Royals go through but others are out

Potton United are left to carry the flag after the two Biggleswade teams crashed out of the world famous cup competition.

A depleted Potton United side travelled to Uxbridge for Saturday's preliminary round tie and came away with an excellent 2-0 victory.

Missing six key players through injury and suspension, Roy Bloxham had to make a number of changes to the team that had remained consistent in the early league games.

Potton took a 40th minute lead against the run of play when a Paul Donnelly free-kick was cleared as far as Antony Schurek whose low cross was driven home by Luke Lincoln.

Nathan Buckland was tripped inside the penalty area in the 58th minute and got up to take the resulting spot-kick himself, sending the keeper the wrong way to make the score 2-0.

Potton will travel to Heybridge Swifts in the next round.

Biggleswade Town missed out on a trip to Romford after losing 2-0 at Leighton Town in Tuesday night's replay.

The Waders put up a brave fight and were unlucky not to go in at half time a goal to the good after Scott Orphanou crashed a shot against the bar.

Earlier in the half Leighton could have been reduced to 10 men after their keeper dashed from his area to close down Orphanou and only succeeded in deliberately handling the ball.

However, the referee was one of the few in the ground who did not see the incident.

Biggleswade started well in the second half and went close but they were undone at a corner in the 61st minute when Bilal Hassan gave the hosts the lead.

They continued to trouble the Leighton backline but they were caught out again in the 90th minute by Hassan who fired home his second of the game.

The weather was the victor in Saturday's first goal-less tie. The strong wind which blew from one end of the pitch to the other throughout made conditions difficult.

It was a game of few chances although both sides went close on a couple of occasions with the visitors guilty of missing two gilt-edged chances to win the tie. Youngster Orphanou went closest for the Waders in the second half.

Biggleswade United went out on Saturday at home to big spending AFC Hornchurch.

One level in the FA pyramid, a wage bill in excess of £2,500 per week, 100 travelling fans and two dubious penalty decisions were all that separated the sides at Second Meadow.

For much of the first half, the Urchins plumped for the high ball tactic that left little to talk about other than a cheeky goal from Robbie O'Dell and a woeful penalty decision from the man in the middle.

O'Dell's goal in the 28th minute left the travelling supporters stunned. A free-kick from Wayne Goldsmith was played low to the nimble-footed O'Dell who flicked it past keeper Dale Brightly.

The penalty decision saw Kris Lee take full advantage of an outstretched leg on the edge of the area and the big number nine plummeted to the ground. Former Spurs player Janney made no mistake from the spot.

The Urchins went ahead after the break much to the chagrin of the United bench as it was a woefully soft goal to give away. United failed to clear a Tiffen cross and it fell to Lee to tap in from close range.

It took just two minutes for United's reply. A superb free-kick from Nicky Stillwell allowed Goldsmith to rise above his marker and flick the ball over the keeper and turned to see it drop under the crossbar.

The Urchins came back with a vengeance and in the 54th minute a low strike from Cross found the back of the net,

Once again it was the man in the middle who struck the cruel blow for United. A speculative strike from Tiffen struck the arm of Sam Brown and the referee awarded the Ryman League side yet another penalty. Janney's first attempt was brilliantly saved by Dean Bull but the midfield man snapped up the rebound.

A fitter and stronger Hornchurch played out the final few minutes and although Stuart English came close to reducing the deficit with a free-kick, it was AFC Hornchurch who could plan for a trip to county neighbours Redbridge.