With Poole in the hat for Monday’s draw thanks to a resounding 5-0 win over Swindon Supermarine, we take a look at the potential ties the cup may throw the Dolphins’ way.
Whilst it is somewhat impossible to determine the borders used in the FA’s regions used for the 1st and 2nd Qualifying round, there is enough evidence to suggest that Poole will face clubs drawn from the South-West.
That is still quite a large geographic area, with clubs as north as Hereford and Oxford previously included in the region.
As such, the following clubs are predicted based upon previous draws, giving us a rough outline of the regions used.
Joining the winners of the 1st Qualifying Round are sides from the sixth tier.
Whilst it may seem a safe bet to predict that only sides from the National South would be possible opponents for the Dolphins, Hereford and Gloucester City are two National North sides likely to be in Poole’s regional draw.
Familiar foes Chippenham and Hungerford will be in the mix, as well as Bath City and Oxford City.
Dolphins actually have played three of those National South sides in the 2nd Qualifying round before – losing to Chippenham twice, being knocked out by Bath, but advancing past Hungerford under Tom Killick.
Teams left standing in Poole’s league, potential opponents include Tiverton Town, Yate Town, Gosport Borough, Wimborne Town, Taunton Town and Truro City, who all progessed at the first time of asking.
Thanks to the way the regions are split, there a few sides in Poole’s own league the Dolphins can’t meet.
Teams such as familar FA Cup foes Hayes & Yeading, and Poole’s next opponents, Met Police, won’t meet the Dolphins at this stage of the cup.
Instead, alongside other more easterly based Southern League clubs such as Farnborough, Walton Casuals, Harrow Borough and Kings Langely are kept in a different region to Dolphins.
There are a few lower league sides still in the draw – neighbours Hamworthy United held Merthyr to a 0-0 draw on Saturday, with a replay to come at the County Ground on Tuesday.
Fellow Wessex Premier League side Shaftesbury managed to hold Highworth to a 1-1 draw, meaning they are also still in the cup.
Sholing and Lymington are other local sides still in the competition, with both Southern League Division One South sides winning away from home.
Potential Opponents
Note: this list is based on educated guesses at best, and is not 100% accurate due to the fact some sides near the borders of regions may be moved to make up numbers. If this is likely, the club has been listed with an asterix (*).
| Ardley United* |
| Aylesbury United* |
| Basingstoke* |
| Bath |
| Bishop’s Cleeve |
| Chippenham |
| Cirencester |
| Frome |
| Gloucester City |
| Gosport* |
| Hereford |
| Highworth/Shaftesbury Town |
| Hungerford |
| Longlevens |
| Lymington |
| Merthyr Town/Hamworthy |
| Oxford City* |
| Sholing |
| Taunton Town |
| Tiverton Town |
| Truro City |
| Weston-super-Mare/ Flackwell |
| Wimborne Town |
| Yate Town |
All Poole Aren't We 