Little joy for local clubs in FA Cup

It proved to be a tough start for the local United Counties League clubs in the extra preliminary round of the Emirates FA Cup on Tuesday night.

Rothwell Corinthians took the lead through Nathan Bobowicz in their tie at Stowmarket Town but eventually slipped to a 2-1 defeat.

A second-half collapse saw Desborough Town well beaten 7-3 at Eynesbury Rovers after two goals from Barnes Gladman and one from Daniel Wells had seen them hold a 3-2 lead at half-time.

Wellingborough Town went down 2-0 at Thetford Town and Whitworth suffered a 6-1 home defeat to Harborough Town.

All that came after Burton Park Wanderers had suffered heartbreak of a different kind on Monday.

They were gearing up for their first-ever FA Cup match with AFC Sudbury due to be the visitors for a clash that had been set for live broadcast by the BBC.

But Wanderers were forced to withdraw from the competition after one of their first-team players tested positive for Covid-19.

All of the Burton squad and management team have now been advised to self-isolate with their league fixtures being suspended for two weeks.

The new United Counties League season gets under way on Saturday and there is a county derby at Sergeants Lawn with Corinthians entertaining ON Chenecks.

Desborough are also at home as they take on Quorn while Wellingborough head to GNG Oadby Town.

In Division One, Whitworth face a tough early test at Melton Town and Irchester United are also on the road at Lutterworth Athletic.

Elsewhere, Raunds Town host Saffron Dynamo and Rushden & Higham United face Harrowby United at Hayden Road.