FA Cup Round Up

This from the FA:

Leek Town sprung an FA Cup upset by knocking out National League South high-flyers South Shields in third round qualifying.

The eighth-tier side took an 11th-minute lead in the televised lunchtime clash through Marc Grocott, who steered a right-wing cross into the bottom corner.

Rob Stevenson’s rocket three minutes into the second period doubled the lead and Leek held on to move to within one win of the first round proper, which they have not reached since 1993/94.

They will be joined in the hat for fourth round qualifying by fellow eighth-tier outfits Sheppey United, Biggleswade Town, Ramsgate and Cray Valley Paper Mills.

Sheppey were impressive 4-1 winners at Merthyr Town, who play in the division above, following three second-half goals in South Wales.

Biggleswade beat Barton Rovers 3-1, Ramsgate edged out Frome Town 2-1 and Cray Valley earned a replay following a 3-3 draw at Carshalton Athletic.

Northern Counties East League outfit Emley, the only ninth-tier side left to make it this far, came within a whisker of a replay of their own as they pushed Alfreton Town, of National League North, all the way.

Three divisions separated the sides but it took until the 55th minute for the hosts to make the breakthrough, Billy Fewster breaking the deadlock with a fine solo effort.

Jake Day missed a penalty with 20 minutes to go and that looked like it would prove costly when Emley were awarded a spot-kick of their own at the death.

But George Willis guessed the right way to keep out James Walshaw and end Emley’s excellent run.

Alfie Cerulli’s second-half strike saw Billericay Town claim a National League South scalp, the Isthmian League side beating St Albans City 1-0 in Essex, while Lewes did likewise as they saw off Hampton & Richmond Borough 3-0 in front of a four-figure crowd.

A five-star first-half display saw Torquay United score all their goals before the break in a 5-0 triumph against Hungerford Town at Plainmoor, Aaron Jarvis scoring two of them from the spot.

Yeovil Town and Hereford, no strangers to an FA Cup giant-killing in the past, kept their hopes of recording one this year alive as both progressed with routine home wins.

The Glovers recorded a 2-0 victory against Didcot Town and the Bulls eased past Cambridge City 3-0.

Marine are another non-league club with fond recent FA Cup memories, welcoming Tottenham in 2020/21 after a memorable run to the third round, and stayed in the pot this time around with a 2-0 win at Hyde United.