Upsets, broken posts and missed weddings - Emirates FA Cup first-round magic moments you may have missed
Updated 02/11/2025 at 20:51 GMT
There were upsets aplenty and multiple enthralling storylines as the first slate of FA Cup first-round fixtures took place on Friday and Saturday. Nine non-league teams have already secured their spots in the second round, knowing just one more win would put them in the hat with Premier League giants. From late hat-trick heroes to ripped goal nets, TNT Sports has compiled the best of the action.
Highlights: Chelmsford put four past Braintree in FA Cup first round win
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The Emirates FA Cup delivered its usual chaos and drama as the first round got underway this weekend.
As League One and League Two sides entered the competition, the non-league teams who had to come through various rounds of qualifying looked to continue their march - culminating with some absorbing ties, and tremendous upsets.
TNT Sports has compiled the best of Saturday's first-round action that you may have missed.
The FA Cup calls — even on wedding day
Gainsborough Trinity manager Russ Wilcox has sacrificed a monumental day in the calendar for any uncle out there - his niece's wedding - to take charge of his Northern Premier League outfit against Accrington Stanley.
The Lincolnshire side hosted the League Two club for a place in the second round - live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
"You've not seen me dance, have you? So it's probably a good thing," Wilcox joked on TNT Sports ahead of the game, as he reasoned for his absence at the wedding to be present at The Northolme for the tie.
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'You've not seen me dance' - Gainsborough's Wilcox on missing niece's wedding for FA Cup tie
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Despite his self-described underwhelming talent on the dancefloor, Wilcox admitted he might pull out a move or two at full-time should Gainsborough claim victory.
Unfortunately, the seventh-tier side just missed out, having been defeated after extra-time.
'He's taken the stanchion out!'
During Port Vale's victory over Maldon & Tiptree at Vale Park on Sunday, Ruari Paton - seeking his hat-trick in added time at the end of the second half - BROKE the goal with a thumping effort.
The Irish striker darted into the box from the right before unleashing a venomous strike into the side-netting - just wide of Elliot Justham's left post - which saw the ball clatter into the post which holds the back of the net up.
"Only in the FA Cup," Sam Matterface muttered on TNT Sports commentary, as ground staff rushed to the scene to fix the goal.
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'Only in the FA Cup' - Paton BREAKS goal stanchion with venomous strike
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Cole continues goalscoring legacy
Remember Andy Cole? The former Manchester United and Newcastle United striker, a five-time Premier League winner and Hall of Fame inductee. Well, his son, Devante Cole, scored twice in Port Vale's 5-1 thrashing of Maldon & Tiptree.
After the hosts hit back with three goals in four minutes after falling behind to the non-league outfit early on, Cole thundered home Port Vale's fourth.
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Cole smashes in Vale's fourth as League One side run riot
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He picked up the ball in the middle of the penalty box, touched the ball out of his feet before thumping an effort into the roof of the net. He later scored a second after the break, adding gloss to the scoreline.
Maldon take shock first-round lead
Hoping to continue their fairytale cup run, eighth-tier Maldon & Tiptree stunned League Two Port Vale in the early exchanges of their first-round encounter when they took the lead in the away tie.
Anisius Lewis made a run into the box, completely unmarked, as he met Cameron James' cross before excellently volleying past the goalkeeper.
Unfortunately for Kevin Horlock's team, the quality showed in the end as Port Vale emerged victorious, putting five past The Jammers to book their place in the second round.
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'The only way is Essex!' - Lewis shocks League One Port Vale for eighth-tier Jammers
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Ex-Milan academy starlet shines for Chelmsford
The signing of Jesurun Uchegbulam was announced by Chelmsford City on the morning of their first-round tie with local rivals Braintree Town. He was also named in the starting XI.
And he burst into action for the Essex side, getting a goal and an assist in the first half as Chelmsford romped to a 4-1 win against a team who play a division above them in the pyramid - the National League.
The forward, who spent time in the AC Milan academy, told TNT Sports after the match: "I actually knew [I was starting the match] before I even signed. I was a bit nervous, but I've been in this position before, and I know what I can do on the pitch."
Uchegbulam added: "No words to describe that to be honest. It's been a whirlwind of a 24 hours, coming to the team I've been told to create and score. That was a dream debut for me."
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Uchegbulam discusses 'dream debut' in Chelmsford's win against Braintree
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Linney's late show
Some Carlisle fans were surely making the 306-mile journey back home when they were 2-0 down and three minutes into stoppage time at League One side Reading.
But up stepped 69th-minute substitute Regan Linney, with goals in 90+3' and 90+8' to send the tie to extra time, with a pair of fabulous finishes.
Linney, who has been a revelation since joining Carlisle from Altrincham in the summer, netted his 14th goal of the season four minutes into extra time to complete his hat-trick - and send Carlisle into the second round, completing a quite remarkable turnaround.
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'Football League teams will be looking at him' - High praise for Linney after late heroics
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"I've seen a lot of Regan Linney when he was at Altrincham with Phil Parkinson," TNT Sports expert Adam Virgo said in the studio. "There'll be teams in the Football League looking at him.
"He's scoring goals, leading the line, the kind of player teams need in that final third. Clubs get recognised, but players do as well."
Linney told TNT Sports: "It's a massive comeback. I managed to get a hat-trick, it's a special feeling all round.
"I was on the bench, I wanted to test myself against a League One side so I was a little bit gutted about that, but I managed to come on and score a hat-trick, so it's a special day."
Macclesfield prevail in thriller
Two sixth-tier sides went toe-to-toe as Macclesfield hosted AFC Totton - and what transcended was a remarkable goal-fest littered with drama.
Macclesfield were 2-1 up by the 14th minute, and then 3-2 down by the 27th. The Silkmen's free-firing striker, Danny Elliott, completed his hat-trick on 36 minutes to ensure the sides would go in at three goals apiece at half-time.
The home side were clearly in the goalscoring mood, but in the second half, managed to quell the threat of their opponents.
Paul Dawson, Rollin Menayese and Lewis Fensome all fired home to take Macclesfield's lead to 6-3, ultimately ensuring a comfortable passage into the second-round hat.
It is now five straight wins for Macclesfield, who could just be one of the surprise packages in this season's competition.
A big upset in west London
National League side Gateshead had a tough summer with a high squad turnover, and have been slowly growing into the season with a young squad - astutely led by former Ipswich and Middlesbrough forward Alun Armstrong.
His side put on a masterclass of professionalism to come away from AFC Wimbledon - who currently sit sixth in League One - with a 2-0 win.
Goals either side of half-time courtesy of Kain Adom and Fenton John set Gateshead on their way, and a resolute defensive performance made for an almost routine away victory - sparking pandemonium in the away end.
Gateshead, who play their home matches at the Gateshead International Stadium, a venue primarily utilised for athletics, were denied the chance to contest in the National League play-offs two seasons ago due to not meeting the entry criteria for membership of the EFL.
An FA Cup run would go a long way to rectifying that disappointment.
Boreham Wood deliver strong National League advert
Many suggest the gulf between National League sides and those in League Two is marginal. Boreham Wood did their very best to prove that point on Saturday with a comfortable 3-0 win over Crawley Town.
The Wood have enjoyed an excellent start to the National League season following their promotion from the sixth tier, with Luke Garrard back in the dugout, having initially been dismissed following their relegation in 2023/24.
Granted, Garrard's side were helped by the sending off of Crawley striker Ryan Loft on the stroke of half-time. But Boreham Wood were already 2-0 up thanks to Matt Rush and Zak Brunt.
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'It's humbling, not having a job' - Boreham Wood boss on 'tough days' before enjoying FA Cup upset
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A delightful Abdul Abdulmalik finish in the second half helped the fifth-tier side complete the emphatic victory at Meadow Park.
"It's humbling, not having a job," Garrard told TNT Sports. "Being out of work for six months, there were some tough days.
"[I was] fortunate enough to come back and get promoted, which was a big ask. We're doing okay in the National League now. Today's not about me, that's about memories and moments of the staff and players behind the scenes."
Mellon masterclass
Oldham Athletic were without a win in their last six matches heading to Northampton Town - the side who play a division higher in League One.
Up stepped Michael Mellon - son of Oldham manager Micky Mellon to single-handedly take control of the tie, in eye-catching style.
Mellon - on loan from Burnley - opened the scoring in the third minute with a remarkable overhead kick, leaving Northampton goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons rooted.
The striker went on to score just a minute later to tighten Oldham's grasp on the tie, and he completed his treble on 47 minutes - rendering Cameron McGeehan's stoppage-time goal a mere consolation.
Speaking to local media after the match, Oldham boss Mellon said: "Take the dad part out of it, take the guy who loves football out of it, you want to watch football and see those types of goals live and anyone who gets the opportunity to see it back I think you'll want to watch it again and again.
"The way he's executed is absolutely top drawer. I'm not saying that from an egotistical dad point of view, I'm saying that from a guy who loves football.
"As soon as he went for it and he hit it I thought 'please go in', because you don't see many of them executed like that.
"I'm delighted for him, he's hit the post about four or five times I think since he's been here and it was nice to see that one go in without hitting the post again because he's been a bit unlucky."
Fireworks (literally)
The late FA Cup kick-off between Brackley Town and Notts County delivered fireworks, literally.
Bonfire Night celebrations next to Brackley's St James Park coincided with their hugely dramatic first-round tie against League Two opposition, with the two sides trading blow-for-blow, right to the last.
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'A bit of EFL class' - Notts County take lead through 'emphatic' Jatta header
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Alassana Jatta opened the scoring for Notts County before Matt Lowe headed home an equaliser for Brackley.
Six minutes after the break, Jodi Jones stroked home a penalty to restore the visitors' lead. And chaos ensued as Brackley went in search of an equaliser.
They were desperately unlucky when Morgan Roberts' header thumped off the crossbar and looked to cross the line, before bouncing up, hitting the woodwork again, and their appeals being waved away by the referee.
"What a goal, what a moment!" Sam Matterface declared on TNT Sports' commentary. "Did it cross the line? Was there a penalty in the build-up? He can't believe it."
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'Did it go over the line?' - Chaos as 'really unusual' Brackley effort hits crossbar TWICE
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Replays showed the ball to have kissed the goal line, upon reflection, a correct decision by the officials.
"To see it bounce off the bar then back up on the bar is really unusual," Martin Keown said. "Really unlucky again."
Brackley would get their retribution with a penalty in the sixth minute of stoppage time, expertly dispatched by Callum Stewart.
After a tense, goalless extra time, Brackley prevailed 4-3 on penalties to secure their second-round spot.
Watch the Men's and Women's FA Cup live throughout the season on TNT Sports and discovery+
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