AFC Sudbury star on thrilling day of Emirates FA Cup fourth round qualifying action

Saturday 16 Oct 2021
AFC Sudbury were the only Level 8 side to win on frantic day

AFC Sudbury guaranteed their place in the Emirates FA Cup first round proper with a sensational 3-1 win against Dartford on a thrilling day of fourth round qualifying action.  

The Isthmian League Division One North side were the only Level 8 side to win but they had to do it the hard way.  

Dartford led 1-0 at half-time thanks to a Jack Jebb strike but goals from Reece Harris, Shane Temple and Lewis O’Malley turned the game on its head.  

Emirates FA Cup
  • Fourth Round Qualifying
  • Saturday 16 October
Three more Level 8 sides could join them in the first round proper after forcing replays, including Marine - who played Tottenham Hotspur in the third round last season.  

They faced National League side Wrexham, three tiers above them, and looked set for victory when Owen Watkinson scored in the 78th minute to put them 1-0 up.  

But a last-gasp free-kick from Jordan Davies rescued the Welsh side and kept their own dream alive.  

There are also three tiers between Northern Premier League Division One East’s Pontefract Collieries and National League’s Halifax Town but they drew 0-0, while Marske United also drew 0-0 with Gateshead United – who are two tiers higher.  

Four Level 8 sides bowed out, including Stamford – who went down 3-0 to Stockport County through goals from Ryan Crossdale, Paddy Madden and Scott Quigley, while National League Maidenhead United saw off Hastings United 3-1.  

Amari Morgan-Smith scored the winner for National League North's Kidderminster Harriers in their 1-0 win at Bedfont Sports and Southend United rallied from a goal down to beat Chertsey 4-1 at Roots Hall.  

Nathan Ferguson and Rhys Murphy were among those on target after Casey McLaren had put Chertsey ahead after five minutes.  

Elsewhere, Grimsby Town eased to a 5-0 win over Bromsgrove Sporting in the early kick-off. Sebastian Revan scored twice and David Longe-King once to put the Mariners 3-0 up at half-time, before an 82nd-minute Lenell John-Lewis penalty and Will Bapaga’s 90th-minute effort sealed a comfortable victory.  

Dagenham & Redbridge came from a goal down to defeat Wealdstone 2-1 in an all-National League battle, while Torquay were forced into a replay after Havant & Waterlooville secured a late equaliser in a 2-2 draw.   

1894 winners Notts County will also face a replay following a 0-0 draw against Tamworth, whilst Eastleigh rallied from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 with Folkestone.   

Harrow came from 2-1 down at half-time to defeat Chelmsford 4-2 thanks to a James Ewington hat-trick.  

Chelmsford were ahead thanks to efforts from Charlie Sheringham and Cameron James just three minutes apart towards the end of the opening 45 minutes.  

However, Ewington’s 63rd-minute penalty and 66th-minute strike – in addition to a first-half goal - saw the home side progress at Earlsmead, with Imran Uche sealing victory with less than 15 minutes to go.  

Boreham Wood, Altrincham, Ebbsfleet United and King’s Lynn Town were among the other winners who sealed a place in the first round proper, with the draw for that stage taking place on Sunday afternoon.  

By FA Staff