South Park 3-1  Brentwood Town

Cambridge City  1-1  Billericay Town

East Thurrock United 3-0  Maidstone United

Dagenham & Redbridge 4-3  Bradford City

Southend United 2-2  Barnet

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FULL TIME: And we’ve had yet another slice of that old Cup magic.  Sadly, though, Brentwood are the fall guys.  Up against it from the 74th second, they simply couldn’t cope with South Park’s pace, commitment, and pass-and-move type stuff.  Long before the end Wood had resorted to punts and set pieces and bodies in the box.

Not to worry, there’s still the Trophy, and it’s been another great FA Cup day.  Next up will be East Thurrock United’s trip to the Met Police next weekend, although there will be a full midweek round-up too.  Until then, enjoy the week, and your football.

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89th min – As a South Park shot drifts over the bar at the far end, a father calls for his son.  They’re leaving early from their side’s potentially momentous afternoon because “We have to get Oliver to the party for 5.”  The magic of the Cup.

86th min – I would say the crowd are drifting away, but they’ve been drifting around the ground all afternoon.  Brentwood heads are down and there’s the familiar sound of players shouting at each other.  This won’t end well.

81st min – And, of course, the internet drops completely for a while too!  One of those days.  Still Brentwood are trying to come forward and chase the game, mainly at set pieces.

It looks a forlorn task though.

67th min – Elsewhere in the Cup, East Thurrock United seem to be faring okay, and Billericay Town have come from behind to draw level, although they have since missed a penalty.  But Southend?  What’s going on there?

Meanwhile, on the pitch, sub Sherwin Stanley heads centimetres wide of the left hand post after a nice cross to the right hand edge of the six yard box.

62nd min – From both teams cancelling each other out, it’s now looking like both teams are dangerous and could score at any time.  It’s probably what Brentwood need, a game like that.

Although, having said ohhh sh …. phew, a shot from 20 yards whacks against the Brentwood crossbar and clear.

54th min – GOAL! ….. SOUTH PARK 3,  Brentwood Town 1  And that’s the way to respond.  A corner on the left, and JACK HIGGINS heads home from six yards.

I guess they’ll be writing a book about him now.

48th min – GOAL! ….. South Park 2,  BRENTWOOD TOWN 1 Wow, that’s how to get back into it.  A throw in on the left was allowed to float inside the box and from six yards, ALEX READ stooped and nodded home.

Game on!

4.04pm – Kick Off!  45 minutes to stop a Cup upset.

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HALF TIME:  What can you say?  For 43 of the 45 minutes, Brentwood were easily matching South Park, perhaps having slightly the better of it.  In the 2nd and 45th minutes, though, South Park had their only real chances and banged them away.  The Blues are in big bother.

Right, I’m off for a Bovril and will try to find Officer Barbrady to stop the game.  Laters.  And carry on.

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45th min – GOAL! ….. SOUTH PARK 2,  Brentwood Town 0 Double disaster.  On the stroke of half time, a nice through ball finds the onrushing CHRIS SMITH, who shoots comfortably and low home into the left hand corner of the net from 15 yards.

Big trouble here.

42nd min – Would love to bring you exciting excitement but the teams are simply cancelling each other out, with the result of few mistakes but fewer chances.

37th min – Another host shot whistles across the face of goal, albeit without any real danger.  Meanwhile there’s been a succession of women walking their dogs and blokes on the phone watching even less of the game than me.

With the Priory rehab clinic next door, I’m convinced I haven’t gone to an FA Cup tie but walked into an edition of  Emmerdale or something.

29th min – That’s much more like it.  A centre from the left into the area and Daryl Robson goes past his man.  His shot evades the far post by centimetres with the keeper well beaten.  A lot better.

25th min – Very evenly balanced, still, but without any creation from either side.  My attempts to take pics are being stymied somewhat by not just the people standing in front, but also others wandering around like a tit in a trance and then randomly standing about.

The FA Cup in all it’s glory, this is.  I love it.

19th min – Wow, that was nearly double trouble for ‘Wood.  Nice passing cut through the middle cut the defence to bits, Kieran Lavery broke free, but his shot from 18 yards was superbly parried away by Elliott Justham.  Phew.

15th min – Have to say, since the goal, the only real action has been a poorly lady being attended to behind the goal by first aid peeps.  I promise I didn’t chuck anything at her to get out of my way, too.  On the pitch, a South Park free kick results in a shot not so much over the bar as over the ionosphere.

10th  min– Brentwood have settled down a little and gone forward, without creating anything, other than a bit of handbags after the ball had gone for a throw to them on the left.

5th min – The away side are clearly shocked by a shell and keeper Elliott Justham was almost caught out by a shortish backpass.  Jittery stuff from the Blues.

74 seconds – GOAL! ….. SOUTH PARK 1,  Brentwood Town 0 Disaster for ‘Wood.  The hosts first attack, and inside the area there’s an appeal for handball.  While everyone stops, KIERAN LAVERY doesn’t, he gets up form the floor and his low shot goes into the far corner of the net.

What a start!

3.01pm – KICK OFF! Oh yes.

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2.59pm – There may not be a big crowd but they’ve decided to congregate right in front of me.  I may not see too much of this.  No change there, then.

2.58pm – The teams come out to the sound of the birds and the planes in the sky above with the odd clap or two.  South Park are all in red.  Brentwood Town in their usual light blue shirts and socks with white shorts

2.50pm – Not a big crowd by any stretch of the imagination.  It has yet to reach three figures, though I’m sure it’ll comfortably reach into that by kick-off time.

It makes it all the more endearing to me.  A club of this size, so close to, say, a day out at Sheffield United.  We can all dream, can’t we.  Though my first choice of dream usually involves Kylie.

2.45pm – Team News  Brentwood Town go with:

1  – Elliott Justham  2  – Ryan Doyle  3  – Abs Seymour  4  – Martyn Stokes  5  – Darren Blewitt (c) 6  – Danny Dafter  7  – Peggy Lokando 8  – Daryl Robson  9  – Alex Read  10 – Neil Cousins  11 – Robbie Rees

Subs:  12 – Sherwin Stanley  14 – Connor Witherspoon  15 – Steve Cross  16 – Lee Blackburn  17 – Andy Thompson  18 – Mark Hayles

2.40pm – I do like St. George’s.  Nice, tidy little stands behind one of the goals and a cracking clubhouse.  All the club officials have gone out of their way to make sure every visitor is made to feel welcome.  This club are wasted with football.  Far too nice.

2.35pm – Elsewhere in the FA Cup, Billericay have a potential banana skin awaiting them in the form of Southern League Cambridge City.  And East Thurrock United certainly won’t have it easy at Rookery Hill where free-scoring and well supported Maidstone United visit.

For today, at least, our sides are in the unaccustomed role of giants trying to avoid being killed off.  I don’t like that.  Not one bit.  But that’s the magic of the cup, innit?  I think.  Anyway …..

2.30pm – A very warm welcome to Whitehall Lane, home of Combined Counties League pacesetters South Park, and for this afternoon at least, the very heart of the greatest domestic cup competition on the planet.

On paper, it’s a no-contest.  Brentwood Town are a division higher, and are on a fine run of form, as Tuesday’s 5-0 humiliation of Harlow Town will testify.

Football’s not played on paper, though, it’s played on grass.  And this Reigate based club have waited a long time for a day like this.  Win this, and they are just one step from a plum tie against a Football league side, and have the tantalising possibility of drawing a fallen giant from the Conference in the next round.

Forget the cartoon name, South Park are no mugs, and will be going all out for glory.    Whitehall Lane is abuzz with anticipation.  This could be one sensational afternoon.

You know the routine by now.  Keep refreshing every few minutes, and the real drama, romance, and thrill of a good, old-fashioned, FA Cup tie will be coming your way.  How could you dare go anywhere else today?

GAME ON!