FA Trophy round-up | Bootle and Cleethorpes hit five as several ties head to penalties
Bootle and Cleethorpes Town hit five apiece in convincing FA Trophy victories, with four dramatic ties with NPL representation having to be decided via penalty shootouts in third round qualifying.
NPL West Division leaders Bootle delivered a statement performance to brush aside NPL Premier Division side Emley 5-0, while Cleethorpes Town continued their brilliant early-season form with a crushing 5-1 victory at home to Lancaster City.
Despite going behind when Nic Evangelinos converted Charlie Bailey’s cross in the 10th minute, Craig Rouse’s side kept their cool and responded almost immediately through Josh Walker.
The forward added a second from the penalty spot just after the break to put the Owls ahead, before completing his hat-trick in the 55th minute.
Loan signing Henry Brown then added a fourth, before Billy Fewster rounded off the scoring five minutes from time, sealing Cleethorpes’ biggest-ever triumph in the FA Trophy.
There were also convincing victories for Curzon Ashton and Bridlington Town against Stalybridge Celtic and Whitby Town respectively, with the latter knocking out a side from the division above.
Bridlington took a one-goal cushion into the interval against their Yorkshire Coast rivals following Luca Bolino’s close-range finish, before driving home their advantage even further in the second half.
Defender Tom Allan doubled their lead seven minutes after the break, before adding his second of the afternoon at the back post, 25 minutes from time, when the visitors failed to deal with a corner.
It was an afternoon to forget for Lee Bullock’s Whitby side at the HDM Energies Stadium, while hosts Bridlington can celebrate reaching the first round proper for the first time in 22 years.
Unable to build on a stunning triumph over Hereford in the FA Cup last weekend, a lacklustre performance saw Stafford Rangers lose 4-0 to Gloucester City.
Trailing 1-0 at half-time, Graham Deakin’s side were dealt a further blow when Harvey Washington was shown a red card and the hosts converted the resulting penalty in the 55th minute.
Another penalty, this time converted by Ethan Dunbar, made it 3-0 to the hosts, who completed the rout in second-half stoppage time with a fourth from Tom Owen-Evans.
Elsewhere, in a battle of two NPL Premier Division sides at Salford Van Hire Gigg Lane, Bury survived an incredible late comeback to edge past Gainsborough Trinity on penalties.
An incredible contest in Greater Manchester saw the Shakers take a 3-1 lead into stoppage time, only for the Holy Blues to score twice in the dying minutes. Aaron Simpson halved the deficit from Theo Williams’ pass, before debutant Ronnie Kokkinos stunned the home crowd with an emphatic finish from the edge of the box.
However, when Kokkinos saw his spot-kick saved by Mitch Allen, Connor Pye smashed home to seal Bury’s place in the next round.
Similarly at the GXO Stadium, Ashton United beat Warrington Town in a shootout to advance.
Substitute Rio Hawkins bundled home his first Yellows goal to level the tie at 2-2 at the death, with the home side twice coming from behind.
However, Steve Cunningham’s side remained ice cool in the resulting shootout. Lewis Earl’s effort against the bar was the only miss for the hosts, while Ashton were clinical in scoring all of theirs to win 5-3.
In a hotly-contested Manchester derby at the Project Solar Stadium, hosts Hyde United again got the better of rivals FC United of Manchester.
Late goals from the recently-signed Brad Roscoe and Jesurun Uchegbulam were enough to see Michael Clegg’s men through, adding to a dramatic 1-0 victory over the same opposition in the league last month.
Over at Nethermoor, hosts Guiseley continued their hot streak with a 4-2 triumph over NPL Premier rivals Bamber Bridge.
Fresh off a stunning 4-1 victory over National League North side Hebburn Town in the FA Cup, Ian Richards’ side were once again ruthless in a sparkling display against the Brig.
Archie Lang’s stunning curling effort brought the visitors back level at 2-2 just after the break, before two goals in the space of four minutes from Cam Wilson and Kallan Murphy saw the Lions take control.
It also means Guiseley have scored four goals for a third consecutive game.
Stockton Town suffered a disappointing defeat at the Quickline Logistics Arena, losing 3-1 to Warrington Rylands.
Meanwhile, Alfreton Town booked their passage to the next round in a topsy-turvy affair against Shifnal Town.
Shaquille Whittingham’s 86th minute equaliser in response to Jack Nadin’s first Reds goal appeared to be taking the tie to penalties.
However, Siyabonga Ligendza had other ideas for the hosts, netting his sixth goal of the campaign with a brilliant half-volley to win it for Alfreton late on.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Workington recovered from a chastening FA Cup defeat to Bury with victory on home turf.
Billy Barr’s side defeated NPL East Division side Blyth Spartans 4-2 at the Fibrus Community Stadium, despite trailing 1-0 at the break.
A brace from Dan Hopper, one from Luke Hunter and another from substitute Josh Palmer were enough to give the Reds their seventh win in eight matches across all competitions.
Finally, over at Sandygate, Prescot Cables battled from a goal down to overcome hosts Hallam.
The regulation game finished 1-1 after Cables forward Che Trappaso-Tully cancelled out Leon Howarth’s opener, before Steven Daley’s side held their nerve in the shootout. The Countrymen were left to rue misses from Ben Dyer and Rhys Plater, while the Pesky Bulls scored all four of their spot-kicks.
The draw for the next round will be released at 1pm on Monday.
All results involving Northern Premier League sides* are listed below:
Results - FA Trophy third round qualifying
Alfreton Town 2-1 Shifnal Town
Alvechurch 1-2 Bourne Town
Bedworth United 0-1 Redditch United
Bootle 5-0 Emley
Bridlington Town 3-0 Whitby Town
Bury 3-3 Gainsborough Trinity (Bury win 6-5 on penalties)
Cleethorpes Town 5-1 Lancaster City
Curzon Ashton 3-1 Stalybridge Celtic
Dunston 0-2 Avro
Gloucester City 4-0 Stafford Rangers
Guisborough Town 0-1 Redcar Athletic
Guiseley 4-2 Bamber Bridge
Halesowen Town 2-0 Wellingborough Town
Hallam 1-1 Prescot Cables (Prescot Cables win 4-2 on penalties)
Hyde United 2-0 FC United of Manchester
Ilkeston Town 1-3 Anstey Nomads
Matlock Town 0-4 Kettering Town
Mickleover 1-1 Malvern Town (Mickleover win 4-3 on penalties)
Quorn 4-2 Leamington
Stamford 1-2 Loughborough Students
Warrington Rylands 3-1 Stockton Town
Warrington Town 2-2 Ashton United (Ashton United win 5-3 on penalties)
Worcester City 0-2 Leek Town
Workington 4-2 Blyth Spartans
*Bold signifies Northern Premier League team