Shocks galore in a stunning weekend of football

FA Cup and Premier League live up to the hype as the chase for silverware hots up

By Jamie Presland

This weekend was the 1st round of the FA Cup, football’s oldest knockout competition, and the games didn’t let us down.  Wayne Riley was the latest player to hit the limelight as his 81st minute winner for Northwich Victoria sent League One Charlton crashing out, and earned Northwich a second round home tie against Lincoln City.  The 18-year-old substitute sent fans delirious with his late winner, but it wasn’t the only shock of the first round of the cup.

Non-league Kettering Town won 1-0 away to Hartlepool to set up a lucrative tie at home against League One leaders Leeds United, who won away at Oldham, and League Two Shrewsbury lost by the same scoreline at home to minnows Staines Town.  Luton Town let a 3-0 home lead slip against League Two high-flyers Rochdale, who will

host the replay on Wednesday night.

Outside the Cup, the Premier League had a pivotal weekend too, both at the top and bottom of the table.  Hull City came from behind to beat Stoke 2-1 at the KC Stadium, a win which lifts them out of the relegation zone at the expense of West Ham, who lost 2-1 at home to Everton.

At the top, Manchester United’s visit to Stamford Bridge gave the champions a chance to reclaim top spot, though Chelsea were tipped as hot favourites before the match.  However, the visitors had the better of the game, and can blame some questionable refereeing decisions to why they went in at the break goalless.  And despite a man of the match performance from Darren Fletcher, John Terry’s late header from a disputed free-kick gave the Blues a valuable win and a 5-point cushion at the top of the league.

With Liverpool playing Birmingham tonight, as well as an FA Cup tie at Millwall, we can only hope the drama continues.