FA Cupsets: Round Two

The FA Cup; an historic tournament that over the years has produced some major shocks. As usual, this season has already produced a number of early bigger scalps and round two was no different. Here is the FA Cupsets, round two:

 

Friday 4 December 

Salford City 1-1 Hartlepool United 

Salford City have had their name in spotlights, not only in recent weeks, but over the past couple of season’s since five members from the Class of 92 took over the Northern Premier League Division side. In round one of the FA Cup, Salford knocked out League Two opposition in the shape of Notts County, and they came close to a repeat after earning a replay against Ronnie Moore’s Hartlepool.

Despite falling behind to a Rhys Oates penalty after just seven minutes, Salford found a way back in to the game and leveled shortly after thanks to a low drive from Stephan O’Halloran. Despite late chances from Pools pair Rakish Bingham and Scott Fenwick, Salford held on to earn a replay against League Two opposition.

 

Saturday 5 December 

Millwall 1-2 Wycombe Wanderers 

League Two side Wycombe knocked out League One opponents in Millwall in the first of Saturday’s shocks. After a goalless first half, Paul Hayes gave the Chairboys an early second half lead, but Ben Thompson’s 25 yard effort brought the Lions back level. The winner, in typical FA Cup fashion, came in the 94th minute when Michael Harriman struck home to send Gareth Ainsworth’s sides into the third round.

 

Northampton Town 3-2 Northwich Victoria 

Ok, so this game didn’t end in an upset, but it could well have been. Northern Premier League side Northwich, the lowest ranked side left in the competition, found themselves a goal up by the break courtesy of Jimmy Ball. And Victoria doubled their advantage midway through the second half through Richard Bennett, but Northampton, who are unbeaten in seven in the league, scored three goals in the final ten minutes of the game to send the League Two side through.

First, Nicky Adams saw his shot deflect in off Sam Hoskins before Adams crossed for Jason Taylor to level. Dominic Calvert-Lewin won the game with under five minutes remaining to break the hearts of the travelling fans but sent the Cobblers supporters, who have had a torrid few weeks recently, home happy.

 

Yeovil Town 1-0 Stevenage 

Two of League Two’s strugglers met at Huish Park and it was the league’s bottom club Yeovil that progressed to the third round of the FA Cup. Ben Tozer scored the games only goal with under five minutes remaining to give interim manager Darren Way a win in his first game in charge. This game goes down as a shock purely due to the Glovers awful form. Not only are they bottom of League Two, but they hadn’t won in twelve league games, including a run of eight games without a win at Huish Park.

 

Sunday 6 December 

Dagenham and Redbridge 1-1 Whitehawk 

National League South side Whitehawk have earned a second round replay after a draw with League Two strugglers Dagenham at Victoria Road. Talisman striker Jamie Cureton gave the Daggers and early lead, but Whitehawk leveled, again in typical FA Cup fashion, five minutes into second half stoppage time through defender Jordan Rose. The result means that Dagenham are still yet to win at home this season despite picking up form in recent weeks.

 

Exeter City 2-0 Port Vale 

Like Wycombe, League Two side Exeter knocked out League One opposition in Port Vale to progress to the third round of the FA Cup. Jordan Tilson gave the Grecians a first half lead, and the win was confirmed just before full time after Ollie Watkins doubled the hosts lead. For Exeter, this is the first time they’ve reached the third round since the 2004/05 season when they held Manchester United to a replay.