The Magpies Lie In Wait

IT is a case of back to square one for Argyle in the first round of this season’s FA Cup sponsored by Budweiser.

The Pilgrims have been drawn away to Blue Square South Dorchester Town on the weekend of November 3-4.

It means a return to the Avenue, where Carl Fletcher’s side kicked off their pre-season campaign in July when they played npower League 1 Yeovil in a friendly.

The Argyle manager welcomed the draw.

“Luckily, we won’t have to travel too far,” he said.

“We’ll give it our full attention at the right time, but, now all our focus is on our very important game at Cheltenham on Tuesday.”

Dorchester are currently fourth in the Blue Square South, two divisions below Argyle, having won all five of their home league matches, each by the odd goal, beating Eastbourne Borough 2-1; Bath City 2-1; Eastleigh 1-0; Chelmsford City 1-0; and Welling United 2- 1.

The game against the Pilgrims will be their fourth successive home tie in this year’s competition.

They began the tournament with a 4-0 win over Hellenic League Wootten Bassett Town, then beat Blue Square Bet South rivals Basingstoke Town 1-0 in the third qualifying round before triumphing 3-1 over Ryman Premier Bury Town to earn next month’s shot at Argyle.

It will be the second time the two clubs have met in a competitive game.

The only previous occasion was nearly 55 years ago, in the second round of the FA Cup, when a Wilf Carter hat-trick helped the Division Three South Pilgrims to a 5-2 victory on December 7, 1957.

Harry Penk and Jimmy Gauld scored Argyle's other goals.

Last season at the first round stage, Argyle drew 3-3 with Stourbridge at Home Park before losing the replay 2-0 in front of the ESPN cameras.

It was the fourth year in succession that the Pilgrims had fallen at the first hurdle.

In 2010-11, they were beaten 4-0 at Home Park in the first round by Swindon.

The previous year, they took Newcastle United to a third-round replay at St James' Park after a 0-0 draw, going down 3-1 in the North East.

In 2008-09, they also exited at the third round stage, beaten 3-1 by Arsenal at the Emirates.

You have to go back to January 5, 2008, to find an Argyle FA Cup win, a home third-round triumph over Hull City.

They exited in the subsequent round, though not before giving eventual winners Portsmouth a fright at Fratton Park.

Chris Clark scored on his debut to put the Pilgrims ahead - and score the only goal Pompey conceded in the entire competition - before the home side came back to win 2-1.