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Wrexham’s bid to return to the EFL for the first time since 2008 has started superbly, sitting top of the table, as they now approach the halfway point of the season.
The Dragons have lost on just two occasions in all competitions this season, not doing so since a 1-0 defeat at second-placed Notts County at the start of October.
Since that game, Phil Parkinson‘s side have fought through two rounds of qualifying to reach this stage of the competition, beating Blyth Spartans 3-2 in a home replay, after drawing 1-1 on the road, before dispatching of Oldham Athletic 3-0 at the start of November.
The attacking proficiency on show in that encounter has become what Wrexham fans have started to expect, scoring a remarkable 52 goals in the league this season, more than any other side.
Not only that, but Parkinson’s men have made the Racecourse Ground a fortress, displaying formidable form on home soil so far, winning every single game in all competitions in front of their own fans.
With that in mind, lower-league Farnborough have a monumental task on their hands Saturday, but they have shown promising signs in the FA Cup this season, making it through four rounds to get to this point.
Now just one game away from the third round and the chance of drawing a Premier League side, the Yellows will need to produce the kind of performance that they did against League Two Sutton United in the last stage of the competition.
Boro left it late, but an 86th-minute Michael Fernandes goal was followed up by an effort from Francis Amartey in injury time to secure a 2-0 victory, in what should be a real confidence booster.
Wrexham may make a couple of alterations, given that they are taking on a team in the division below and promotion is their main focus, but they should still field a strong team, with a spot in the third round on the line.
One change that Parkinson will be forced into, however, is replacing Bryce Hosannah, who injured his hamstring against Aldershot, so Max Cleworth may come into the Wrexham defence.
Thomas O’Connor has had to settle for appearances from the bench recently, but could come into the midfield for James Jones, while Sam Dalby may be preferred to Ollie Palmer in attack, partnering Paul Mullin.
Farnborough manager Day is likely to keep the faith with the team that was triumphant in the last round and may opt for a five-at-the-back system given the challenge that his side face.
Kevin Lokko, Jack Ball and Oliver Robinson could start at the centre of defence, with Jordan Norville-Williams on the right and Freddie Grant at left-back.
Michael Fernandes and Francis Amartey were the substitute heroes against Sutton, so they may both be rewarded with a start in attack, replacing Selim Saied and Hisham Kasimu.
Wrexham possible starting lineup:
Howard; Cleworth, Hayden, Tozer, Tunnicliffe, McFadzean; O’Connor, Young, Lee; Dalby, Mullin
Farnborough Town possible starting lineup:
Turner; Lokko, Ball, Robinson, Norville-Williams, Grant; Deering, Page, Pendlebury; Amartey, Fernandes
In the week that the Bulls lost their most famous ex-player, FA Cup legend Ronnie Radford – 50 years on from his iconic match-winning goal against Newcastle – it briefly looked like there might be some left-over magic in the air.
For seven minutes, the sixth-tier outfit led after Miles Storey’s goal against the team 81 places above them in the English football pyramid in League One.
But Pompey hit back, with Reeco Hackett quickly levelling before second-half goals from Colby Bishop and substitute Joe Pigott earned the twice FA Cup winners a safe passage to Monday’s second-round draw
Making their first trip to Edgar Street in 38 years, Pompey were given a good first-half workout by the fired-up hosts.
Although home keeper Dale Eve had to keep out Hackett’s left-foot curler bound for the top corner, Pompey had a first real scare when Bishop’s challenge on Hereford’s former million-pound marksman Tyrone Barnett in the visitors’ penalty box went unpunished.
And there was worse to follow for Pompey when Hereford took the lead on 26 minutes.
Sean Raggett played a loose pass inside to Hackett, who was immediately closed down and robbed by Storey – and the former Pompey player raced away down the inside-left channel before keeping his cool to nutmeg on-loan West Bromwich Albion keeper Josh Griffiths.
Fittingly, just two days on from the announcement of the sad passing of Hereford’s legendary number 11, their modern-day number 11 emulated his predecessor.
There had already been a minute’s silence, which cascaded into applause from the whole ground, followed by chants of ‘there’s only one Ronnie Radford’ when the clock showed 11 minutes.
But this goal was destined not to prove so famous.
Ronan Curtis headed down Connor Ogilvie’s far-post cross for Hackett to bring down and fire home coolly from six yards.
On 63 minutes, Portsmouth took the lead when, from Clark Robertson’s in-swinging right-foot corner from the left, Bishop timed his run to get there first and head his 10th goal of the season.
And Pigott wrapped up victory 10 minutes from time when, again from a corner by skipper Robertson, Bishop won the initial header before Pigott reacted sharpest to sidefoot home
Hereford FC boss Josh Gowling told BBC Sport:
“I’m really disappointed because we should have got something out of it, but goals change games – and the quality of the delivery they have changes games.
“In the first half we were excellent. We were in the ascendancy and they looked nervous.
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“We were on top and looked like we could go on and win, but we’ve made one mistake, it has cost us a goal and that’s the difference in levels.
“We’ve given them a leg up and a little lift and you could see their performance raise after that.”
Portsmouth boss Danny Cowley told BBC Sport:
“I was so sad to hear the news about Ronnie Radford. He was such an iconic figure and he had that iconic moment. For a lot of people my age, his famous goal was their first memories of the FA Cup. But what a brilliant night to celebrate his life