Having shared one league season and played them in the FA Vase, this was our first meeting in the FA Cup with Corinthian. A slow start to the game on a pitch with some green grass but hard and dry, and with the sun beating down. The home side were testing us early down the right but found Stephen Hodge a solid full back. A ball into the box was tidied up neatly by Alex Kpakpe and taken clear up field to earn a free kick. A good throw out by Sang Baek found Jack McDonnell on the right wing who then slid the ball down the line to Reon Donkor to drive forward. He centred it to Iker Noguera Leon for a shot just over the bar with ten minutes played. Kpakpe received the ball in midfield and earnt himself space with a nice turn to find Kwesi Ntim on the wing. He pushed forward until he was closed down by two defenders and McDonnell up in support let them off by committing a foul. On 21mins Corinthian were free down the left and approaching the box but Nicolas Bostan came across to block the cross and win a goal kick only to see a corner given. From the corner Corinthian hit the bar in a scramble in the box before we got the ball away.

A neat passing move from the back found Ntim on the right touchline where he advanced and centre to Rafael Barbosa. He played the ball out to Noguera Leon on the left for him to attack their box. We retained possession as Kpapke won a good challenge and he played the ball in to McDonnell but he was judged to have fouled. With half an hour played, Kpakpe found Noguera Leon with a fine ball, he dummied a defender and drove the ball past the keeper for 1-0. In response a couple of minutes later Corinthian were on a break forward that should have been flagged offside but it did not matter as their attack broke down. Once again they put a long ball down the right that Hodge blocked off but at the expense of a corner. The referee had to deal with a lot of pushing and shoving in the box before the corner could be taken. From the kick Baek pulled off a great reaction save to stop an equaliser and allow us to clear. On 38mins Corinthian found space on the left for a cross and their forward slipped between two defenders to head home for 1-1. With five minutes to play, a poor ball forward by Hodge allowed the home side to put a ball over the top giving them a two on one going forward. The sensible option was a pass but their forward opted to shoot and fired wide of the left post. With a minute left another good pass from Kpakpe found Ntim on the left to take the ball into the box and win a corner. A short corner in the final minute between Jason Stripp and Noguera Leon fell flat and Corinthian cleared the ball into a lot of space in midfield but we covered it and that was half time.

Forty-five minutes to find a winner or face a replay. In the opening minutes Hodge did well to win the ball on the left and then cross to the right wing. Donkor picked up the ball and then laid it back to McDonnell for a cross to Barbosa who was falling back as he shot over the bar. From a clearance Donkor was able to drive forward, cut inside and shoot but it went high to the right. Ten minutes into the half and Hodge needed some treatment but had to be substituted by Guyni Nganga. A minute later a poor crossfield ball was picked up by Corinthian but their resulting shot was well wide. Just past the hour mark and the home side picked up a loose ball for a shot that Baek saved but could not stop the ball going for a corner. On 63mins Noguera Leon was replaced by Ashley Mutongerwa. A scare a few minutes later when Corinthian sent a ball through our box from right to left and out for a throw. With twenty minutes to go a poor touch let Corinthian attack down the right but the cross was poor.

A string of good passes brought the ball out from our box to Kpakpe who found McDonnell on the right to attack their box. He won a free kick which was cleared and then the home side were on the attack but good cover put the ball behind for a corner. The corner was dreadful as it rolled behind. Barbosa was clattered outside the box in a central position and it was taken short by Stripp to Kpakpe but he was forced back. Inside the last ten minutes and Corinthian attacked along the byline towards the left post but we got the ball away. Barbosa was replaced by Gabriel Odunaike. With a couple of minutes to we had a free kick on the edge of the D with Kpakpe and Ntim over the ball. The kick from Kpakpe went into the wall. Into added time and Corinthian had a good opening down the right but the cross went through the box to be covered by McDonnell to win a goal kick. With two added minutes played, Ntim was in with a chance but took too long to get a shot off. Nganga had a break down the left, riding a foul, driving to the edge of the box to put in a cross. Corinthian responded by going on the attack down the right and were stopped by a foul. With one last chance the free kick was a soft shot straight to Baek and it would be a replay on Wednesday.