GREATER MANCHESTER sides Altrincham, Stockport County and Curzon Ashton have been rewarded with ties against fellow non-league teams as the draw for the FA Cup first round took place last night.
Altrincham, who comfortably saw off Matlock Town in the final qualifying round on Saturday, will face a trip to the winners of tonight’s replay between National League sides Lincoln City and Guiseley.
Altrincham are no strangers to the first round of the FA Cup, famously knocking League One Barnsley out of the competition last season before falling short at Colchester in round two.
The Robins have a reputation of giant-killings in the competition, holding the record for knocking out more Football League sides than any other non-league club with seventeen scalps.
1⃣ Control
2⃣ Turn
3⃣ Shoot!A cracking #EmiratesFACup goal from @altrinchamfc's Damian Reeves: https://t.co/TfnNYq49nZ
— The Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) October 16, 2016
Stockport County are also facing a wait to find out their opponents for the first round, as National League sides Torquay and Woking play their qualifying round replay later on tonight.
National League North side Curzon Ashton secured their spot in the first round after they caused a huge upset last night, beating York City in a replay at Tameside Stadium.
After a 1-1 draw on Saturday at Bootham Crescent, Alex Brown’s first half goal cancelled out York’s early opener before Niall Cummins fired in a rebound after his penalty was initially saved to lift the Nash into the first round proper for only the second time in their history.
Standing between Curzon Ashton and the second round is a trip to ninth-tier Wesfields, the lowest ranked team left in the competition, who play their football in the Midlands League Premier Division.
Westfields only formed in 1966 as a result of England’s World Cup triumph, and will be competing in the FA Cup first round for the first time in their history.
High-flying League One sides Bolton Wanderers and Bury both face testing games against Football League opposition, with League Two Grimsby Town visiting the Macron Stadium and AFC Wimbledon taking the trip to Gigg Lane.
In the other two ties involving teams from the region, Rochdale will travel to National League side Maidstone United whilst Oldham Athletic will host League Two outfit Doncaster Rovers.
The first round ties will take place on the weekend of the 5-6 November.
Premier League and Championship sides enter the competition at the third round stage.
The full first round draw can be found here.
@willypearson
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