Dolphins handed away FA Cup tie in London

Poole Town FC will continue their FA Cup hopes on October 5th, as they travel to Tooting and Mitcham United in the third qualifying round.

The Dolphins will go in as slight favourites being a step higher in the English non league system. Playing in the Southern League Premier Division South, Tommy Killick’s side are at the seventh step of the footballing pyramid. Their opponents sit in the eighth tier, competing in the Isthmian League South Central division.

Both teams have began the 19/20 campaign very impressively. Poole sit third in their league, and have the chance to go top if they win their game in hand at Gosport Borough tonight. The Dolphins have only lost one game so far, coming at home in a 2-1 loss to Tiverton.

Town have left it late in both their cup wins en route to this tie. Corby Moore had to supply a late winner against Didcot Town in round one, before AFC Bournemouth loanee Jake Cope scored in the 86th minute to secure a 2-1 victory over Hungerford Town. The more recent victory shows strength in Killick’s promtion hopefuls, with Hungerford being in the league above.

The London based opponents have also started the season impeccably and go one better than Poole, not having lost at all. With five wins and one draw, they also sit third in their table and have a game in hand on league leaders Westfield. They are joint managed by Ashley Bosah and Cornelius Nwadialor.

Tooting and Mitcham first round victory came against Southern Combination side AFC Varndeanians who play at step ten. They then matched Poole in the second round after also beating a National League South side. They got the better of Dorking at home in a 1-0 win.

Poole will hope to progress to the fourth and last round of qualifying for the FA Cup proper. Last year they fell at the last hurdle to Haringey Borough in a devastating 2-1 loss to prevent.