Home tie against old non-league foes next up for Mark Yates' men
Cheltenham Town will play Conference club Dover Athletic at home in the second round of the FA Cup.It is their reward for Saturday's outstanding 5-0 home victory over League One Swindon Town in the opening stage. The tie will be played between December 5 and 8.
Byron Harrison scored a hat-trick, with Terry Gornell and Matt Richards also on target for Mark Yates' side in what was undoubtedly one of their finest ever results in the competition.
Cheltenham enjoyed some good battles with Dover during their non-league days, included an FA Trophy semi-final in 1997/98, which saw the Robins progress to the Wembley final with a 4-3 aggregate win.
The clubs have never met in the FA Cup before.Â
Robins chairman Paul Baker was happy to be drawn at home and said the match brought back some fond memories.
"It's a really great draw, but rest assured it will be a tough match against a team who beat Morecambe in the last round," he said.
"Never the less, we have to be delighted to be at home against opponents from a lower league. For me and I am sure many other Cheltenham fans, I am sure it brings back fond memories of our FA Trophy semi-final success which of course resulted in a Wembley appearance!"
Robins head of youth Russell Milton is a former Dover player who was part of the team that won the Southern League title in 1992/93, when Cheltenham finished as runners-up.
Cheltenham Town fan Jamie Howells was delighted to be drawn at home against a non-league team.
"After Paul Baker (chairman) said last Thursday night at the fans' Â forum we need a cup run as we are short on cash, and after last Saturday's heroics I think home to Dover is the best draw we could have hoped for," he said.
"All day I was saying a non-league side either home or away would be great, but after Tamworth last season a home draw, although still a potential banana skin, is definitely better for us.
"Paul Baker must be licking his lips, as am I because it's a great chance to get that plum third round draw!"
Teams for most recent meeting at Whaddon Road:
Cheltenham Town: Steve Book, Michael Duff, Jamie Victory, Chris Banks, Mark Freeman, John Brough, Lee Howells, Clive Walker, Jason Eaton (Keith Knight 84), Neil Grayson, David Norton (Bob Bloomer 80). Other sub: Jimmy Smith. Scorer: Grayson 66. Booked: Freeman
Dover Athletic: Charlie Mitten, Jason Moore, Lee Palmer, James Virgo, Jake Leberl, Neil Le Bihan, Dave Clarke, Jimmy Strouts, Dominic Iorfa (Darren Adams 74), Ricky Reina, Matt Brady. Other subs: Simon Elliott, Kieron Adams. Scorer: Reina 64. Booked: Clarke, Iorfa, Reina
Full FA Cup second round draw:
Oxford United v Tranmere Rovers
Bury v Luton Town
Wrexham v Stevenage or Maidstone
Scunthorpe United v Worcester City
Colchester United v Peterborough United
Wycombe Wanderers v York or AFC Wimbledon
Notts County or Accrington Stanley v Yeovil Town
Hartlepool United v Blyth Spartans
MK Dons v Chesterfield
Dagenham & Redbridge or Southport v Eastleigh
Gateshead v Warrington Town
Oldham Athletic v Weston-super-Mare or Doncaster
Havant & Waterlooville or Preston v Walsall or ShrewsburyÂ
Barnsley v Chester
Bradford City v Dartford
Crewe Alexandra or Sheffield United v Plymouth Argyle
Cheltenham Town v Dover Athletic
Cambridge United v Mansfield Town or Concord Rangers
Bristol City v Basingstoke or AFC Telford
Portsmouth or Aldershot v Northampton Town or Rochdale