Eighth-tier Stafford Rangers will host League Two side Grimsby Town in the FA Cup first round after defeating National League strugglers Gateshead 5-0 in a fourth qualifying round replay on Tuesday.
Stafford and Rushden Advance to Round One
Gateshead, who sit at the bottom of the fifth tier, previously held Stafford to a 1-1 draw in Saturday’s initial match. In the replay at Marston Road, the Heed suffered a heavy defeat following goals from Scott Bakkor, Darryl Mason, Mitch Clarke, Joe Dunne, and Jack Birch. Caretaker Gateshead manager Ben Clark apologised to the club’s supporters and admitted his team was “miles off it.”
Stafford represent one of two eighth-tier clubs remaining in the tournament alongside AFC Rushden & Diamonds, another Northern Premier League side that will travel to face Burton Albion in the opening round. This milestone marks the first time in 20 years that Stafford has advanced to the first round proper.
Non-League Upsets and Replay Results
In other matches, seventh-tier club Alvechurch secured a 4-0 victory against sixth-tier Spalding, earning a fixture away against League One high-fliers Plymouth Argyle. Another seventh-tier team, London-based Cray Wanderers, advanced past Bedford Town on penalties following a 2-2 draw to set up a home match against League One leaders Stockport County. Worcester City, competing in the seventh tier’s Southern Premier Central, secured a 1-0 win over Chorley and will visit League Two side Colchester United.
Ninth-tier Tadley Calleva, the lowest-ranked club left in the competition, missed out on a major upset after losing 2-0 at home to fellow Hampshire team Aldershot in their replay, sending the Shots on to face third-tier Barnsley. Harrogate Town required extra time to defeat seventh-tier Bury 3-1, while Macclesfield advanced with a 3-0 win at Anstey Nomads to set up a trip to League One side Mansfield.
This marked the final round of the competition where fixtures could proceed to replays, with all subsequent rounds to be decided on the day. All first round ties are scheduled to take place between November 6 and November 9.
Source: BBC Sport
