news

FA Cup round-up | Ashton United the giant-killers and Hednesford Town in seventh heaven as 10 NPL sides progress

The FA Cup returned this weekend as 29 sides from across the Northern Premier League pyramid fought for the opportunity to progress to the third qualifying round.

Of the eight ties which saw Northern Premier League representatives take on sides in the National League North, only Ashton United prevailed.

The Robins beat high-flying Scarborough Athletic 2-0 at Hurst Cross. Luca Navarro was the hero on the day, coming on in the 56th minute and bagging a 12-minute brace to see his side into the next round.

Speaking post-match, boss Steve Cunningham said: “I felt we were comfortable for large parts of the game, and we dealt with everything they threw at us.

“We were camped in during moments of the second half, but that’s what we’re trying to do now.

“We know we can defend and that’s [our fifth] clean sheet of the season, so it’s not by fluke, it’s by design.”

Three NPL Premier Division sides fell to Step 2 opposition, and a further three in the NPL regional divisions did too.

Sporting Khala, another facing Step 2 opponents in Hereford, saw their game abandoned midway through the second half due to allegations of racist abuse.

Four more Premier Division sides progressed to the third qualifying round.

The most impressive of the lot came by way of Hednesford Town, who secured the biggest margin of victory in the entire round against Coleshill Town, winning 7-0 away from home.

With the two sides only separated by 24 miles, it had all the makings of an intense cup tie derby clash, but Gavin Hurren’s side wasted no time in showing their class, racing into a 5-0 lead inside 25 minutes.

Ahkeem Rose netted four of the seven, with Jonny Edwards, Dom McHale and Dan Turner all getting themselves on the scoresheet too.

Gainsborough Trinity and Hyde United prevailed in the all-Premier Division ties of the round.

Photo credit: Gainsborough Trinity

Gainsborough’s strong league form continued into the cup as they beat Rushall Olympic 2-1, thanks to a 94th-minute penalty from Jonny Margetts.

Hyde were victorious for the second time this season at home to Whitby Town.

An Alex Nelson own-goal put the hosts in front after 16 minutes, and a Charlie Frost effort nine minutes after the restart ensured a place in the third qualifying round for the managerless Tigers.

Meanwhile, a Luke James double helped Morpeth Town see off NPL West Division outfit Witton Albion.

Elsewhere, NPL Premier Division league leaders FC United of Manchester were knocked out by Chadderton, who are now the only Step 5 side remaining in the competition.

A stunner from inside his own half by Matty Crothers was all that separated the two sides as the North West Counties Premier Division side secured another NPL scalp, having knocked Bishop Auckland out in the last round.

In front of the BBC cameras, Runcorn Linnets equalled their best FA Cup run as they reached the third qualifying round for the first time in four years, courtesy of a 2-0 win at Pickering Town.

Goals either side of the half from Declan McLoughlin and record goalscorer Ryan Brooke sent Brad Cooke’s side into the third qualifying round for just the third time in the club’s history.

Both Dunston and Sutton Coldfield Town made the third qualifying round for the first time in six years.

NPL East Division side Dunston got revenge on Stocksbridge Park Steels, who beat them in the play-off final last season, while Sutton Coldfield knocked out Step 3 opposition in Southern Premier League side Stourbridge.

Photo credit: Jonathan White

Nantwich Town and Matlock Town round out the 10 NPL sides confirmed in the next round, as they were both victorious in their all-Step 4 matchups.

They will be joined in Monday’s draw by Chasetown, Grimsby Borough and Racing Club Warwick, who will have to go through a replay to confirm their place in the next round.

FA Cup results involving Northern Premier League sides: