LONDON TIGERS 1 ETON MANOR 0

It was only three months and a day since the last FA Cup final - but London Tigers joined a record 762 teams on Sunday on this season's road to Wembley.

Actually, the Lisson Grove side probably caught glimpses of the stadium's arch throughout their game against Essex Senior League side Eton, and duly inspired, eventually passed their Cup debut with flying colours.

The last time a west London non-league team had a tilt for the historic trophy, 33,000 saw Southern League QPR lose 1-0 at Aston Villa a year after the Great War ended.

There were around 32,900 less at Tigers' Kingsbury ground for this tie. Of which all but a few had concerns their team might go the way of 1919 Rangers.

Tigers had earned their right to be a part of the Cup after competing in the FA Vase last season.

A letter through the post dashed their hopes in that competition, when the FA booted them out for fielding an ineligible player.

This time a post nearly did for Tigers' defender Marcus Lansiquot when he collided with

one making a successful clearance off his own line.

Lansiquot and the Tigers picked themselves up, and after a half-time pep talk from boss Eddie Cardoso, were a different proposition in the second 45 minutes.

In fact, the only goal of the game came four minutes after the re-start.

Joel Pardal's powerful rundown the right gave him the yard he needed to pick out Edson Cata, who smashed the ball first time before anyone else moved.

Syrak Beyene nearly doubled the score, and the lead settled the nerves of a team, who just nine years ago were a community youth club playing five-a-side on Paddington Rec. Tigers have youth teams who still play the smaller game.

But their senior brethren can now look forward to a tie against Concord Rangers from Ryman Division One North on August 30.

This time Tigers have to travel to Essex, Canvey to be precise, in the hope they can march down the isle heads held high.

LONDON TIGERS: 4-4-2, R Nunes; D So Jalo, T Cariba, M Lansiquot, T Ellekhlifi; A Salih, E Cata, A Khoshirnov, S Beyene: J Pardal, H Emineke