▁the ▁first ▁round , ▁they ▁defeated ▁Second ▁Division ▁clubs ▁Black pool ▁in ▁the ▁second ▁round ▁and ▁York ▁City ▁in ▁the ▁third ▁round , ▁winning ▁both ▁games ▁ 1 – 0 . ▁In ▁the ▁fourth ▁round ▁they ▁were ▁drawn ▁away ▁to ▁Premier ▁League ▁M idd les br ough , ▁losing ▁ 3 – 2 . ▁ ▁The ▁following ▁season ▁saw ▁Hed nes ford ▁entered ▁directly ▁into ▁the ▁first ▁round ▁of ▁the ▁FA ▁Cup , ▁where ▁they ▁defeated ▁H ull ▁City ▁ 2 – 0 , ▁before ▁losing ▁ 1 – 0 ▁to ▁Dar ling ton ▁in ▁the ▁second ▁round . ▁The ▁club ▁reached ▁the ▁second ▁round ▁again ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 8 – 9 9 , ▁be ating ▁Bar net ▁ 1 – 0 ▁in ▁the ▁first ▁round ▁before ▁losing ▁ 3 – 1 ▁at ▁Card iff ▁City . ▁A ▁grad ual ▁decl ine ▁in ▁league ▁performances ▁saw ▁them ▁finish ▁bottom ▁of ▁the ▁table ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 0 – 0 1 , ▁resulting ▁in ▁re leg ation ▁back ▁to ▁the ▁Southern ▁League ' s ▁Premier ▁Division . ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 3 – 0 4 ▁the ▁club ▁reached ▁the ▁final ▁of ▁the ▁FA ▁Tro phy , ▁winning ▁the ▁competition ▁with ▁a ▁ 3 – 2 ▁win ▁over ▁Can vey ▁Island ▁at ▁Villa ▁Park . ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 4 – 0 5 ▁they ▁finished ▁fourth ▁in ▁the ▁Premier ▁Division , ▁qual ifying ▁for ▁the ▁promotion ▁play - offs ; ▁after ▁be ating ▁Mer th yr ▁T yd fil ▁