En route to the final, Colchester defeated Kingstonian and Merthyr Tydfil after replays, Morecambe, Telford United, and Macclesfield Town.

Witton needed a replay to beat Billingham Synthonia in the first round, then saw off Aylesbury United, Stalybridge Celtic, Wycombe Wanderers, and Marine.

Three goals in the opening ten minutes of the match had given Kingstonian a 2–1 lead, but a 90th-minute equaliser from Tony English sent the tie to a replay.

[2] They were then held to a goalless draw at Merthyr Tydfil in the second round,[3] but a late Roy McDonough goal secured a 1–0 win for the U's in the replay.

[6] In the semi-final first leg, Colchester made the most of home advantage and beat Macclesfield Town 3–0,[7] before guaranteeing a trip to Wembley with a 1–1 draw at Moss Rose to win 4–1 on aggregate.