Pending over backwards
Doncaster City contacted us after the report that they had applied to join the Scottish FA Cup next season (see Review 44). We wrongly reported that the application had been turned down; apparently, it is pending. So, Doncaster might be in Scotland after all.
FA Trophy weekend
It’s FA Trophy week this weekend. One tie that caught my eye was Dunston UTS vs. Coalville Town. There are two reasons the tie jumped out at me. Firstly, Coalville Town have succeeded in reaching the FA Cup First Round Proper for the second time. Their reward is a trip to Charlton Athletic.
However, I spent some time trying to work out what UTS might stand for. My best efforts were: United Team Sports, unable to stop, under the sea. I briefly considered that the team was called Dunsto Nuts, but that was too ridculous. I decided to use Google, which offered UTS as an abbreviation for urine transfer system; I didn’t investigate that further. It transpires that UTS is an engineering company that sponsors Dunston. It’s a long haul for Coalville from Leicestershire as they will be heading to Tyneside, a case of taking the Coals to Newcastle.
Once Bitton…
Sadly, Bitton have withdrawn from the Western League due to increasing travel costs. The non-League regional shuffle in 2021 meant that Bitton, a club east of Bristol, now has to travel to Cornwall to play teams like Mousehole. Aside from costs, recruiting players has become more difficult as some games involve long 
round trips. Chairman John Langdon claimed that the club could travel to Leeds more quickly than some places they had to play. Yes, but I think Leeds United would be a bit too strong.
When the Chips are down
On Saturday, I returned to High Road to see my old friends at Chipstead, the team I followed for four rounds in last season’s FA Trophy trail. If I recall correctly, Chipstead’s manager, Rob Kember, referred to me as a ‘lucky charm’ last season. Not so this season, it would seem. Although Chipstead had the better chances against their overseas opponents from Guernsey, they lost 2-1 due to a debatable penalty. Indeed, the penalty was debated at length. A second goal, scored by Will Fazakerley from inside his own half, meant the points sailed across the English Channel – it’s worth a look here. Chips’ fans, don’t click the link.
Roman Glass St George
A shout-out this week for Roman Glass St George. It might sound like something you will hear an expert on Antiques Roadshow talking about. You know 
that TV programme where someone inspects a valuable object while a small crowd of people with glazed looks encircles the expert. The glazed looks only change when the expert makes a weak joke, at which point they all laugh. No, this is Roman Glass St George, a team which got through to the Second Round Proper of this season’s FA Vase. After two wins on penalties, The Glass, beat Bishops (no apostrophe) Lydeard 2-1 to face Corsham Town in the next round. Let’s hope The Glass’s dreams of Wembley aren’t shattered in the next round. What a pain that would be.
Valuable goals by Highworth Ten
The most exciting game of the week could arguably have been between Highworth Town and Harlow Town in the Southern League Division 1 Central fixture. After a goalless first half, Jared Small scored twice, one from the penalty spot, to give Harlow a 2-0 lead. Highworth Town were then reduced to ten men but scored three goals in five minutes to gain a 3-2 lead. An own goal from an inswinging corner in the last minute gave Harlow a 3-3 draw.
