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Bermuda stars drawn away from home in Emirates FA Cup first round

Milan Butterfield and Justin Donawa will have to put on their travelling shoes after their non-League clubs, Chesterfield and Darlington respectively, were drawn away in the first round proper of the Emirates FA Cup in England.

Justin Donawa and Darlington are in the FA Cup first round again

Chesterfield, who beat Stockport County 7-6 on penalties, with Butterfield netting the winning kick after his regulation-time goal extended the match in the first place, get for their reward another journey to the North West — this time to face Sky Bet League One club Rochdale, a 1½-hour drive away up the A623.

Meanwhile, Darlington, whose storied run last season included a famous 2-2 draw away to League club Walsall before losing 1-0 at home in the first-round replay, will have to endure a 4½-hour journey in the opposite direction down the A1 to the English southwest to take on Swindon Town, also from League One.

Donawa appeared as a second-half substitute in Darlington’s 2-0 defeat of Cambridge City on Saturday.

With Football League clubs entering the draw yesterday, those from the lower leagues would normally be looking to cash in on a lucrative home fixture. But in the era of Covid-19 and supporter-less grounds, home advantage has been neutered not only in terms of crowd support but in the coffers as well.

The matches will be played over the weekend of November 7 to 9.

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Published October 27, 2020 at 8:00 am (Updated October 27, 2020 at 6:47 am)

Bermuda stars drawn away from home in Emirates FA Cup first round

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