With our Isuzu FA Trophy campaign beginning this afternoon, we look at how the Blues have got on in this competition in the last five seasons.
2019/20
In a season in which the Blues had a successful cup run as they made it to the Emirates FA Cup first round, similar fortunes did not arise in this competition.
We entered at the Third Qualifying Round stage for the second consecutive season and locked horns with Hampton & Richmond Borough. However, unlike the previous campaign, they could not progress against the Beavers as they secured a 2-1 victory.
2020/21
In a season curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Blues fell at the first hurdle to local rivals Braintree Town.
Ruben Soares-Junior gave the Blues the lead on 64 minutes before Arjanit Krasniqi, a former Blue, equalised 13 minutes later. A penalty shootout subsequently ensued in which the Iron ran out as 4-2 victors.
2021/22
For yet another season, the Blues were unable to progress they exited in the Second Qualifying Round to Maidstone United.
Despite Norman Wabo giving us the lead on the ten-minute mark, Joan Luque equalised for the Stones with one minute left to ensure that a penalty shootout had to be played. The Blues fell to a 6-5 defeat on penalties at the Gallagher Stadium.
2022/23
In the 2022/23 campaign, the Blues progressed with a 2-0 home win over Margate in the Third Qualifying Round.
Alfie Cerulli netted a brace to book an away tie at Haringey Borough in the first round. The Blues opened the scoring on 39 minutes courtesy of Chris Dickson before John Ufuah doubled the lead six minutes into the second half. Chaynie Fage-Burgin halved the deficit with 11 minutes remaining but Ufuah netted his second of the afternoon in the closing stages to wrap-up the win.
A home tie against Bath City of the Vanarma National League South was next. Elliot Frear gave the Romans the lead 15 minutes in and Dan Hayfield made it two on 48 minutes. Their lead didn’t last long though as Ufuah pulled one back but Bath secured their place in the third round following Luke Spokes’ goal on the 77-minute mark.
2023/24
Last season, the Blues had a very successful run in the FA Trophy as we made it to the Third Round.
Having netted a late winner courtesy of Moses Emmanuel to beat Felixstowe & Walton United 4-3 at New Lodge, the Blues locked horns with another Isthmian North Division side in the next round: Bury Town.
A high-flying side at the time, Gary McCann’s side secured a resounding 5-0 victory thanks to a brace from Bradley Stevenson and further goals from Ben Wells, Ade Azeez and Emmanuel to book our place in the Second Round.
It was another home tie and another tough test as National League North table-toppers Tamworth, now in the National League, visited New Lodge. In a superb team performance, the Blues defied the odds to progress with Alfie Cerulli, Stevenson and Emmanuel on the scoresheet before Ty Deacon pulled one back for the visitors in a 3-1 win.
The run came to an end though when we were tied with Wealdstone and a 4-1 home defeat followed after the game was postponed twice due to a waterlogged pitch at Wealdstone’s Grosvenor Vale.