Stowmarket Town and St Neots Town couldn't be separated in a tightly contested FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round tie, with the two sides sharing a 1-1 draw at Greens Meadow on 8 August 2026. The result leaves the tie delicately poised and sets up a replay that promises more of the same competitive edge that defined the opening encounter.

Match overview

The match was largely a midfield battle, with both teams displaying solid organisation and a reluctance to commit too many players forward. St Neots Town appeared the more threatening in the opening period, and their pressure told when they broke the deadlock with a clinical strike from the edge of the area shortly before half-time. Stowmarket, to their credit, responded positively after the break, injecting greater urgency into their play and earning a deserved equaliser when a defensive clearance fell kindly to a home attacker, who lashed the ball into the net from ten yards.

Key moments

• St Neots' composed opener: A fast break down the left wing resulted in a low cross being converted at the near post.
• Stowmarket's spirited response: An hour of sustained pressure finally yielded the leveller, rewarding the home side's attacking intent.
• Nervy finale: Both teams spurned half-chances in the final ten minutes, with a draw proving the fairest outcome.

What it means

Stowmarket Town will travel to St Neots in the replay knowing that a place in the next qualifying round is well within their grasp, particularly if they can reproduce their second-half intensity. St Neots, meanwhile, will be pleased to have secured home advantage for the rematch after coming away with a credible draw on their travels. This was a proper early-round FA Cup contest, short on fireworks but rich in competitive spirit.