Blues find a route past Rangers but draw difficult looking tie at Harrow

Marlow have been handed a difficult looking third qualifying round tie in the FA Cup, with the Blues set to visit Isthmian League Southern Premier side Harrow Borough on Saturday, October 2.

The Blues beat FC Abbey Rangers of the Combined Counties Premier Division North 2-0 on Saturday, despite playing all the second half with 10 men after Devontae Romeo’s sending off on the stroke of half-time.

The victory maintains their flawless start to the season with the Blues having now won all seven of their matches so far without conceding a goal.

Nnamdi Nwachuku fired the visitors just after the half-hour when he was played through by Junaid Bell’s clever ball.

They had to withstand a fair amount of pressure from their hosts in the second half, with Diakite striking the post, but the 10 men dug deep to preserve their clean sheet record and Curtis Chapple made sure of their place in the next round when he finished from Marcus Mealing’s cross late on.

Harrow are a step three side playing a level above the Blues in the Southern Premier League. They’ve made a mixed start in the league, winning three and losing four of their matches so far.

On Saturday, they produced an impressive display to beat Welling United of the National League South 2-0 in the FA Cup with goals from Lewis Cole (45’) and James Ewington (71’). Monday's draw, which continues to be regionalised, included unbeaten sides from the second qualifying round, but no new clubs join the competition at this stage. Ties will take place over the weekend of Saturday, October 2, and clubs that win through to the final qualifying round will receive £5,625 from the FA’s prize fund. Losing clubs will receive £1,875.

Reflecting on the draw, Marlow manager Mark Bartley said: “We know they’re a good side and I know their manager quite well, we interact on twitter, so I do look out for their results and know they’ve got some good players and are a good side.

“But we’re a good side, and we think we can go there and give a good account of ourselves. If we can do that and remain relatively tight, then we might be able to give ourselves an opportunity to do it. I would be a lot more confident if we were at home, I just feel that when we’re at home we’re there. But we believe in what we’re doing and in the way we’re setting ourselves up. We’ve got two big games now, at Bracknell on Saturday but the players are ready.”