National League North side Darlington scored a 97th-minute equaliser to earn a replay with League Two Walsall on a dramatic Saturday of Emirates FA Cup first round proper action.
The non-league team were in charge for much of the game thanks to Omar Holness’s 17th-minute goal but two sending offs and three goals in a crazy finale saw Joe Wheatley fire home from close range to earn the Quakers a replay.
The sending off of Saddlers defender Dan Scarr for a second bookable offence in the 82nd minute triggered pandemonium as Walsall first levelled through Caolan Lavery with four minutes left.
The hosts then went in front in the last minute of normal time through Alfie Bates's corner before Darlington were also reduced to ten men when Ben Hedley was shown a second yellow card and, finally, Rivers’ dramatic equaliser.
There was similar late drama at Stonebridge Road where a 93rd-minute Ben Turner winner saw Notts County through to Round Two with a 3-2 victory over fellow National League side Ebbsfleet United.
The home side took the lead early on through Josh Payne before a Kyle Wootton double put the visitors in the ascendency.
It looked like there would be another replay on the cards when Gozie Ugwu scored from the penalty spot with only minutes remaining but Turner’s rising header ensured County live to fight another day.
In an all-League Two affair, further tension at the death saw Cheltenham Town and Swindon Town finish 1-1 at Jonny-Rocks Stadium.
Swindon had the better and greater number of chances and finally made it count in the 91st minute when Jerry Yates fired home but Alex Addai scored a hugely dramatic equaliser off the bench two minutes later to ensure a replay.
Cambridge United were also thankful for a late goal as they earned a replay after a 1-1 draw with Exeter City.
Alex Fisher’s first-half goal had appeared to be sending the visitors through but they kept themselves alive in the competition through Sam Smith in added time.
Elsewhere, National League South side Maidstone United pulled off an upset as they beat National League pacesetters Torquay United 1-0.
Dan Wishart's first-half goal, a deflected driven ball, was enough for the hosts to reach Round Two.
Meanwhile, James Ball's hat-trick helped Solihull Moors comfortably through with a commanding 5-1 win at Oxford City.
Paul McCallum also scored a double to ensure the visitors reached the Second Round for the third time in the past four seasons.
There was another comfortable win at The New Lawn as League Two leaders Forest Green Rovers breezed past Billericay Town 4-0 while Crawley Town beat Scunthorpe United 4-1 and Blackpool proved too strong for Morecambe, winning by the same scoreline.
