The FA Trophy
First Round Proper
Saturday 17 December 2005
Winning clubs receive £2,000

With an attritional National Conference season at the halfway stage and Grays Athletic arguably showing some signs of wear and tear, manager Mark Stimson could have been forgiven for being distracted at Aldershot Town.

Grays, the holders of The FA Trophy, travelled to the Hampshire side for the First Round and what can be reported unequivocally is that the predatory gleam in the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder's eye is undiminished.

Knocked out of the FA Cup at Mansfield and beaten at Morecambe in the Conference last weekend - both games 3-0 reverses - Grays came into the tie as short of form as they have been in two seasons.

Is the league a priority? Not a bit of it, as they showed in a 1-1 draw.

"We won this competition last season and are extremely proud of that achievement," said Stimson.

"What we proved today is that we want to do well again this year. The FA Trophy is a huge competition. Winning it last year will stay with me the rest of my life."

The Grays manager was reacting to the gripping draw his side shared with the Shots - a match they probably deserved to win.

Mike Kightly's 42nd minute strike had a Grays side missing three regulars through suspension ahead at half-time, and in all they hit the woodwork on three occasions during the match.

Aldershot were good value for a draw after a powerful second-half performance and snatched an equaliser and replay through Darren Barnard's spot kick. Ironically it was former Shots defender John Nutter who gave away the penalty that got Aldershot back into the tie.

Conference South Dorchester Town produced the shock of the round when they came from behind to upset National Conference Cambridge City 3-2 at The Avenue Stadium.

Cambridge began well and took a deserved lead through a Michael Morrison header.

That they were unable to stretch it was down to some authoritative goalkeeping from Craig Bradshaw in the Town goal and then, like a bolt from the blue, Dorchester were level, Justin Keeler latching on to Jamie Brown's cross, rounding a defender and blasting home.

Brown was provider turned goalscorer as half-time approached, nodding in a Ryan Hills cross and the tie was settled in the 57th minute when Mark Robinson's 25 yard thump gave Cambridge keeper Scott Howie no chance.

Shell-shocked Cambridge upped the pace in the latter stages but were only able to pick up a 92nd minute consolation through Dave Bridges.

Solihull Borough kept their fairytale alive with a well-deserved 2-1 win over Conference North Hednesford Town.

The Southern League Division One West side, who shocked Conference North high-fliers Harrogate Town in the last round, were at it again and were good value for their win.

Hero, as in the last round, was Dave Pearson, whose 80th minute goal clinched victory.

Burton Albion will be hoping to up their form for the visit of Manchester United in the FA Cup after going down 1-0 to Conference North Worksop Town at the Pirelli Stadium.

Last season's losing semi-finalists had any number of chances to clinch the tie; Ryan Austin, Shaun Harrad, Jon Shaw and Darren Stride proving profligate in front of goal.

Worksop hung on and then delivered the sucker punch, substitute Ben Saunders racing on to a thump upfield and firing in off the crossbar.

Northwich Victoria, the Conference North leaders who meet Sunderland in the FA Cup Third Round, assured themselves of progress when they despatched National Conference York City 2-1 at Kit Kat Crescent.

Two penalties in the first half from Jon Allen were enough to see off a side without a win in seven matches, though leading marksman Andy Bishop did manage to get on the scoresheet.

National Conference Hereford United scored five in a 22 minute second half spell to blow away Conference South Bognor Regis Town 7-1 at Nyewood Lane and Conference North Kettering Town put their recent troubles behind them, eclipsing brave Farsley Celtic 2-1.

The fourth rung of the pyramid was guaranteed representation in the second round draw when Boreham Wood of the Southern Division One East beat Leighton Town of the Southern Division One West 1-0.