An unchanged side took on newcomers Salisbury in the first round of the Amateur Cup, this being the first season the final was to be played at Wembley. Only formed in February 1947, Salisbury was promoted to the first division of the Western League, having won the second division at the first attempt, winning nineteen consecutive games as they did so. They had already played in several qualifying rounds, beating Shepton Mallet, Welton Rovers, Frome Town (after losing the first game a replay was ordered after Frome were found to have played a Bath City player without permission), Purton and Barnstaple. The West Country side included several players who had played for professional clubs, and several more with County appearances to their name, so a tough game was anticipated, with many pundits favouring the visitors.

It took only four minutes for them to open the scoring, a neat movement on the right wing between Rogers and Carter gave the former a chance to shoot across goal and Childs dashed in to crash the ball into the net. Two minutes later and they should have increased their lead when former Southampton reserve Fisher was clean through, but Bernard Head dived into the mud to pull off a wonderful save. Wimbledon retaliated and their keeper, Fountain â€" another ex-Saint, with a Football League appearance to his credit â€" twice saved at the foot of Harry Stannard. With eleven minutes gone Abbott missed a high ball in and Stannard ran in to equalise. The home side gradually took the upper hand and should have increased their lead; Ron Head completely missed the ball a few yards out from Freddie Gauntlett’s cross, although the home goalkeeper was also in action, pulling of masterly saves from both Parker and Fisher. Despite the muddy conditions the pace was frantic and both defences, although struggling to keep their feet, kept mistakes to a minimum.

The visitors started the second-half with dangerous raids down their right wing and Head did well to keep out Fisher’s effort from Child’s centre. For a long spell the Dons were on the defensive and it seemed only a matter of time before they were worn down. With ten minutes to go, however, it was still level and the tide turned, as the home side threw everything into attack, with Jack Wallis pulling the strings and making passes for the forwards to run on to. From one of these Stannard turned to ball goal-wards, but Fountain deflected it for a corner which resulted in a scramble that was finally cleared. Eight minutes from the end Fountain ran out to punch a high ball but under challenge from Stannard the ball fell to Gauntlett and he scored easily. Wimbledon held firm under the final barrage from Salisbury to enter the next round.