FA Cup round-up | Pontefract hit eight as Barwell haunt Mickleover
There were a number of shocks in the preliminary round of the FA Cup, but a number of Step 4 NPL representatives still advanced to first round qualifying.
One of the ties of the weekend saw NPL Midlands Division side Mickleover claim a 2-1 victory on the road at Barwell, four days on from snatching a 95th minute equaliser against the same opposition at home in the league.
Two brilliant Cieron Keane free-kicks, against his former club, were enough to see Mickleover over the line, despite an equaliser from Canaries skipper Brady Hickey nine minutes from time.
The same scoreline occurred at Croft Park as hosts Blyth Spartans earned bragging rights over NPL East Division rivals Morpeth Town.
A first-half brace from winger Olly Martin fired Spartans 2-0 ahead, before Morpeth scored a consolation through Harry Gardiner late on.
Pontefract Collieries produced one of the performances of the weekend by thrashing Parkgate 8-0, with six-goal in the second half helping them secure their spot in the next round in convincing fashion.
Meanwhile, Bradford (Park Avenue) and Atherton Collieries delivered comprehensive displays of their own.
Goals from Charlie Winfield, Scott Duxbury, Robbie Fox and Marcus Carver propelled Avenue past NPL West side Mossley away from home, while Daniel Lafferty’s Atherton defeated Irlam Town 3-0 thanks to Freddie Gordon’s strike and a brace from striker Kielen Adams.
Over in Warwickshire, Belper Town of the NPL Midlands Division completed a thumping victory against Rugby Town.
The Nailers cruised to a 3-0 half-time lead after a Harry Draper brace and a smart Tom Eccleshall finish, before a Rivel Mardenborough penalty secured a consolation goal for hosts Rugby with 10 minutes to play.
Curtis Burrows then sealed a 4-1 triumph with an emphatic finish in stoppage time.
Continuing their poor start to the season, NPL West Division basement side Lichfield City suffered a humbling 6-0 defeat at the hands of Lye Town.
The West Midlands-based side ran out comfortable victors at the Sports Ground as five different players got themselves on the scoresheet.
In a battle of NPL Midlands opposition at Kilsby Lane, visitors Nuneaton Town edged past Rugby Borough.
James Armston’s goal four minutes before the break was enough to separate the two sides as the contest ended 1-0.
Another NPL Midlands side who will be playing in that next round are Wellingborough Town, having defeated Lincoln United 2-0 on the road.
Ethan Johnston scored both goals for the visitors at Ashby Avenue.
One of the more surprising results of the round saw Runcorn Linnets beaten 3-2 at home by Trafford.
Goals from Harry McGee midway through the second half and a stoppage-time header from Toby Jones cut the deficit to one after the visitors surged into a 3-0 lead.
However, Michael Ellison’s men left it too late to clinch a positive result as they exited the competition.
Similarly, over in North Yorkshire, Stalybridge Celtic were dumped out by hosts Tadcaster Albion.
Goals from Olly Green and Harry Croft put the Brewers 2-0 ahead inside 11 minutes, before Jack Irlam pulled one back with a close-range volley in the 72nd minute.
Unable to breakthrough once more in the dying minutes, Jon Macken’s side ended up falling to a 2-1 defeat against Northern Counties opposition.
Matlock Town were beaten 2-1 by NPL West Division side Stafford Rangers, in what proved to be Ricky Ravenhill’s final game in charge of the Gladiators.
Saturday’s result saw Ravenhill depart after less than a month at the helm, with the Gladiators sitting sixth in the NPL East Division.
In Shropshire, a late Simeon Cobourne brace for Coventry United swept aside Midland League Premier Division side Whitchurch Alport.
Alport took the lead in front of a home crowd thanks to Tommy McNally’s strike in the 10th minute, before Charlie Shaw levelled for the visitors on the hour mark. It was then the turn of Cobourne to decide the tie with his second and third goals of the season.
And finally, Sunday's only FA Cup game with NPL representation saw an eight-goal thriller between Northwich Victoria and Bootle.
With the sides drawing 2-2 at half-time, goals from Ryan Beigan and Ben Hodkinson - his second of the afternoon - seemingly had NPL West Division leaders Bootle in control.
But Josh Langley quickly reduced the arrears, before Will Bentley scored within minutes of his introduction from the bench to make it 4-4 and take the tie to a replay.
Any preliminary round replays will take place this coming midweek (Tuesday/Wednesday).
The draw for the first qualifying round will be released at 1pm on Monday 24 August, with Step 3 sides entering the competition at this stage.
First round qualifying will take place over the weekend of Saturday 5 September.
All results involving Northern Premier League sides* are listed below:
Results - FA Cup preliminary round
1874 Northwich 1-1 Horbury Town
AFC Rushden & Diamonds 1-1 Long Eaton United
Ashby Ivanhoe 1-3 Bedworth United
Ashington 2-3 Thornaby
Atherton Collieries 3-0 Irlam Town
Barwell 1-2 Mickleover
Blyth Spartans 2-1 Morpeth Town
Boldmere St Michaels 1-0 Chasetown
Boston Town 0-1 Sherwood Colliery
Bottesford Town 1-1 Bourne Town
Carlisle City 0-2 Dunston
Coleshill Town 0-1 Knowle
Consett AFC 0-1 Marske United
Corby Town 0-1 Basford United
Desborough Town 2-0 Carlton Town
Droylsden 1-2 Garforth Town
Hanley Town 3-3 Droitwich Spa
Kendal Town 2-2 Heaton Stannington
Lincoln United 0-2 Wellingborough Town
Liversedge 0-1 Ossett United
Litherland REMYCA 1-1 Prescot Cables
Lower Breck 3-2 Euxton Villa
Lye Town 6-0 Lichfield City
Mossley 0-4 Bradford (Park Avenue)
North Ferriby 2-1 Campion AFC
Northwich Victoria 4-4 Bootle
Pershore Town 88 2-3 Newcastle Town
Pontefract Collieries 8-0 Parkgate
Redcar Town 2-1 Bridlington
Rugby Borough 0-1 Nuneaton Town
Rugby Town 1-4 Belper Town
Runcorn Linnets 2-3 Trafford
Shepshed Dynamo 2-0 Romulus
Sporting Khalsa 2-1 Shifnal Town
Stafford Rangers 2-1 Matlock Town
St Ives Town 2-2 Fakenham Town
Stocksbridge Park Steels 1-0 Cheadle Town
Tadcaster Albion 2-1 Stalybridge Celtic
Vauxhall Motors 3-2 Thackley
West Auckland Town 0-1 Shildon
Whitchurch Alport 1-3 Coventry United
Witton Albion 1-0 Nelson
Wythenshawe 3-1 Clitheroe
Fixtures - FA Cup preliminary round replay
Bootle vs Northwich Victoria
Bourne Town vs Bottesford Town
Droitwich Spa vs Hanley Town
Fakenham Town vs St Ives Town
Heaton Stannington vs Kendal Town
Horbury Town vs 1874 Northwich
Long Eaton United vs AFC Rushden & Diamonds
Prescot Cables vs Litherland REMYCA
*Bold signifies Northern Premier League team