Bradley Fewster’s hat-trick helped Redcar Athletic to a dramatic 3-2 victory over Consett AFC as the 2024-25 Emirates FA Cup got underway with the Extra Preliminary Round.
Fewster struck twice before the break to put ninth-tier side ahead of their eighth-tier opponents, and guaranteed himself the match ball 10 minutes after the restart.
Consett fought back with strikes from Isaac Walker and Liam Colledge but it was not enough for the 2020 FA Vase finalists to force a replay.
The North East also saw Birtley Town defy a division gap to beat Bridlington Town 3-2 thanks to Scott Heslop’s second-half winner. The Hoops are now one victory away from their best-ever run in the FA Cup.
Goals either side of half-time helped Silsden AFC to victory over Liversedge. Kayle Price put the visitors ahead just before half-time before Casey Stewart sealed victory just over 10 minutes from time.
There was also victory for two-time FA Cup winners Bury, as they beat Congleton Town 4-2 away from home.
Alex Cherera’s second-half hat-trick plus a strike from Ruben Jerome was enough for the Shakers to seal their place in the next round.
Ashby Ivanhoe also beat higher-ranked opposition with a 1-0 win over Coventry Sphinx.
Will Robson grabbed the winner with 10 minutes left on the clock to send the 10-men Knights through to the next round, where they will bid to match last season’s best-ever Cup run, when they reached the First Qualifying Round.
Northampton ON Chenecks were one of the sides amongst the goals, as they beat Leicester Nirvana 6-0, while Cleethorpes Town beat Kimberley Miners Welfare 7-0 courtesy of six different scorers.
Leighton Town beat FC Clacton 6-0, while Merstham beat Wick 7-0, the same scoreline by which Fairford Town got past Cirencester Town.
Chenecks will face Barton Town in the next round after they were in similarly strong goalscoring form to beat Newark Town 5-2.
Elsewhere, St Neots Town beat Real Bedford 3-2 away from home. The sides were locked at 2-2 after the break but a late own goal secured progression for the Saints against higher-tier opposition despite missing a penalty after the break.
There was also victory for Milton Keynes Irish, who beat Welwyn Garden City 2-0 as they look to match their run to the First Qualifying Round from last season.
Cockfosters earned a replay against Kings Langley thanks to a 1-1 draw, while Walsham-le-Willows and Sleaford Town achieved the same feat by the same scoreline against Wroxham and Wellingborough Town respectively.
