Ben Smith insists he is proud of Ramsgate’s FA Cup run despite elimination following a 5-0 defeat against AFC Wimbledon at Plough Lane.Iraq international Ali Al-Hamadi scored twice for the Dons, with Jake Reeves, Josh Neufville and Connor Lemonheigh-Evans also finding the net.The Rams started the evening as the lowest-ranked team left in this season’s competition, but the five-goal d...Full Story »

Ali Al-Hamadi scored twice as AFC Wimbledon beat Ramsgate 5-0 to set up an FA Cup third-round clash with Championship high-flyers Ipswich.The Rams started the evening as the lowest-ranked team left in the competition and were behind after just eight minutes when Al-Hamadi pounced on a loose pass before feeding Jake Reeves, who rifled a powerful strike into the top-left corner.The hosts doubled t...Full Story »

Chesterfield assistant manager Danny Webb is delighted his side’s fans will get the chance to sample a big match atmosphere in the third round of the FA Cup against Championship outfit Watford.The Spireites booked a trip to Vicarage Road with a 1-0 win over Leyton Orient at the SMH Group Stadium to add the O’s to the first-round scalp of fellow League One side Portsmouth.The National...Full Story »

National League Aldershot held League Two leaders Stockport to a 2-2 draw at the EBB Stadium to earn an Emirates FA Cup replay.The hosts almost had the perfect start after a minute when Jack Barham forced keeper Ben Hinchliffe to save with his foot.The Vanarama National League outfit took the lead after 10 minutes when a shot by Josh Stokes deflected off Macauley Southam-Hales and into the net.S...Full Story »

Paul McCallum was Eastleigh’s last-gasp hero as the National League side sent League One Reading packing in the second round of the FA Cup with a 2-1 win.Femi Azeez had seemingly rescued a replay for Reading with his 86th-minute strike, which cancelled out McCallum’s first-half opener.But the Eastleigh striker popped up deep in stoppage time to send the non-league outfit, who sit 36 ...Full Story »

Manager Steve Evans was furious at the “atrocious” penalty awarded against Stevenage after they drew 1-1 with Port Vale in the FA Cup second round.Goal machine Jamie Reid put Stevenage ahead midway through the second half but the lead lasted only seven minutes before Funso Ojo equalised from the penalty spot.Referee Tom Reeves judged Uche Ikpeazu was fouled by Terence Vancooten, leav...Full Story »

Emotional Maidstone boss George Elokobi saluted a ‘blockbuster’ winning goal from Bivesh Gurung as his side stunned League Two high-fliers Barrow in the FA Cup.The National League South side reached the third round for the first time since their reformation in 1992 and Elokobi believes they fully deserve to be there.The former Wolves midfielder said after the 2-1 success: “I&rs...Full Story »

Bolton boss Ian Evatt is amazed by the goalscoring potential of his side after they strolled to a 5-1 win against Harrogate in the FA Cup second round.After resting his first-choice front two of Dion Charles and Victor Adeboyejo, he saw replacement Jon Dadi Bodvarsson crash a first-half hat-trick and Dan Nlundulu add another two shortly after half-time.That means Bolton have now scored 104 goals...Full Story »

Doncaster boss Grant McCann hit out at the officials and insisted the assistant referee “only has one job” after his side were beaten 2-1 by League One Peterborough in the FA Cup second round.McCann’s men fell 2-0 behind thanks to strikes from Harrison Burrows and Ephron Mason-Clark but reduced the deficit through Mo Faal before Kyle Hurst hit a post in stoppage time.Faal thoug...Full Story »

Stevenage and Port Vale will do it all again in an FA Cup second-round replay after a 1-1 draw at an extremely foggy Lamex Stadium.Goal machine Jamie Reid broke the deadlock with his 16th of the campaign for Stevenage but the lead lasted only seven minutes before Funso Ojo equalised from the spot.Vale had goals ruled out for offside in both halves and they will host Boro a week on Tuesday.Elliot...Full Story »

Gillingham beat League One side Charlton 2-0 to progress to the third round of the FA Cup.Former Addicks striker Macauley Bonne opened the scoring on 26 minutes before Timothee Dieng netted a second four minutes later.Jonny Williams’ ball forward was taken down by Jayden Clarke and he was met by the onrushing Ashley Maynard-Brewer, but picked out Bonne on the edge of the box who swept home...Full Story »

National League South side Maidstone came from behind to stun League Two high-fliers Barrow 2-1 in the FA Cup.A total of 46 places in the league pyramid separate the two sides, but Maidstone made it through to the third round draw thanks to Bivesh Gurung’s superb 74th minute winner.Barrow threatened in the opening minute when Elliot Newby fired narrowly over the top and the visitors opened...Full Story »

Three goals in six first-half minutes set Cambridge on the way to a dominant 4-0 win over Fleetwood as they booked a place in the third round of the FA Cup.The U’s, with Barry Corr in caretaker charge following the sacking of manager Mark Bonner on Wednesday, never looked back after Danny Andrew opened the scoring in the seventh minute.Andrew curled in a free kick from 22 yards, awarded af...Full Story »

Des Buckingham enjoyed a first win as Oxford manager as the League One side reached the third round by beating League Two opponents Grimsby 2-0.The Mariners were unable to repeat last season’s cup exploits when they became the first club in the competition’s history to knock out five teams from higher divisions on their way to the quarter-finals.Marcus McGuane fired Oxford ahead in t...Full Story »

Jon Dadi Bodvarsson struck a first-half hat-trick as Bolton breezed into the third round of the FA Cup with a 5-1 win against Sky Bet League Two side Harrogate.The Icelander last claimed the match ball for Reading in a 3-0 win against Stevenage five years ago and this time triggered a ruthless performance which took Bolton to a club record 104 goals for the calendar year.Gethin Jones and Will Fo...Full Story »

Grant McCann’s return to London Road ended in defeat as Peterborough moved into the FA Cup third round with a 2-1 win against Doncaster after surviving a late fightback.Harrison Burrows opened the scoring after just three minutes with an incredible piece of luck that saw his cross from the left sail over everyone and bounce into the top-right corner.Kwame Poku and Ricky-Jade Jones both was...Full Story »

Almost one year after Lionel Messi lifted the World Cup trophy for Argentina in Qatar, the Inter Miami CF star revisited the complicated path to the title and expressed his satisfaction at turning criticism into praise in his country. In an interview for the "Champions, a Year Later" special on Disney Star+, Messi said one of his top triumphs from winning the World Cup and Copa América w...Full Story »

Wigan manager Shaun Maloney admitted he was determined to reach the third round of the FA Cup for chairman Mike Danson following a 1-0 win at York.Maloney, who was a member of the Latics’ 2013 FA Cup final-winning team, is desperate to repay Danson with a money-spinning run in this season’s competition after he saved the club from financial ruin when he took over in the summer.The La...Full Story »

Stephen Humphrys’ ninth goal of the season secured 2013 FA Cup winners Wigan’s place in this year’s third round following a 1-0 win at Vanarama National League side York.During a cagey first half, Humphrys had carried the greatest threat.Just before the half-hour mark, good skills from the former Fulham forward took him past home defenders Callum Howe and Tyler Cordner before h...Full Story »

Ryan Bowman’s hat-trick fired Shrewsbury into the FA Cup third round with a 3-2 victory over Notts County.Bowman gave his side an early lead, only for Richard Brindley to equalise for the hosts, but the Shrews striker completed his treble with two goals inside eight second-half minutes before 17-year-old James Sanderson pulled one back late on for County.The visitors were gifted the lead i...Full Story »