FA Trophy Thrills And Spills As First Round Comes To Life

By Sam Elliott

The FA Trophy took centre stage and it didn’t disappoint in a first round not short of excitement and upsets.

A number of National League big hitters were booted out as they had a nightmare before Christmas.

Bromley were undone 3-0 at Dorking Wanderers, the National League South club stormed through. Jason Prior, Jack Barham and Tom Richards with the goals.

Chesterfield are out - suffering at the hands of rivals Notts County as Kristian Dennis was a menace at the ProAct.

It’s all over for Boreham Wood too, dumped out 2-0 at Step 3 Royston Town.

Wrexham went out as FC Halifax fixed their home problems in emphatic fashion - 4-0 at the Shay it ended, Danny Williams completing a stylish rout.

King's Lynn just don't lose at home - Dover found that out as the National League North leaders kept their cool from the spot after the tie ended 2-2.

Torquay United made light work of Aldershot, 5-1 it was at Plainmoor thanks to goals from Saikou Janneh, Jamie Reid and Ruairi Keating.

Hartlepool are still going strong in the FA Cup but they are out of the Trophy after Harrogate’s spirited comeback.

Holders AFC Fylde are safely thought but they didn’t have it all their own saw against stubborn Curzon Ashton. Danny Rowe’s winner got the Coasters a 1-0 win.

Ebbsfleet avoided an upset thanks to their professional 2-0 win at Enfield Town. Darlington pegged back Solihull Moors late on to earn a 2-2 draw - and a replay Tim Flowers’ team could do without.

Eastleigh had six different scorers as they beat Yate 6-1 while Yeovil were too strong for Welling United - Courtney Duffas’ double helped the Glovers to a 3-1 win.

Josh Walker was at the double too as Barnet eventually saw off the threat of Weymouth 2-1.

Bradford PA and Halesowen must go again, they played out a 2-2 thriller but Chelmsford and Havant won't - the Clarets winning 2-1 in the all National League South encounter.

Stockport County - semi-finalists last season - got on the road to Wembley again thanks to a 4-2 success against Blyth. But Sutton United and Dagenham couldn’t be separated and they return to East London for a reply.

Dulwich were an upset victim, beaten 1-0 at Hornchurch. It was the same for Kettering, Northern League FC United sending them packing 2-1.

Concord Rangers beat Maidstone United 3-2 with Danny Green’s magical late free-kick proving the difference while Maidenhead were too strong for Hemel.

FA Trophy first round results:
Chesterfield 0-1 Notts County
AFC Fylde 1-0 Curzon
AFC Hornchurch 1-0 Dulwich
Barnet 2-1 Weymouth
Bradford PA 2-2 Halesowen
Chelmsford 2-1 Havant
Dorking 3-0 Bromley
Eastbourne 2-2 Salisbury
Eastleigh 6-1 Yate
Enfield 0-2 Ebbsfleet
Farsley 2-2 Altrincham
FC Halifax 4-0 Wrexham
FC United 2-1 Kettering
Harrogate 3-2 Hartlepool
Hednesford 0-0 Chester
King’s Lynn* 2-2 Dover (*win on pens)
Maidenhead 4-2 Hemel
Maidstone 2-3 Concord R
Matlock 2-2 Chorley
Royston 2-0 Boreham W
Solihull M 2-2 Darlington
South Shields 2-2 Darlington
Stockport C 4-2 Blyth S
Sutton 1-1 Dagenham
Tonbridge 2-2 Hampton
Torquay 5-1 Aldershot
Yeovil 3-1 Welling United

Where next?

Corking Wanderers! White Talks Up Super Dorking's Cup Win They're the history makers who just won't quit. Now Dorking Wanderers are the talk of the town once again after dumping Bromley out of the FA Trophy.
The FA Trophy First Rd Ties To Watch Out For This Weekend This weekend sees the battle for points swapped for the fight for places in the next round of the FA Trophy. The draw threw up some intriguing ties - here's our five to watch out for.