will make the 45-minute round trip to Berkshire in hopes of qualifying for the next round, and get one step closer to the lucrative first round proper.
If Winchester City are to win this game, they have been drawn against National League South side Weymouth in the third qualifying round at home on the 28th of September, a tough game for the Citizens against opposition in the league above.
Before that, though, they must go through Hungerford again, after drawing 1-1 with them last Saturday.
In the initial fixture, Hungerford took the lead in the 38th minute thanks to a goal from forward James Harding who beat ‘keeper Luke Cairney to the ball after it was knocked down by Hungerford midfielder Joe Shepherd.
However, Winch answered just before the break in spectacular fashion thanks to midfielder Dan Jones, sending the home fans wild and levelling the game going into half time. The Hungerford social media admin didn’t seem too pleased, however.
In the second half, it was Hungerford who had the better of the chances, however Winch shot-stopper Cairney kept the Citizens in it with a plethora of important saves, and the match ended in a draw.
With the replay being held at Hungerford, it allows the Citizens to use their impressive league away form to help them in their quest to victory. The Citizens sit fourth in the league in away form thanks to a big 3-0 away win at Plymouth Parkway.
However, despite sitting 18th in the league, Hungerford have fared better at home so far this season, as they sit eighth in home form, only heightening the importance of this fixture for both sides.
This fixture is a massive one for both sides, with huge benefits to the victor, both on and off the pitch, with financial gain and, perhaps more importantly for these two teams, will provide momentum, helping them moving forward both in the FA Cup and in the league.
