FA Cup exploits still surreal

Even a week on from their penalty shoot-out victory over Harrogate Town set up a third round trip to Middlesbrough, there is still plenty of pinching going on at The Pilot Field.

United player-manager Sean Ray said: “It’s still surreal at the minute. It’s different to what we’re used to, but we’ve got to enjoy these occasions.”

Club chairman Dave Walters added: “I suppose it probably has sunk in now, but it’s all very surreal.”

United are the first Ryman League club to reach round three since 2004-05 when Yeading lost 2-0 to Newcastle United in a home tie switched to QPR.

Their exploits have attracted a lot of interest from the national media. The Sun newspaper is going to do a story on goalkeeper Matt Armstrong-Ford and a photographer from The Daily Mail will join the squad on the coach to the ground.