Kidderminster, a non-league club, advanced easily to the second round of the FA Cup with a 3-0 victory over Doncaster, who play in League One.
Kidderminster’s strong performance
The Harriers took the lead after 22 minutes with a shot from Lewis Walker, who scored on the rebound after hitting the post with his initial attempt. Walker continued to trouble the opposing defense, and in the 36th minute, he assisted Maz Kouhyar, who found the back of the net following a well-executed play.
Doncaster appealed for a penalty after Alfie May fell in the box, but the referee denied the request. Two minutes later, they conceded a second goal when Kouhyar’s shot was saved by Josh Clarke, and David Davis followed up to score.
Paul Wotton, the manager of Kidderminster, commented:
« Nous avons bien commencé, marqué et mis le public en ébullition. C’était une très bonne journée. Ils sont une équipe de League One, peu importe le score. Ils sont deux divisions au-dessus de nous, donc ils ont eu leurs moments, mais nous avons su résister. »
« Nous jouons bien mais ne récoltions pas les fruits de nos efforts. Aujourd’hui, nous les avons enfin obtenus. C’est une belle journée pour le club et pour les supporters, c’est ce qui compte – on pouvait sentir l’atmosphère à la fin. »
Exeter’s victory over Huddersfield
In League Two, Exeter also caused an upset by defeating Huddersfield, the League One leaders, 2-1. Exeter took the lead after just 12 minutes with a perfect cross from Luca Woodhouse, which defender Jack Taylor converted at the far post.
Huddersfield showed a different face in the second half, quickly equalizing with Ibane Bowat scoring with a header from a corner in the 53rd minute. Charlie Cummins secured the victory for Exeter with a precise shot after a cross from Reece Cole nine minutes from the end.
Other notable matches
Blackpool avoided a surprise against Hornchurch, relying on a goal from Josh Bowler in the 118th minute to win 2-1. Bowler, who came on at halftime, was pivotal in changing the dynamics for Ian Evatt’s team, using his speed and skill to turn the match around.
Blackpool’s passivity in the first half allowed Hornchurch to take the lead. After a shot from Josh Walker was saved by the goalkeeper, Angelo Balanta calmly delivered a cross that Henry Hearn converted.
In the second half, Blackpool showed more urgency, and a cross from Bowler was finished by Jordan Brown to equalize at 1-1 in the 55th minute. The hosts were then reduced to ten men when Henry Sandat fouled Bowler. Following the free kick, Finley Munroe hit the crossbar.
Blackpool’s pressure finally paid off when Tom Bloxham set up Bowler, who scored the decisive goal.
Chesterfield withstood a comeback from Yeovil Town, winning 4-3. Yeovil, trailing 3-1, managed to equalize at 3-3 before Joel Randall scored the winning goal in the final minute.
Jack Bates scored twice in the first half to lead Dover to a 2-0 victory over Wealdstone. Late goals from Rhys Oates and Jordan Bowery ended Macclesfield’s adventure, with Nathan Moriah-Welsh opening the scoring before Oates made it 2-0 in the 72nd minute. Bowery added a third in stoppage time to secure victory for the Stags. « Nous avons été un peu négligents au début et avons donné trop de ballons, ce qui est vraiment inacceptable », a déclaré l’entraîneur Nigel Clough. « Mais en seconde période, nous avons joué un bon football et avons pris de bonnes positions. Cela a été un soulagement de voir ce deuxième but. »
In League One, Plymouth won easily with three goals scored in 11 minutes, defeating Alvechurch from Southern League Premier Central 4-0. Will Evans opened the scoring in the 50th minute after recovering the ball from Jessy Bavanganga and shooting into the opposite corner. Additional goals from Evans, Michael Baidoo, and Ronan Curtis secured the win for the Pilgrims.
Relegated from League One, Barnsley secured their place in the second round with a resounding 7-2 victory over Aldershot at Oakwell, with Cameron McGeehan netting a hat-trick.
Leyton Orient dominated Harborough 5-1 to qualify for the second round, while League Two contenders Crewe defeated Wimbledon 2-1.
Nick Powell and Adam Phillips each scored twice as Bradford crushed Marine, a National League North club, 7-0. A late goal from Joel Randall allowed Cheltenham to win 4-3 against Yeovil.
Last season’s quarter-finalists, Port Vale, secured their place in the second round by beating Scunthorpe United, a National League club, 4-2 at Vale Park. MK Dons avoided an upset by winning 2-1 against Swindon from League Two.
The hopes of Worcester, a Southern League Premier Central team, were dashed with a 1-0 defeat to Colchester, a League Two club.
Jordan Thewlis scored a last-minute penalty to give Guiseley, a seventh-division club, a 1-0 victory over Sutton at Nethermoor Park, while Carlisle defeated League Two leaders Salford 1-0.
Ryan Graydon missed a penalty for the visitors before David Ajiboye’s goal just before halftime was enough to qualify the Cumbrians.
AFC Rushden + Diamonds, an eighth-division club, suffered a 4-0 defeat to Burton. Will Collar and Borges Rodrigues scored in the first half, followed by two more goals from Charlie Webster and Zac Scutt late in the match.
Nathan Odokonyero scored twice to help Salisbury, a National League South club, overpower Sholing, a seventh-division team, with a score of 6-0, thus qualifying for the second round for the first time since their reform in 2015.