FA Cup Roundup: Kidderminster Stun Doncaster as Exeter Upset Huddersfield

The FA Cup delivered another day of drama as underdogs, non-league sides and lower-division clubs battled for places in the second round. Kidderminster Harriers produced one of the standout results, defeating League One Doncaster Rovers 3-0 at Aggborough, while Exeter City claimed an impressive 2-1 away victory over League One leaders Huddersfield Town.

There were also late winners, dramatic comebacks and convincing victories across the competition. Blackpool needed extra time to overcome Hornchurch, Chesterfield edged a seven-goal contest against Yeovil Town, and seventh-tier Guiseley secured a memorable victory with a stoppage-time penalty. Barnsley and Bradford City also recorded big wins, while several non-league teams saw their cup journeys come to an end.

Kidderminster Harriers Stun Doncaster with Convincing 3-0 Win

Kidderminster Harriers delivered one of the biggest surprises of the FA Cup round by defeating League One Doncaster Rovers 3-0 in front of their supporters at Aggborough. The National League side showed confidence, attacking quality and defensive determination to overcome opponents playing two divisions above them.

The hosts took the lead in the 22nd minute through Lewis Walker. Maz Kouhyar pulled the ball back into his path, allowing the striker to shoot towards goal. Walker’s initial effort struck the upright, but he reacted quickly to score from the rebound and put Kidderminster ahead.

Walker continued to trouble Doncaster’s defence, sending one attempt over the crossbar and another narrowly wide. His contribution then extended beyond scoring when he turned provider in the 36th minute. The striker drove forward before setting up Kouhyar, who calmly finished to double the home side’s advantage.

Doncaster attempted to respond and appealed for a penalty after Alfie May went down while trying to connect with Jordan Thomas’s pass inside the area. The referee waved away the claims, and Kidderminster took advantage of the moment two minutes later.

Kouhyar was again involved, forcing a save from Doncaster goalkeeper Josh Clarke. David Davis reacted quickest to the loose ball and converted the rebound, making it 3-0 before half-time.

Kidderminster manager Paul Wotton praised his players for their performance and highlighted the importance of finally receiving rewards for their recent efforts. He acknowledged the quality of Doncaster but said his team had stood up to the challenge despite facing opponents from a higher division.

Wotton also praised the atmosphere at Aggborough, describing the result as a special day for the football club and its supporters. The victory represented a significant achievement for the non-league side and secured its place in the FA Cup second round.

Exeter City Secure Impressive Away Win Against Huddersfield

Exeter City produced another notable result by defeating League One leaders Huddersfield Town 2-1 away from home. The League Two side showed its ability to compete against higher-ranked opposition, scoring a late winner after Huddersfield had fought back to level the contest.

Exeter made a strong start and opened the scoring after 12 minutes. Luca Woodhouse delivered an accurate cross from the left, finding centre-back Jack Taylor at the far post. Taylor arrived in the right position and finished to give the visitors an early advantage.

Huddersfield improved after the interval and began putting greater pressure on Exeter’s defence. Their response produced an equaliser within eight minutes of the restart. Cameron Humphreys delivered a corner towards the back post, where Ibane Bowat rose to head the ball into the net.

With the score level, both sides remained in contention, but Exeter found the decisive goal nine minutes from time. A well-constructed move down the right ended with Reece Cole cutting the ball back into the penalty area. Charlie Cummins completed the move with a composed finish to restore Exeter’s lead.

The goal secured a valuable 2-1 victory for Exeter and ended Huddersfield’s hopes of progressing from the tie. For the League Two visitors, the result was another example of the unpredictability that makes the FA Cup such a compelling competition.

Blackpool Need Extra Time to Overcome Hornchurch

Blackpool survived a difficult challenge from Hornchurch before eventually securing a 2-1 victory at the Hornchurch Stadium. The League One side needed a 118th-minute goal from substitute Josh Bowler to avoid an upset against their National League opponents.

Hornchurch made the better start and took a deserved lead before half-time. Josh Walker tested Blackpool goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell with an effort, and the home side continued to find opportunities against a hesitant visiting defence.

Angelo Balanta then produced a clever cross that allowed Henry Hearn to finish and put Hornchurch ahead. Hearn had entered the match as an early substitute, but his goal gave the hosts a valuable advantage at the break.

Blackpool introduced Bowler at half-time, and his pace and attacking ability helped change the direction of the contest. The substitute played a key role in the equaliser when his cross following a corner found Jordan Brown, who struck a volley into the net in the 55th minute.

Hornchurch’s task became more difficult when Henry Sandat was sent off after pulling back Bowler as he attempted to break clear. Blackpool almost took advantage immediately, but Finley Munroe’s free-kick struck the crossbar.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Hornchurch continued to resist. However, Blackpool finally found the breakthrough in the 118th minute. Tom Bloxham played the ball into Bowler’s path, and the substitute curled home the winner to complete a dramatic comeback.

Chesterfield Edge Seven-Goal Thriller Against Yeovil

Chesterfield booked their place in the second round after beating Yeovil Town 4-3 in one of the most entertaining matches of the round. The contest featured a dramatic second-half comeback, with Yeovil recovering from a two-goal deficit before Chesterfield found a late winner.

Chesterfield had moved into a 3-1 lead, putting themselves in a strong position to progress. However, Yeovil refused to give up and fought their way back into the match, scoring twice to bring the score to 3-3.

The comeback appeared to have put Yeovil in a position to force a different outcome, but Chesterfield delivered the decisive moment a minute from time. Joel Randall scored the winning goal to complete the 4-3 victory and send Chesterfield through.

Dover, Mansfield and Plymouth Also Progress

Dover produced a controlled performance to defeat Wealdstone 2-0. Jack Bates scored both goals in the first half, giving Dover a comfortable advantage and helping the side secure its place in the next round.

Mansfield Town needed patience to overcome National League North side Macclesfield. Nathan Moriah-Welsh gave the Stags a first-half lead, but Macclesfield remained competitive and continued to threaten an upset.

Rhys Oates eventually made it 2-0 in the 72nd minute, giving Mansfield some breathing room. Jordan Bowery then added a third goal three minutes into stoppage time to complete a 3-0 victory.

Plymouth Argyle also advanced with a convincing 4-0 win against Southern League Premier Central side Alvechurch. The League One club initially struggled to break down its opponents, but Will Evans finally opened the scoring after 50 minutes.

Evans won possession from Jessy Bavanganga before driving a low angled shot into the far corner. The goal opened the way for Plymouth to take control, with further strikes from Evans, Michael Baidoo and Ronan Curtis completing an 11-minute scoring spell.

Barnsley and Bradford Record Big FA Cup Victories

Barnsley enjoyed one of the most productive attacking performances of the round, defeating Aldershot 7-2 at Oakwell. Cameron McGeehan was the standout performer, scoring a hat-trick as the League One strugglers secured their place in the second round.

The result provided Barnsley with a convincing route into the next stage after a high-scoring contest. Aldershot managed to score twice, but Barnsley’s attacking output proved too much for the visitors.

Bradford City were equally impressive, recording a 7-0 victory over National League North side Marine. Nick Powell and Adam Phillips both scored twice as Bradford dominated the contest and progressed comfortably.

Leyton Orient also moved into the second round after defeating Harborough 5-1. The League One side produced a strong attacking display to prevent another potential lower-league upset.

Crewe Alexandra secured a narrower victory, beating Wimbledon 2-1. The result allowed the League Two high-flyers to continue their FA Cup campaign and book a place in the next round.

Port Vale and MK Dons Avoid Potential Upsets

Port Vale, last season’s quarter-finalists, continued their FA Cup campaign with a 4-2 victory over National League strugglers Scunthorpe United at Vale Park. The result ensured that Port Vale progressed after another competitive cup tie.

MK Dons also avoided an upset, grinding out a 2-1 victory over League Two opponents Swindon Town. The narrow result was enough to secure qualification, although the contest proved more challenging than a straightforward win.

Colchester United recorded a 1-0 victory over Southern League Premier Central side Worcester. The League Two club, currently at the bottom of its division, managed to get through a difficult tie, ending Worcester’s hopes of producing a surprise result.

Guiseley Produce Late FA Cup Drama Against Sutton

Seventh-tier Guiseley claimed one of the round’s most memorable results by defeating Sutton United 1-0 at Nethermoor Park. The decisive moment arrived in stoppage time when Jordan Thewlis converted a penalty to send the home side into the second round.

Guiseley’s late victory demonstrated the importance of staying competitive until the final whistle. Sutton were unable to find a breakthrough, and Thewlis’s successful penalty gave the seventh-tier team a memorable result in front of its supporters.

Carlisle United also progressed after beating League Two leaders Salford City 1-0. Ryan Graydon missed a penalty for the visitors, while David Ajiboye scored just before half-time to give Carlisle the advantage. His goal ultimately proved enough to settle the contest.

Burton Eliminate AFC Rushden + Diamonds

Eighth-tier AFC Rushden + Diamonds saw their FA Cup journey come to an end with a 4-0 defeat away to Burton Albion. The lower-league visitors faced a difficult challenge against their professional opponents and were unable to produce another surprise.

Will Collar and Borges Rodrigues scored in the first half to put Burton in control. Charlie Webster and Zac Scutt then added two more goals late in the match, completing a comfortable victory for the Brewers.

Salisbury Reach the Second Round for the First Time Since Reforming

Salisbury secured a significant FA Cup achievement by defeating seventh-tier Sholing 6-0. The National League South side produced a dominant performance, with Nathan Odokonyero scoring twice as the team secured its place in the second round.

The result was particularly meaningful for Salisbury because it marked the club’s first appearance in the second round since reforming in 2015. Their emphatic victory ensured that the team could celebrate a notable milestone in its history.

FA Cup Roundup Highlights the Competition’s Unpredictability

The latest FA Cup results provided a reminder of why the competition remains special for clubs across the English Football pyramid. Kidderminster’s 3-0 victory over Doncaster and Exeter’s 2-1 win against Huddersfield were among the biggest results, demonstrating that lower-division teams can challenge and defeat higher-ranked opponents.

Guiseley’s stoppage-time penalty victory over Sutton added another memorable underdog story, while Salisbury’s progress marked an important achievement since the club’s reforming in 2015. Blackpool’s extra-time escape against Hornchurch and Chesterfield’s late winner against Yeovil provided further drama.

Elsewhere, Barnsley, Bradford City, Leyton Orient, Plymouth Argyle and Port Vale all secured progression with important victories. With the second round now welcoming a mixture of non-league sides and professional clubs, the FA Cup continues to offer opportunities for unexpected results and memorable football moments.