Just a few days after showing exceptional form in Scotland, North End were once again set to face Queen's Park F.C., this time in the FA Challenge Cup. The match, which resulted in a resounding 6-1 win for the Preston team, was considered the biggest defeat Queen's Park had ever suffered. The Scots, moreover, lacked confidence and were concerned about the clash scheduled for the first round at Hampden Park..

The Lancashire club, once again, beat Queen's Park in a very comfortable manner. Through, in order, Sam Thomson, Fred Dewhurst and Jimmy Ross, North End had eliminated Queen's Park on their own turf. The match, moreover, was considered easy, as the full-backs and, especially, Wharton were hardly used.


JONATHAN OLDBUCK: Wharton got very little to do.


Towards the end of the match, however, there was an incident between Harrower and Jimmy Ross.


BAULDIE: Ross, jun., in metting Harrower, in a most ungentlemanly and uncalled for way, brought the Queen's forward of the day to the ground in such a way as nearly to break his vertebrae.


Outraged by the situation, Queen's Park supporters entered the field prepared to attack Nick Ross' younger brother. However, some Queen's Park dignitaries — Walter Arnott and John James Gow, for instance — prevented this and escorted the inside forward to the pavilion.

Witton were North End's next opponents, but an oustanding result was expected by the locals.

North End underperformed in the first half, especially with poor combinations, they eliminated the visitors by a final score of 6:0, through Thomson, Gordon and an impressive four goals scored by Dewhurst.



For the third round, Preston North End were back at Hampden Park, however their opponents this time would be Renton F.C., with formidable footballers such as James McCall and John Campbell.

The match against Renton was scheduled for the 15th, and all preliminaries were arranged, but just prior to the hour for commencing play the referee declared the ground — which was frost-bound — unfit for the settlement of a Cup tie. Consequently, the meeting was scheduled for a week later.

The clash between the two powers generated an initial surprise — two, in fact. After all, North End had scored two goals in less than fifteen minutes of play, and if it weren't for the frequent fouls committed by the home team, North End could have come away with a colossal victory. Nevertheless, goals from Jimmy Ross and Gordon were enough to seal the cup tie and advance North End to the next round.

Just three days after the meeting between Old Carthusians and North End, the semi-finals took place, with North End having to face West Bromwich Albion at the Nottingham ground.

3:1!

A real surprise — the biggest of the season. A comfortable victory for North End was fully expected, but West Bromwich pulled off a real turnaround. Indeed, North End had eliminated an exceptional sequence of opponents — Queen's Park, Renton and Old Carthusians —, but their precise, clockwork-like combinations were not enough to eliminate Jam Bayliss's side. Albion played with determination, pluck and dash, which was enough to eliminate the side that was considered to be the greatest in the world.

North End were confident going into the match, but they were unable to translate their confidence and sheer skill into a result. With the match level at half-time, West Bromwich Albion added two goals in the second half to eliminate the overwhelming favourites.


30.10.1886  Preston North End F.C. - Queen's Park F.C. 3:0
13.11.1886  Preston North End F.C. - Witton F.C. 6:0
22.01.1887  Preston North End F.C. - Renton F.C. 2:0
29.01.1887  Preston North End F.C. - Old Foresters F.C. 3:0
02.03.1887  Preston North End F.C. - Old Carthusians F.C. 2:1
05.03.1887  Preston North End F.C. - West Bromwich Albion F.C. 1:3