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.
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.