I can’t wait for Toon rematch after my lads fire the Shots

Paul Fairclough11 April 2012

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about how the FA Cup can have an amazing effect on the mind of both giant and giantkiller.

Little Dover, from the Blue Square Bet Conference South, took their second League Two scalp by forcing Kevin Dillon's Aldershot Town to their knees before the "coup de grace".

I have a soft spot for Dover as four of my previous Barnet signings featured in the game: Joe Tabiri, Barry Cogan, Ross Flitney and Adam Birchall all gave their very best for the Bees.

I'm really chuffed for goalkeeper Ross because some of you may remember he was sent off after three minutes against Manchester United at Old Trafford in the fourth round of the Carling Cup when I was managing Barnet. It was supposed to be the biggest game of his life. It turned into his biggest nightmare!

He was inconsolable and struggled to recover for the rest of that season. Dover's visit to Huddersfield in the third round will finally complete his rehab.

The real star of Dover's achievement has been Birchall. He was a prolific goalscorer as a youth player with Arsenal a few years ago and while he played plenty of League games for me at Barnet, his scoring rate did not live up to his Arsenal days.

Adam has done brilliantly; he has taken a couple of steps back to leap several forward. He's really hot property now and Dover will struggle to keep hold of him in the transfer window. Such is the magic of the FA Cup.

My other main interest in the wonderful old competition is Stevenage Borough. Before their game against AFC Wimbledon at the weekend, I said to the missus that I had a real sense of deja vu. Blow me, on Sunday afternoon, my phone started to kick off with a series of texts. The first one just said "Unbelievable". The next one said "Part Two". At this point, I hadn't a clue what was going on. Then my daughter phoned and shouted, "Dad, Stevenage have got Newcastle". The texts began to make sense.

In 1998 I was manager at the Boro when they took on the mighty Newcastle in the fourth round.
I remember pundit Mark Lawrenson predicting Newcastle would score 10 goals! Stevenage's dream was kept alive with a draw at home, ending with a narrow defeat at St James' Park. I'm thrilled for manager Graham Westley and his boys. What a day that will be.

What about tiny FC United of Manchester? My mate, an avid and staunch supporter of Brighton, said that they were well worth the replay. He said no one could have believed there was a difference of seven Leagues between the two clubs. A magnificent penalty save in the 96th minute heralded one of the all-time great celebrations from both players and supporters.

What an incredible achievement and it isn't over yet. Bolton, Huddersfield, Brighton and Spurs be afraid. Be very afraid!

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