Those who believe that the oldest Cup competition in world football is on its last legs need think again.
Those managers in the elite world of the Premier League who put greed before glory and mid-table mediocrity above the chance to play in the FA Cup Final should have been in the modest surrounds of Kettering's Rockingham Road stadium yesterday afternoon.
There can be few competitions that can generate as much passion and commitment among fans and players alike, and Kettering came perilously close to carving their own niche in history.
Fulham possess an ultra-honest boss in Roy Hodgson.
He admitted, after witnessing his side secure a place in the fifth round courtesy of two goals in the final three minutes: "It was a match we couldn't win, wasn't it?" You knew exactly what he meant, as the glory was clearly going to belong to the Blue Square Premier League team no matter the result.
And what so nearly happened was one of the great upsets in FA Cup history.
"I'm sick, we deserved to win never mind draw. We missed numerous chances and produced an unbelievable performance," fumed Kettering manager Mark Cooper.
But it was a 90-plus minute package that also showed up the naiveity of the TV schedule decision-makers over their choice of live games.
This tie would have made enthralling viewing.
Cooper added: "This is what the FA Cup is about, it was a fantastic match."
And the game very nearly became memorable for all the right reasons for Kettering yet all the wrong ones for Fulham.
Hodgson had gambled by leaving influential players Danny Murphy and Bobby Zamora on the bench.
And both were called upon to play a significant part after Fulham were given the scare of their lives.
Initially, it was all going to plan for Hodgson. Against nonleague opposition, the earlier your point is made the better.
On 12 minutes the visitors broke the deadlock, Clint Dempsey's cross from the right volleyed home emphatically by Simon Davies past goalkeeper Lee Harper.
And Hodgson must have been delighted that he opted to start with Davies, as the Welsh midfielder wasn't intimidated by the surroundings nor the impressive hosts.
He was at the hub of most of the positive Fulham play but a few of his team-mates went AWOL just as belief returned to Kettering.
Craig Westcarr, who was once deemed to be 'the next best thing' after making his debut for Nottingham Forest at the tender age of 16, attracted an unseemly lunge from Frederick Stoor some 10 minutes from half-time.
Westcarr unleashed a free-kick from the edge of the area that beat Aussie keeper Mark Schwarzer thanks to a massive deflection which didn't dilute the scorer's celebration.
Kettering took heart from the goal and stand-in skipper John Dempster did his best Darren Bent impersonation by heading over an open goal.
With 15 minutes remaining, Hodgson played his trump cards by introducing Murphy and Zamora. The impact of these two was immediate, with Murphy restoring Fulham's lead with a shot that deflected off Exodus Geohagen.
But the drama of the FA Cup lived up to its reputation with nine minutes left when Kettering levelled matters. Brede Hangeland pulled back Westcarr who converted the penalty.
Cooper argued that should have left Fulham with just 10 men and claimed: "A red card for that? I would think so!"
There was no sending off, and just when the replay that Kettering deserved was on the horizon the hosts fell behind.
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Harper misjudged a ball to the far post, Zamora headed back across goal and Andy Johnson headed into the net.
And just to compound Kettering's misery, Zamora struck a fourth goal to produce arguably the most deceptive FA Cup result of the day.
STAT ATTACK
at ROCKINGHAM ROAD ATT: 5,406
How they rated
Kettering Subs: Potter 6 (Jaszczun).
FULHAM
Subs: Murphy 6 (Etuhu), Zamora 5 (Gera).
Shots
7 off target 7
4 on target 10
Story of the game
3.Corners3
12 Fouls Conceded 18
1.Offsides.1
3.Yellow 1
0.Red.0
Possession
42% 58%
MAN OF THE MATCH
7 S DAVIES: Has every right to be proud of his Kettering team, who gave their all yesterday.
REFEREE
M RILEY 7
Every major decision was spot on from the experienced official.
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