FC United of Manchester 0 Lancaster City 1

After causing some big shocks on their FA Cup run last season, this time it was FC United beaten by the underdogs, as Lancaster City from the division below knocked them out in the 2nd qualifying round.

Lancaster began with intent in the early stages, getting in a couple of early shots which tested United's keeper - it was clear that despite playing a team from the division above, Lancaster hadn't come to Gigg Lane to defend, a refreshing outlook that seemed to take FC United by surprise early on.

United recovered and began pushing forward themselves but found chances hard to create - corners well defended, restricted to shots that were either blocked or miles wide, and really a 30 yard Roca free kick that was on target until an FC United player got in the way was their only memorable opportunity in the first half.

United's crowd was 1,147 - big for their level, but given their league crowds tend to be around 1,400 midweek and 2,000+ on Saturdays, and the crowd for their previous FA cup game against Woodley who are also in the league below was also lower at 1,109 - maybe some were at Old Trafford, but it suggests some fans hadn't bothered with it, perhaps expecting an easy win, thinking it wasn't worth watching? 

It certainly wasn't remotely easy for FC United. Lancaster's strategy was excellent - they seemed to get a sea of bodies in the way when United attacked and yet most times Lancaster themselves charged forward they had at least 4 players attacking, so as well as restricting United they were also worrying their defence and creating plenty of their own chances.

And the closest there was to a goal in the first half was a Lancaster chance - with their striker played through he lobbed the keeper from just outside the penalty area, chipping the ball high towards goal. With defenders scurrying back, the ball seemed to take an age to dip and eventually bounced just in front of goal... and bounced just high enough to hit the bar, smashed clear by a defender as it dropped the wrong side of the goal-line.

Some would have wondered if Lancaster had wasted their big opportunity and whether FC United would make them pay in the 2nd half, but again it was Lancaster who started the half strongly, and in the 50th minute they got a deserved goal. They opened up the FC United defence, beating the offside trap, and the ball was fed through to Lee Dodgson. He chipped the keeper, but unlike in the first half it was a delicate lob, just high enough to clear the keeper and drop low into the back of the net, and the Lancaster fans were overjoyed.

After that Lancaster found themselves regularly retreating as FC United began to push forward in waves. Lancaster still had their own chances, including a close range shot from wide left which hit the side netting, with players free to square the ball to.

But there were plenty of heart in mouth moments for Lancaster as United repeatedly were so close - including a shot crashing off the bar, and a header within the 6 yard box that Lancaster keeper Fearon somehow managed to get a hand on and push away, an amazing reaction save from such a close range effort.

Successions of corners were heroically defended, blocks and last ditch tackles everywhere - given the sweltering conditions on the day the effort from the Lancaster players just couldn't be faulted. They survived a frantic 3 minutes of added time to get a brilliant win.

There may have only been one goal in this game but it was riveting nonetheless, and the excitement of whether the underdog could hold on in the latter stages made this gripping, and everything that's entertaining about the FA Cup.

With 2 more rounds to conquer to get to the 1st round proper, Lancaster City now await the third qualifying round draw on Monday to see who's next.