Upsets galore in Emirates FA Cup second round

Saturday 02 Nov 2024
10 non-league teams made the second round of the Emirates FA Cup last season

Kettering Town led a further pack of eight non-league sides into the second round of the Emirates FA Cup.

The Poppies, who play in Southern League Division One Central, picked up where Tamworth left off on Friday night.

They claimed a stunning 2-1 triumph over local rivals Northampton Town to cap a day of upsets in the famous competition. 

Richard Lavery's side trailed through Connor Johnson's own goal but Luca Miller pulled one back on 66 minutes to force extra time.

Four minutes into the added 30, ex-Newcastle striker Nile Ranger rose highest from a corner and saw his header cannon in to script a memorable result.

FULL RESULTS HERE

Eighth-tier Harborough Town produced a magical performance to beat Tonbridge Angels and reach the heady heights of the second round for the first time.

A brace from Ben Stephens and goals from Paul Malone and Daniel Forbes saw the Leicestershire side into the hat for Monday's draw, knocking out Tonbridge from the division above.

In an incredible clash between the two lowest-ranked teams left in the competition, eighth-tier Hednesford Town were locked at 4-4 with Gainsborough Trinity after extra time with Trinity winning on penalties.

Non-league sides Wealdstone, Oldham Athletic and Dagenham & Redbridge all claimed the scalps of EFL opposition.

Alex Reid struck a dramatic late winner to see the Stones to 1-0 victory over Grimsby Town, while Dion Pereira’s second-half penalty helped National League Dagenham down Crewe Alexandra of League Two. 

In the north-west, Micky Mellon’s Oldham fought back to win 2-1 and knock out Tranmere Rovers.

Nine ties went to extra time and Stevenage, Bristol Rovers, Charlton Athletic and Crawley Town needed an additional 30 minutes to get out of jail.

Stevenage came within a whisker of an upset and after it finished 1-1 after extra-time, they needed a shootout to beat non-league Guiseley with Jameel Ible’s missed penalty making the difference.

Rovers scored twice in extra time to beat Somerset rivals Weston-super-Mare 3-1 and Tola Showunmi saw Crawley to a 2-1 success over Maidenhead with only four minutes left in extra time.

In a topsy-turvy tie at Roots Hall, an own goal from Josh Edwards saw Southend and Charlton go to extra time at 3-3, with Gassan Ahadme netting a winner with seconds left before penalties.

Elsewhere, a number of established EFL clubs survived scares. 

A hat-trick from Josh Magennis helped League One’s Exeter City come from behind twice to overcome National League high-fliers Barnet 5-3.

Jack Barham’s first-half strike gave Aldershot Town a shock lead at Valley Parade but Bradford City roared back and sealed safe passage with three second-half goals. 

Accrington Stanley had to wait 73 minutes for a breakthrough against ten-player Rushall Olympic but Josh Woods’ effort was enough to see them through. 

Meanwhile, hopes of a cup upset were quashed as Wycombe Wanderers beat York City 3-1, Chesterfield downed Horsham 3-1 and League One strugglers Burton Albion bested Scarborough Athletic 1-0. 

A pair of injury-time goals saw Bromley stave off the challenge of National League Rochdale and James Brophy’s goal was the difference between Cambridge United and non-league Woking.

National League outfit Solihull Moors had far too much for Maidstone of National League South, running out 3-0 victors.

In the all-EFL ties, Steve Bruce tasted 2-0 victory on his return to Gillingham with Blackpool. 

Barnsley beat in-form Port Vale 3-1, Doncaster edged out Barrow 1-0 and Wigan outlasted Carlisle in extra time.

Cheltenham claimed an impressive 3-1 win at Rotherham United, Reading beat Fleetwood 2-0 and Matty Lund was at the double as Salford bettered Shrewsbury 2-1.

Peterborough United staged the best comeback of the day as, having gone 2-0 down after seven minutes, they battled back to beat Newport County 3-2. 

By FA Staff