Stefan Payne scored twice as Emirates FA Cup debutants AFC Greenwich Borough kept their run going with a fine 4-2 win at Cray Valley Paper Mills in the preliminary round.
The hosts have twice reached the first round proper since the turn of the decade, taking Charlton Athletic to a replay in 2023-24, but saw their progress ended early this time around as Borough seized the initiative.
Tom Jones opened the scoring with a free-kick before Payne fizzed a low finish into the bottom corner to double the lead before the break.
Chris Dickson’s penalty halved the deficit but Bradley Ryan (pictured above) restored the visitors’ two-goal advantage and though Dickson’s second threatened to set up a grandstand finish, Payne picked the goalkeeper’s pocket to slot into an empty net and make the game safe.
They will be joined in first round qualifying by fellow first-timers Petts Wood & Holmesdale, who were convincing 5-1 winners at Raynes Park Vale.
Charlie Clover’s brace and one for Conor Evans saw the away side fly into a 3-0 half-time lead against a team who ply their trade a division higher.
Danal Hassan pulled one back but Joel Wakefield and Ryan Mahal completed the rout and sent the Bromley-based outfit through in style.
In a clash between two teams for whom this season marks a first appearance in the Emirates FA Cup, Fleetlands beat Yateley 3-0 with goals from Joe Briggs, Kelvin Robinson and Christian Bennett.
Redcar Town staged a second-half fightback to beat Bridlington Town 2-1 in the first Emirates FA Cup match ever staged at the Neeform Stadium, which took place on Friday night.
Joe Pratley put the higher-division visitors ahead after 13 minutes but the hosts hit back after the break as Josh Duffield and man of the match Kayden Robinson-Coley turned the game on its head.
The match-winner said: “I tried to chip it in, got it wrong but it went in anyway!
“It was a brilliant game against a team from the step above. There probably wasn’t many people who thought we could do what we did tonight but I thought we did really well.”
Shad Reza’s injury-time winner dashed the dreams of Retford and sent Northampton O.N Chenecks, a club originally set up for former pupils of Northampton Grammar School, into first round qualifying for the first time in their history.
Ware came out on top in an eight-goal thriller against Leverstock Green, who scored three times in the final five minutes after being 5-0 down to give the scoreline a more flattering feel.
Ben Purcell and Ross Derham scored twice as Hayes & Yeading United defeated Southend-based White Ensign 6-3 while there was similarly entertaining fare at Histon, where Cornard United ran out 4-3 winners.
Hashtag United found their groove as they beat Enfield FC 10-1 and there were similarly emphatic wins for Thame United, who defeated Brislington 7-1, as well as Weymouth and Lye Town, who hit Shepton Mallet and Lichfield City respectively for six without reply. Pontefract Collieries defeated Parkgate 8-0.
Saturday’s early kick-off saw Sammy Henia-Kamau notch a hat-trick as Jersey Bulls beat Sheerwater 4-1.
To see a full list of results from the preliminary round, click here.
Picture courtesy of @AFCGreenwichB on X
