The FA Cup
Second Round Proper
Saturday 03 December 2005
Winning clubs receive £24,000





Non-League Tamworth produced the shock of the round with a stunning win at Hartlepool on a day of FA Cup upsets.

The Conference strugglers, who were also the toast of the First Round after a 2-1 win at League One Bournemouth, are joined in the hat for the Third Round draw by fellow Conference side Stevenage, who forced a replay after holding League Two Northampton at home.

Other non-league sides that will be hoping for a plumb draw once the big boys of the Premiership enter the competition include Nuneaten and Histon, who drew 2-2 in an all non-league clash. Likewise, Woking and Northwich made the Third Round draw after the pair drew 0-0 at the Kingfield Stadium.

Another giant-killing act saw League Two Chester hammer two-times FA Cup winners Nottingham Forest 3-0.

But it was Tamworth, who have never reached the Third Round before, who stole the headlines after winning 2-1 at Victoria Park to prove that The FA Cup has lost none of its ability to turn the formbook on its head.

Jake Edwards and Matt Redmile put Mark Cooper’s men 2-0 up before Hartlepool pulled one back with a Chris Llewellyn penalty, but the visitors hung on gallantly.

A late Anthony Elding goal earned a replay for Stevenage in a four-goal thriller against Northampton after Scott McGleish’s penalty had appeared to have won it for the Cobblers.

At Chester's Deva Stadium, a brace from Ryan Lowe - to make it six goals in his last seven games - and a Marcus Richardson strike sent Gary Megson’s Forest crashing out.

Conference side Aldershot bowed out after a 1-0 home defeat against Scunthorpe, as did Hereford following a 2-0 loss against Stockport.

Paul Merson - who won The Cup as a player with Arsenal in 1993 - saw his Walsall side safely through to the Third Round with a 2-0 home win against FA Cup specialists Yeovil.