Emirates FA Cup 4th Round Qualifying
Saturday 17th October, 2026
Harborough Town 3 – 1 Spennymoor Town
(Arlott-John 8’, Assombalonga 76’, Putman 83’) (Holcroft 70’)
Report – James Lee
Photo – RB MEdia
DS Ronald Building Contractors Man of the Match – Devon Kelly-Evans
Attendance – 975
The Bees advance to the FA Cup First Round Proper with a 3-1 win over Spennymoor Town.
The first chance of the game came for Spennymoor Town in the third minute as a short corner was worked to the edge of the box, where defender Frankie Whelan curled his shot wide of the post. The Bees took the lead in the eighth minute from the first big chance of the game through Dempsey Arlott-John, after the ball fell to him in the box and he slotted it past Matt Urwin in the Spennymoor goal.
The Bees had a chance to extend their lead in the 17th minute after some wonderful buildup play found its way to Riley O’Sullivan, who turned well, but his shot was deflected wide. A trademark George Carline long throw was headed clear by a Spennymoor head, but only as far as Josh Walsh, whose volley went wide of the goal on the half-hour mark. Michael Jacobs played a long ball in behind the Spennymoor backline, which O’Sullivan got on the end of in the 37th minute, but his shot went just wide of the post.
Spennymoor had their first attempt in quite a while in the 40th minute when a free kick was whipped into the box and was headed towards goal by Matty Dolan, but Elliot Taylor made a comfortable save. The Moors kept pushing as half-time approached, as Danny Johnson’s left-footed strike went wide. Straight after, Spennymoor captain Glen Taylor hit a shot from just outside of the box and forced a good save by Taylor down to his right.
In the first of two minutes added on at the end of the first half, captain for the day Alex Morris set a counterattack into action, which ended with Arlott-John being held by Urwin.
The first chance of the second half came from none other than O’Sullivan, who reigned terror upon the Moors backline throughout the first half. This time, he held the defender off and hit a shot, forcing Urwin into a save down to his left. Spennymoor had their first big chance of the second half in the 58th minute as Johnson got in behind on the left wing and powerfully unleashed a half-volley, which was saved well by Taylor. The Moors kept up the pressure on the hour mark as half-time substitute Connor Pani, who was making his debut, headed just wide of the goal.
Spennymoor Town levelled the game in the 70th minute through Finlay Holcroft, who hit a shot from outside the box which found its way into the back of the net. The Bees retook the lead in the 76th minute through substitute Britt Assombalonga. Less than ten minutes after he came on, he got on the end of Morris’ ball across the face of goal and headed it in from point-blank range.
Harborough extended their lead in the 83rd minute through the birthday boy Eliot Putman, who hit a beautiful volley into the top corner of the goal. The Bees’ backline was able to stay resolute and keep any Spennymoor efforts at bay to secure the Bees’ place in the hat for the First Round Proper.
Manager Mitch Austin was pleased with today’s result. He said: “It’s a great achievement for the lads, the football club, myself and the staff all worked really hard since the start of the season and I think you saw a really good team their today.”
The draw for the First Round Proper will take place on Monday evening.