The second round of the FA Trophy began yesterday, with National League North and South teams entering the competition. Plenty of games to discuss, so let’s dive right in and look at some of the highlights (and lowlights).
22 National League South teams were in action today, and there were a few all-NLS clashes (including Yeovil’s defeat at Torquay). The highlight of the round came at Dover Athletic, who played out a 4-4 classic with W*ymouth, who won 4-1 on penalties to progress, while Slough Town handed Farnborough their second defeat of the week with a 2-1 win. In the final all-NLS clash, Dartford fell to a narrow defeat at home to Maidstone.
There were cupsets-a-plenty too, with multiple NLS sides falling at the first hurdle to lower league opposition. Hemel Hempstead lost 5-3 on penalties to 8th tier Walsall Wood, Havant & Waterlooville continued their woeful season with a 2-1 loss to AFC Totton, while Hendon knocked out Eastbourne Borough with a 2-0 win. 8th tier Frome Town defeated Worthing on penalties, as did Hythe Town against Tonbridge Angels, while Hungerford Town got the job done in 90 minutes against Truro City.
There’s only one more fixture involving NLS teams, and it’s an all-NLS clash between Welling United and Taunton, which was played on Tuesday 21st November. An enthralling 2-2 draw (in which Yeovil loanee Malachi Linton bagged a late equaliser!) went to penalties, where Welling ultimately prevailed. Yeovil’s journey ends at the first hurdle in the FA Trophy, and will look to get themselves back on track against Chippenham Town on Tuesday (who defeated Basingstoke Town on penalties).
FA Trophy 2nd Round results (NLS teams in bold)
AFC Totton 2-1 Havant & Waterlooville
Aveley 2-1 St Ives Town
Bath City 1-0 Beaconsfield Town
Bishop’s Stortford 3-1 St Albans City
Chippenham Town 1-1 Basingstoke Town (Chippenham won 3-2 on pens)
Cray Valley Paper Mills 1-5 Hampton & Richmond Borough
Dartford 0-1 Maidstone United
Dover Athletic 4-4 W*ymouth (W*ymouth won 4-1 on pens)
Frome Town 2-2 Worthing (Frome won 4-3 on pens)
Gloucester City 3-0 Braintree Town
Harborough Town 0-2 Chelmsford City
Hemel Hempstead Town 1-1 Walsall Wood (Walsall Wood won 5-3 on pens)
Hendon 2-0 Eastbourne Borough
Hungerford Town 2-0 Truro City
Hythe Town 0-0 Tonbridge Angels (Hythe won 3-1 on pens)
Slough Town 2-1 Farnborough Town
Weston-super-mare 4-1 Cray Wanderers
Welling United 2-2 Taunton Town (Welling won 8-7 on pens)