Two results in particular showed just how unpredictable this weekend's round could be. Stafford Rangers, playing in the Northern Premier League Division One West, beat National League North side Hereford 3-2 at Marston Road. two divisions above them on paper. Hereford led through Tom Waldron before Stafford hit back through a Bakkor double and a goal from Birch, with Hereford's Cox scoring a late consolation. It's the furthest Stafford have gone in the competition in some time.
Coventry United provided the other headline shock, winning 1-0 away at National League North's Hednesford Town - again a club two tiers above them. It's the furthest Coventry United have progressed in the FA Cup since they first entered the competition back in 2016-17.
Adding to the day's talking points was SE Dons' 3-2 win at seventh-tier Chichester City. Two goals in stoppage time - a Ralfi Hand free-kick and a winner from Alex Teniola completed the turnaround for a south-east London club that only entered senior non-league football in 2024. It continues a cup run that began in the extra preliminary round.
This round also featured all twelve of the tier-nine sides who'd made it furthest through qualifying, and roughly half of them are still standing. Tadley Calleva won 1-0 at Bishop's Cleeve, a side one level above them, through a Brad Neal header - their best-ever FA Cup run. Barton Town beat Boldmere St Michaels 3-1, courtesy of a brace from Joe Wood, matching their own record cup run in the process. Trafford won 2-1 away at Heaton Stannington to stay in the hat.
Two more of the group are still alive via replay: Cirencester Town drew 2-2 with sixth-tier Farnham Town, and South Liverpool drew 2-2 with Prestwich Heys, with both replays still to be settled.
Not every side made it through, though. AFC Greenwich Borough lost 3-2 at Chertsey Town, Redcar Town were beaten 4-2 by National League North's Darlington in front of over 1,300 fans, Snodland Town's own history-making run ended with a 1-0 defeat to Sheppey United, and Pagham's first second-round-qualifying appearance in 36 years came to an emphatic close with a 6-0 loss at Hanworth Villa. Harleston Town also exited, beaten 2-1 by Real Bedford.
The third qualifying round draw has already been made, sending Real Bedford, Stafford Rangers, Coventry United, SE Dons, Tadley Calleva, Barton Town and Trafford back into action, with National League clubs joining the competition one round later.
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