Emirates FA Cup round two: SunSport guide to all the drama of five potential giant-killings

NOTHING beats the thrills and spills, cut and thrust of the FA Cup...especially if you support a non-league side seeking a giant-killing.

There are a few possibilities amongst this weekend's 20 second round ties.

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The standout game between league clubs is the showdown between Division One promotion-hopefuls Bolton Wanderers and Sheffield United.

Keep up-to-date with all the latest transfer news and gossip ahead of the January window with SunSport's daily LIVE blog.

Elsewhere several part-time teams will be hell-bent on securing their five minutes in the sun.

Here are five major story lines to watch out for over the weekend:

Luton Town v Solihull Moors, Saturday 3pm

SOLIHULL MOORS battled back from 2-0 down at Yeovil to earn a replay, lost manager Marcus Bignot to Grimsby and then won their replay on penalties in new boss Liam McDonald's first game in charge.

The second-round debutants will make club history when they visit Luton Town, but McDonald, 31, has already had more than his fair share of FA Cup drama.

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He was on the receiving end of an upset in the first qualifying stage when his old side, seventh-tier Hednesford Town, were stunned by a 2-1 home loss to lower-league Belper Town.

McDonald says he is happy to be labelled as a "lucky manager" after their dramatic comeback win over the Glovers.

Curzon Ashton FC v AFC Wimbledon, Sunday 12.00

NATIONAL League North Curzon Ashton FC supporters are invited to shop early for Christmas before their showdown against 1988 winners AFC Wimbledon.

Volunteers from a food bank will be on hand to take your donations fans before the game.

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Wimbledon have vowed not to be generous on the field, with Wembley hero Dave Beasant warning the current side not to be complacent.

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He said: “When I was at Wimbledon I was on the wrong end of a result against non league opposition.

"Fans might remember Enfield away on a wintry day and we got a 4-1 hiding. If you don’t go into a game like that with the right attitude and show the opposition the respect they deserve, you can come unstuck. "It’s a massive game for them with it being on TV and that is going to mean a lot more, but Wimbledon have had some good results recently and I am sure they will go into it right.”

Sutton United v Cheltenham, Saturday 3pm

SUTTON United still dream of that magic day in 1989 when they famously saw off defending FA Cup champions Coventry City, then in the top flight.

Their 2-1 victory that day was the last time a non-league club had knocked out a top-tier side until Luton Town beat Premier League Norwich City in 2013.

Now, after guiding Sutton to promotion last season, manager Paul Doswell feels the stage is set to realise a dream and progress to third round for the first time in 22 years.

Sutton, 14th in the National League table, host League Two strugglers Cheltenham Town and Doswell said:

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“That’s the dream for every non-league club to get that big draw that financially sets the club up and give you that wonderful day of football.”

Sutton have former Arsenal midfielder Craig Eastmond and ex-Middlesbrough and Charlton Athletic playmaker Nicky Bailey on the books.
Cheltenham’s best performance came when they beat Kettering Town, Hinckley United, Oldham Athletic and Burnley to reach the fifth round in 2002 – before losing 1-0 to West Bromwich.

Bristol Rovers v Barrow - Sunday, 2pm

STRANGE but true.

The last time these two sides met in 2006 their FA Cup fixture made Match of the Day - and Preston Crown Court.

Rovers survived a late fightback to win 3-2 away to the non-league side but it was an off-the-ball incident that created headlines.

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The match officials did not see Barrow defender James Cotterill punch Sean Rigg and it left Rigg, who was substituted after 33 minutes to receive treatment, with a jaw fractured in two places. He did not play again for more than two months.

Cotterill was jailed for four months for grievous bodily harm - then thought to make him the first player in recent history to be sentenced to time in prison for such an on-pitch incident.

Stourbridge v Northampton Town, Sunday 2pm

NORTHERN Premier League side Stourbridge had never got beyond the qualifying rounds until 2009.

But now got to at least the first round five times in the past eight seasons.

And manager Gary Hackett insisted:  "We've got good players who can handle the big occasion. We really love the FA Cup and the players keep responding."

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Stourbridge very nearly did not make it this far.

Their initial game against Whitehawk ended in controversy after a Whitehawk player scored a stunning last-minute volley, only for the goal to be ruled out as the referee had blown for full-time just as he struck it.

Winning clubs will receive £27,000 from the Emirates FA Cup prize fund.