FA Cup round-up | Shocks galore as Guiseley, Stafford and Coventry claim huge upsets

Ian Richards’ Guiseley side defeated last season’s NPL Premier Division champions Hebburn Town with a crushing 4-1 victory away from home, thanks to goals from Kallan Murphy, Jack Tinker, Cam Wilson and Amir Berchil.

Meanwhile, NPL West Division side Stafford Rangers raised the bar further by overcoming current National League North leaders Hereford 3-2. 

The visitors entered the break a goal ahead after Danny Waldron’s 21st minute strike, but a double from Scott Bakkor and penalty from Jack Birch effectively sealed the tie before Cawley Cox delivered a late consolation for the Bulls at the Stan Robinson Stadium.

Over at Keys Park, Coventry United sprung a surprise of their own to dump out last season’s NPL Premier Division play-off winners Hednesford Town. 

Shay Palmer’s fourth minute effort was enough to separate the sides and clinch a famous win for the NPL Midlands Division club, helping them reach third round qualifying for the first time. 

Following a 2-1 win over Curzon Ashton in the previous round, Bradford (Park Avenue) once again took out NPL Premier Division opposition with a 1-0 victory against Lancaster City. 

Luke Parkin’s clinical 19th minute strike into the bottom corner was the only goal of the game, though Avenue were unlucky not to add more after hitting the woodwork several times at the Horsfall Community Stadium.

With a ruthless display of their own to defeat Step 3 opponents Peterborough Sports, AFC Rushden & Diamonds wowed their home fans to reach the third qualifying round for the first time in a decade. 

Matt Warburton’s opener was followed up by Tejan Thomas’ effort to double the lead nine minutes later, before Lewis Green’s close-range header just before the break halved the deficit in Northamptonshire. 

But any hopes of a Turbines comeback into the second half were short-lived as Jordan O’Brien restored the two-goal advantage to see them into the next round.

Another team continuing their fairytale story is Trafford, who once again dumped out NPL opposition away from home. 

A 3-1 victory over Bamber Bridge at Irongate a fortnight ago was certainly not a fluke, as Tom Baker’s side resisted a Heaton Stannington fightback to progress. 

Trafford entered the break 1-0 ahead thanks to Kyle Worsley’s strike, but their NPL East Division opponents levelled midway through the second half as Max Storey poked home from close range. 

Only nine minutes later, Brad Byrne restored the advantage when he calmly slotted home from the spot, and it remained 2-1 until the final whistle as Trafford closed out a famous triumph. 

Elsewhere, In a battle of NPL Premier Division sides at Gigg Lane, Bury continued their wonderful home goal-scoring record to defeat in-form Workington 5-1. 

Including an 8-0 thumping of Wythenshawe in the previous round and two league games, Anthony Johnson’s men have scored 24 goals in four consecutive home wins. 

A disappointing afternoon started so brightly for Billy Barr’s Workington side as Joe Grayson’s volley gifted them an early lead, but the Shakers responded well as Kai Evans’ brace gave them a deserved 2-1 lead at the interval. 

It was then the turn of Man of the Match Mo Touray to bag two himself, before Rustam Stepans rounded off the scoring late on to emphatically end a six-match winning streak across all competitions for the Reds.

Building on a comprehensive display in the previous round and a maiden league win of the 2026/27 campaign against Warrington Town last time out, FC United of Manchester appear to be growing in confidence after a resounding performance against Ossett United. 

Three goals in the space of 13 minutes gave Mark Beesley’s side a comfortable cushion at half-time, before Matty Devine made it 4-0 five minutes from time. 

James Clarke bagged a consolation for Ossett almost immediately after, though it was a simple case of ‘too little, too late’ at Broadhurst Park.

The aforementioned Warrington Town bounced back from that humbling league defeat with a comfortable 3-0 victory over South Liverpool. 

Reece Daly, Callum Edwards and Jack Goodwin got themselves on the scoresheet for the Yellows, and it could’ve been more had it not been for a fine display from visiting goalkeeper Dominic Garner.

Across town, Warrington Rylands were edged out by National League North side Chorley.

A tight contest at the Quickline Logistics Arena was decided by Jack Sampson’s late penalty, after Lewis Salmon was pulled down inside the area. The initial spot-kick was saved by Rylands keeper Luke Pilling, but the referee ordered a re-take with Pilling spotted off his line.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Atherton Collieries won a battle of the NPL West Division against Prescot Cables. 

Ben Rydel drove home to open the scoring inside 25 minutes, before Kielen Adams doubled the Colls lead to round off the scoring midway through the second half. 

The 2-0 triumph continues a positive run of form for Daniel Lafferty’s side, who are unbeaten in four since a 4-0 loss to Stalybridge Celtic on August 31.

On the other hand, it is a first loss of the campaign across all competition for Cables, who sit fourth in the league.

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

Results- - FA Cup second round qualifying

AFC Rushden & Diamonds 3-1 Peterborough Sports

Anstey Nomads 2-1 Newcastle Town

Atherton Collieries 2-0 Prescot Cables

Barton Town 3-1 Boldmere St Michaels

Bradford (Park Avenue) 1-0 Lancaster City

Bromsgrove Sporting 2-1 Leek Town

Bury 5-1 Workington

Buxton 1-0 Ashton United

Dunston 0-2 Scarborough Athletic

Emley 0-4 Spennymoor Town

FC United of Manchester 4-1 Ossett United

Halesowen Town 2-0 Mickleover

Heaton Stannington 1-2 Trafford

Hebburn Town 1-4 Guiseley

Hednesford Town 0-1 Coventry United

Kettering Town 2-0 Quorn

Leamington 1-1 Gainsborough Trinity

Lower Breck 1-2 Chester

Redcar Athletic 1-2 Macclesfield

South Shields 7-0 Witton Albion

Spalding United 2-0 Hanley Town

Stafford Rangers 3-2 Hereford

Warrington Rylands 0-1 Chorley

Warrington Town 3-0 South Liverpool

Fixtures - FA Cup second round qualifying replay

Gainsborough Trinity vs Leamington

*Bold signifies Northern Premier League Team