FA CUP FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND Stowmarket Town 1 Soham Town Rangers 1 A depleted Soham side suffered a disappointing draw at first division Stowmarket on Saturday. With a number of players injured and unavailable Mark Atkins, still short of match fitness,

FA CUP FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND

Stowmarket Town 1 Soham Town Rangers 1

A depleted Soham side suffered a disappointing draw at first division Stowmarket on Saturday.

With a number of players injured and unavailable Mark Atkins, still short of match fitness, was handed his first full start since recently rejoining the club, and the substitutes bench was filled with reserve team players.

Rangers took the lead, against the run of play, after 24 minutes when the alert Scott Johnson reacted quickly after a Paul Jones effort rebounded off the crossbar, to smash home a half-volley.

Stowmarket equalised, just three minutes later, when woeful defending allowed Robbie Ford the space to roam into the penalty box and he beat Greygoose at his near post.

Rangers had much the better of the second period, but just couldn't make their pressure count. Johnson forced a save with a header in the 59th minute and Jones fired a shot over the bar, after creating space for himself.