Non-league trio Carlisle, Gateshead and Boreham Wood spring FA Cup shocks

FootballSports
2 Nov 2025 • 3:29 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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Substitute Regan Linney hit a sensational hat-trick as National League side Carlisle, managed by Mark Hughes, stunned League One Reading with a remarkable 3-2 extra-time win in the FA Cup first round.

Linney struck twice in second-half added time to force an additional period after Lewis Wing and Mark O’Mahony put the hosts in control before completing his treble – and the comeback – in the 94th minute.

Fellow fifth-tier club Gateshead upset League One high fliers AFC Wimbledon with a 2-0 away victory.

Goals either side of half-time from Kain Adom and Fenton John dumped out the Dons, who sit sixth in the third tier.

Boreham Wood also produced a shock, beating League Two strugglers Crawley 3-0 thanks to strikes from Matt Rush and Abdul Abdulmalik either side of Zak Brunt’s penalty.

Hemel Hempstead of the National League South gave 2013 winners Wigan a major scare before losing 5-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw.

James Waite struck an extra-time winner as Weston-super-Mare came from behind to upset Aldershot with a 2-1 win.

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Lyle Taylor’s brace helped National League South club Chelmsford thrash Essex rivals Braintree of the National League 4-1, while Danny Elliott hit a first-half hat-trick as Macclesfield overcame fellow sixth-tier side AFC Totton 6-3.

Slough of the National League South knocked out fifth-tier Altrincham with a 2-1 success, while League Two Salford eliminated League One Lincoln 4-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw.

Burton thumped seventh-tier St Albans 6-0 thanks to doubles from Tyrese Shade, Charlie Webster and Fabio Tavares, League Two Swindon came from behind to register a 2-1 extra-time win at League One Rotherham and Barnsley avoided an upset after scraping a 3-2 success over York at Oakwell thanks to Marc Roberts’ added-time header.

Lee Bonis’ penalty earned League Two Chesterfield a 1-0 win at League One high-fliers Stevenage, Buxton beat Chatham 2-1 after extra-time and Luke Williams’ reign as Peterborough manager began with a 1-0 victory over Cardiff.

Michael Mellon’s hat-trick helped Oldham beat Northampton 3-1, Stockport beat Tranmere by the same scoreline, Blackpool won 1-0 against Scunthorpe, Bolton defeated Huddersfield 2-1, and Bradford lost 1-0 at Cheltenham.

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Doncaster came from behind to defeat Crewe 2-1, MK Dons won 3-2 at Colchester, Cambridge dispatched Chester 3-0, while Wealdstone overcame Southend 1-0.

Cauley Woodrow’s brace earned Wycombe a 2-0 victory over Plymouth, as Bristol Rovers won 2-1 at Bromley, Sutton defeated Telford 2-1, Exeter registered a 2-0 success at Halifax, Grimsby battled back to beat Ebbsfleet 3-1 and Spennymoor lost 2-0 at home to Barrow.

Elsewhere, Fleetwood won 2-1 at home to Barnet, Mansfield defeated Harrogate 3-2 and Newport beat Gillingham 4-3 on penalties following a 2-2 draw after extra-time.

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