FA Cup round-up | Bury run riot as FC United, Leek and Lower Breck earn huge victories

A hotly-contested Manchester derby at Salford Van Hire Gigg Lane witnessed a hugely one-sided contest, where hosts Bury scored eight unanswered goals against Wythenshawe. 

Kai Evans bagged a superb hat-trick and Connor Pye a brace as the Shakers claimed their biggest FA Cup victory in 117 years.

Saturday’s scoreline was all the more surprising given the tie remained goalless after 30 minutes, before a blistering spell saw Bury net six goals without reply before the first half had ended.

There was also a brilliant first victory of the season for FC United of Manchester against Garforth Town in West Yorkshire. 

Two goals apiece from Jordan Buckley and Matty Grivosti gave Mark Beesley’s men a comfortable 4-0 lead at half-time, before Adam Le Fondre added a fifth and final goal for the Reds late on. 

Luke Aldrich tucked a consolation penalty away for Garforth in stoppage time, but it proved to be a disappointing afternoon for the NPL East Division side at Wheatley Park.

A similar story occurred at the Guardian Warehousing Arena where Leek Town brushed aside hosts Sporting Khalsa 5-0, while Ashton United delivered a stunning second-half fightback against NPL Premier Division rivals Whitby Town to reach the next round.

Lee Bullock’s Whitby side raced into a 2-0 lead at the break thanks to goals from Ben Turner and Stuart Rose. 

However, four goals from James Hardy and a stoppage-time effort from Darius Osei sealed a remarkable 5-2 triumph at the Towbar Express Stadium. 

Hardy has now registered six goals this season - all of them coming against the Seasiders.

In another battle of NPL Premier Division clubs at the Quickline Logistics Arena, hosts Warrington Rylands clinched their third win in a row with a 3-1 success against Hyde United. 

Although Dan Martin levelled for the Tigers to cancel out Harrison Wood’s opener, Charlie Munro’s emphatic strike and a third from Adam Caddick in the 82nd minute were enough to see Neil Reynolds’ Blues progress.

The final tie between two NPL Premier Division clubs witnessed an enthralling 2-2 draw between Stockton Town and Guiseley.

However, passage into the next round was much more assured for Workington and Gainsborough Trinity.

Billy Barr’s Workington side continued their fine recent form to sweep aside Marske United 3-0 at the Fibrus Community Stadium, while Gainsborough put four past Nottinghamshire’s Sherwood Colliery. 

Fraser Preston opened the scoring before Connor Brown restored the Holy Blues’ advantage midway through the second half, but it was Theo Williams’ late double that rounded off a sparkling performance away from home. It was also a great response from Russ Wilcox’s side following a 3-0 defeat to Cleethorpes Town on Bank Holiday Monday.

A brilliant run of results has seen the aforementioned Cleethorpes sit top of the NPL Premier Division after the first month of the campaign. However, Craig Rouse’s side were unable to build on that positive league form against Newcastle Town. 

The in-form Josh Walker edged the hosts ahead just after the interval, but quickfire goals from Luca Witney and Harry Bower were enough to seal a 2-1 victory for Neil Baker’s side at The Linden Club. 

It is an impressive result for the Castle, who sit 18th in the NPL West Division after a difficult start to the campaign.

Similarly to Cleethorpes, Avro suffered a disappointing defeat of their own in front of a home crowd. 

Visitors Witton Albion surged into a 2-0 lead courtesy of James Steele and Tom Hoyle, and high-flying Avro were unable to fight back as a resolute defensive performance meant the scoreline remained in Witton’s favour until the end at the Vestacare Stadium. 

Bamber Bridge were also on the receiving end of an FA Cup upset, losing 3-1 at home to Trafford.

Despite the gap of two divisions between the sides, Trafford were full value for the win and built on an excellent start to the season which had seen them win seven of their opening eight matches in all competitions heading into Saturday’s game. 

Warrington Town very nearly endured a similar fate, had midfielder David Morgan not come off the bench to earn the Yellows a 2-2 draw at Northern League side Shildon. 

It was a particularly special moment for Morgan, who was making his first competitive appearance in almost a year having been sidelined by a long-term knee injury.  

Elsewhere, with a stoppage-time winner at Tameside Stadium, visitors Bradford (Park Avenue) broke the hearts of another in-form team in Curzon Ashton. 

Kareem Hassan-Smith edged Avenue ahead in the first half when his strike scrambled across the line, before a sustained period of pressure led to Ola Lawal’s equaliser in the 81st minute. 

While a replay or Curzon winner looked the more likely outcome, Hassan-Smith was on hand again to prod home and secure a famous victory for Craig Elliott’s side.

Coventry United weathered a late Bedworth United fightback to make their way through in dramatic fashion, meanwhile.

A Leo Stone penalty and Simeon Cobourne strike put the hosts two ahead inside 15 minutes, before Bedworth’s reply five minutes from time gave the Greenbacks much-needed hope. 

A penalty was then awarded just as stoppage time arrived, but the subsequent spot-kick was missed and Terry Anderson’s side survived an almighty scare to avoid a replay against their NPL Midlands Division rivals next week. 

Finally, over in Cheshire, Atherton Collieries displayed tremendous resilience to defeat Northwich Victoria 3-2 and book their spot in the next round. 

Daniel Lafferty’s side trailed 2-1 with less than 10 minutes to play, but Harry Forshaw’s maiden goal for the club and a calm stoppage-time finish from Kielen Adams propelled the Colls to victory in a topsy-turvy affair at the APEC Taxis Stadium.

The draw for second round qualifying will be released at 1pm on Monday 7 September. Ties will take place over the weekend of Saturday 19 September.

All results involving Northern Premier League sides* are listed below:

Results - FA Cup first round qualifying

Alfreton Town 0-2 Stratford Town

Avro 0-2 Witton Albion 

Bamber Bridge 1-3 Trafford

Belper Town 0-3 Evesham United

Bourne Town 1-1 Boldmere St Michaels 

Bromsgrove Sporting 2-0 Nuneaton Town

Bury 8-0 Wythenshawe 

Cleethorpes Town 1-2 Newcastle Town 

Coventry United 2-1 Bedworth United 

Curzon Ashton 1-2 Bradford (Park Avenue) 

Desborough Town 0-3 AFC Rushden & Diamonds

Emley vs Bishop Auckland (Sunday, 1pm kick-off)

Garforth Town 1-5 FC United of Manchester 

Halesowen Town 3-1 Basford United

Hanley Town 2-1 Abbey Hulton United 

Heaton Stannington 1-0 Knaresborough Town

Lancaster City 1-1 Tadcaster Albion

Leamington 3-1 Ilkeston Town

Lower Breck 5-1 Thornaby

North Ferriby 0-0 Barton Town

Northwich Victoria 2-3 Atherton Collieries 

Ossett United 1-0 Pontefract Collieries 

Prescot Cables 2-0 Horbury Town

Quorn 2-1 Shepshed Dynamo  

Redcar Athletic 1-0 Stocksbridge Park Steels 

Redcar Town 1-0 Blyth Spartans

Sherwood Colliery 2-4 Gainsborough Trinity 

Shildon 2-2 Warrington Town

Sporting Khalsa 0-5 Leek Town 

Stafford Rangers 3-0 Northampton ON Chenecks 

Stamford 0-1 Mickleover 

Stockton Town 2-2 Guiseley 

Vauxhall Motors 0-2 Dunston

Warrington Rylands 3-1 Hyde United

Wellingborough Town 2-2 Kettering Town

Whitby Town 2-5 Ashton United

Workington 3-0 Marske United

*Bold signifies Northern Premier League Team