Bedford Town have been drawn at home again in the FA Cup, and will face League One opposition in the first round proper should they win their fourth qualifying round replay against Cray Wanderers on Tuesday night.

And it couldn’t get much more difficult as Stockport County, currently second in League One, will visit The Eyrie should the Eagles find a way past their step three opponents tomorrow.

The FA Cup first round will take place across the weekend of 7-8 November, with the majority of games kicking off in the traditional slot of 3pm on Saturday, 7 November.

Bedford Town are not yet confirmed in the first round. A dour 0-0 draw in the fourth qualifying round against Cray Wanderers on Saturday (17 October) means they must replay tomorrow night (Tuesday) in Kent.

Should they win, it will be the first time in a quarter of a century that the Eagles will have reached the main draw of the FA Cup, but they must first get past the Isthmian League side who caused them some issues at The Eyrie.

Should Cray’s goal have stood?

The main talking point from Saturday came towards the end of the match, in which Eagles goalkeeper, Laurie Walker hit a goal kick from his hands at the back of Cray forward, Ade Yusuff with the ball rebounding into his net.

Given the incident happened in the 84th minute, it would have required a dramatic response from Bedford Town to even make the first round draw, and opinion on social media seemed to only point one way.

One Bedford Town fan said, “Lucky not to have lost. I didn’t see anything wrong with their goal”, while a number of fellow home supporters were in agreement saying Cray were, “hard done by” and, “the goal should have been given”.

However, perhaps the most influential person to enter the debate was former Premier League referee, Mark Halsey who seemed to suggest the decision to disallow the goal was the correct one.

“An indirect free kick is awarded if an opponent prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from the hands, kicks or attempts to kick the ball when the goalkeeper is in the process of releasing it”, said Halsey.

Whether the referee’s interpretation on the day was right or wrong is now immaterial, with both Bedford Town and Cray Wanderers facing another 90 minutes, with the prize a visit from a club currently flying high in League One.

A prized home draw

Stockport County, who are just one point off League One leaders Bradford City in the third tier of English football, are enjoying a best ever league start having won six of their 10 league games so far, scoring 21 goals in the process.

Should the Eagles make it through, it will no doubt be a money spinner for The Eyrie, with the added promise of a cheque for £47,750 should they shock their League One opponents.

Yet, standing in their way are a Cray Wanderers side who will have home advantage in Tuesday’s replay, and will be equally desperate to reach the first round for what would be the first time in their history.

Other notable ties from the first round draw include AFC Rushden and Diamonds who also face League One opposition, as they travel to the Pirelli Stadium to face Burton Albion.

Further afield, fellow National League North side Oxford City host a plum tie against Leicester City, while Spalding United – who beat Real Bedford in the Southern League play-off final last season – travel to Plymouth Argyle should they win their replay.

The lowest-ranked team left in the competition, step five Tadley Calleva of the Combined Counties Premier Division South, will also face League One opposition in Barnsley should they win a tough replay at Aldershot.

Bedford Town’s fourth qualifying round replay against Cray Wanderers takes place on Tuesday, 20 October with a 7:45pm kick off, before returning to National League North action on Saturday (24 October) with a trip to Scarborough.