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Maghull came out on top in their FA Vase fixture with Frickley Athletic

FA Vase: Maghull surprise Step 5 opposition

By Steven Oldham Cover photo: Frickley Athletic Frickley Athletic vs Maghull

Maghull reach fifth gear at Frickley

North West Counties First Division North table-toppers Maghull continued their strong start to the season by thrashing the higher-ranked Frickley Athletic 5-1 in the FA Vase first qualifying round.

Joe Burns’ side upstaged the NCEL Premier Division side in their own back yard, in a game which saw Frickley end the match with ten men following Cody Collins’ red card for a second booking at 3-0.

Sam Smith opened the scoring after three minutes, and the same player would later add the fourth. Second half goals came from Darren Brannigan and Harrison Worden, with the latter converting a penalty. A late own goal summarised Frickley’s afternoon, before Ifeyani Nnenanya scored a late consolation.

READ ALL ABOUT LAST YEAR’S FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND HERE

Bacup win first game of season

Bacup Borough won their first competitive match of the season after taking out Step 5 Glossop North End in a penalty shootout.

Lewis Reilly opened the scoring for North End with 20 minutes to play, but Kyle Siddle equalised in the final minute – and his side went on to win the shootout 4-1.

NWC D1 North side Bacup are yet to play a league match after being granted permission to start the season late due to ground upgrades. It’s a first Bacup win in the FA Vase for three years, while The Hillmen make their earliest exit in the competition for over 30 years.

Thornton Cleveleys make history

Thornton Cleveleys won their first ever game in the competition – coming from behind to beat Chester-le-Street Town 2-1.

Tom Howard’s fourth minute goal gave the visitors an early advantage, but a second half fightback from Paul Gregory’s side sent them through.

Josh Few equalised on 53 minutes, with Jackson Bateman netting the winner on 75 minutes – shortly before visiting goalkeeper Alex Laurence was sent off.

RISING HIGH: Thornton Cleveleys wrote a little bit of club history (Derick Thomas)

Fulwood Amateurs win first tie

Fulwood Amateurs also won their first ever game in the FA Vase – but needed penalties to see off AFC Blackpool after a 1-1 draw.

James Bell put Ams ahead – but a late equaliser from James Hughes forced the game to a shootout.

The home side prevailed and won the shootout 3-2 as The Mechanics’ miserable start to the season continued.

PURE JOY: Fulwood Ams enjoy first FA Vase goal (Graham Lancaster Photography)

Garstang end miserable FA Vase run

Garstang won an FA Vase fixture for the first time since the 2018-19 season after a 2-0 win over Prudhoe Youth Club.

Liam Clegg’s second half brace sent the home side through, ending a run of six successive exits at the first opportunity for the Lancashire side.

A first clean sheet of the season wrapped up a positive day for the Lancashire side.

Early starters Nelson progress

Nelson were quick out of the blocks on their way to a 4-1 win over Alnwick Town.

Luke Hepple and Jamie Edwards put the home side 2-0 within six minutes, with Edwards adding a third in the second half. Max Anderson’s reply for the visitors on 73 minutes proved to be nothing more than a consolation when Darren Holden sealed victory with two minutes to spare.

Nelson’s best run in the competition saw them make the third round in the 2009-10 season.

READ MORE: Nelson bounce back with 2-1 home win

Job done for Old Boys

Holker Old Boys are through after a 2-0 home win over Ryton & Crawbrook Albion of the NCEL Division One.

Charlie McGladdery put the Cumbrian side ahead after 38 minutes, and Jamie Hodgson made sure of it from the penalty spot in the second half.

Holker beat the same opposition 5-1 in the second qualifying round back in the 2013-14 season.

READ MORE: Holker Old Boys thump Nelson 5-0 on opening day

Contrasting fortunes for Northwich pair

Northwich Victoria are through to the next stage after avoiding an upset by beating Winterton Rangers 2-0 – but 1874 Northwich were knocked out by the same scoreline by Prestwich Heys.

A goal in each half from Harry Davis (6) and Matt Harrison (75) sent Vics through at the expense of their NCEL Division One opponents.

Prestwich are through thanks to goals bookmarking the second half – with Mworina Doro and Josh Tinker’s goals sending 1874 out at the first hurdle for the second successive year.

GOOD TIMES: Prestwich Heys are through to the next round (Beth Lee)

Stockport Town cruise past Selby

Stockport Town are into the second qualifying round after a 3-0 win over Selby Town.

Goals from Josh Fowles, Harley Monaghan and George Kattah sent The Lions through this stage for a second consecutive year.

Kattah is already up to nine goals across all competitions since his summer move to Stockport Sports Village, while Monaghan opened his account this weekend.

GET IN: Stockport Town’s Harley Monaghan celebrates goal (Stockport Town FC)

Late joy for Alsager

Alsager Town‘s Alfie Carmichael won it for his side in added time as The Bullets shot down Redditch Borough 2-1.

Jedediah Warren Paul put the visitors ahead on 50 minutes, only to be quickly pegged back by Brayden Barlow’s second in as many games.

Carmichael’s late intervention avoided the need for the penalty shootout lottery and made it back-to-back wins for Alsager after collecting their first league win last week.

Barlick win through at home

Barnoldswick Town‘s 3-2 win over Birtley Town means the Lancashire side have now made it past the first stage in four of the past five seasons.

Kuda Chingwaro’s brace gave The Sewer Army a solid foundation before Ethan Bewley pulled one back for the visitors.

Will Procter’s first of the season would prove to be the winner, with Alex Francis setting up a nervy last ten minutes with Birtley’s second.

Burscough’s strong start continues

Burscough avoided a banana skin while seeing off Step 6 newcomes MSB Woolton 4-2 at The Community Ground.

Goals from Callum Laird, Christian Mukoku, Ste Rigby and Matty Hamilton sent David Dempsey’s side though. Burscough have now won at this stage three seasons in a row.

Defeat for MSB Woolton then in their first FA Vase game, with Daniel Ventre and an own goal making up their tally.

Lancashire trio go through

Euxton Villa are through after seeing off Worsbrough Bridge Athletic 2-1, with Charnock Richard beating Ashton Athletic 2-0. Colne were 1-0 winners at Seaham Red Star.

Villa conceded first to Keelan Grist’s opener, but goals from Raj Uppal and Lewis Swarbrick turned the game around in their favour.

Charnock Richard made it to the fourth round in the 2023-’24 season and are off and running this year with a home win. Second half goals from Sky Sinclair and Nathan Nickeas – the latter from the penalty spot – sent Ryan Donnellan’s side through.

Jack Holt scored the only goal as Colne kept a first clean sheet of the campaign in the North East.

Penalties needed for Wythenshawe

Wythenshawe are through to the next round by the skin of their teeth, after needing penalties to see off Cheadle Heath Nomads following a 3-3 draw.

Early goals from Edson Cata and Callum Graham gave Nomads a surprise lead after 25 minutes, before the debuting Aaron Dwyer pulled one back for the hosts on 39 minutes.

The second half passed by goalless until a frantic last ten minutes, with Kaylan Wilkinson adding a third for Nomads before his team-mate Alex May was dismissed for a second booking. Darrhyl Mason pulled one back for The Ammies, and Fraser Goodwin levelled the game SIX minutes into added time.

Wythenshawe went on to win the shootout 4-3, with manager James Kinsey admitting post-match that his side “didn’t deserve to go through” in his post-match interview.

Padiham edge through on penalties

Padiham made hard work of their tie with Sunderland RCA before progressing 5-4 on penalties.

The Storks built a 2-0 lead by the 50 minute mark through goals from Jakub Hebda and Freddy Machell – only to be pegged back by their Step 6 opposition by the hour.

Taylor Richardson and Callum Guy pulled the visitors level, but Michael Morrison’s side held their nerve in the spotkicks to extend their run of making it past the first qualifying round to four successive years.

Barnton through on spot-kicks

Barnton survived an almighty scare after throwing away a 2-0 lead over South Leeds, eventually winning a penalty shootout 4-2.

Goals either side of the break from James Sigsworth and Jordan Sherlock left the Cheshire side in firm control, but South Leeds pulled one back via Mitch Hamilton on 61 minutes.

The win looked to be going Barnton’s way as the clock ticked down, but Brandon Hughes-Miller had other ideas and equalised for the NCEL Division One side EIGHT minutes after the 90. Barnton would hold their nerve in the shootout to progress past the first qualifying round for the third successive year.

City of Liverpool through

City of Liverpool avoided an upset by winning a penalty shootout 4-2 after Step 6 Swallownest held them to a 1-1 draw.

The underdogs took the lead through Adam Stubbs on the half hour before Rob Murphy levelled the game for The Purps on 53 minutes.

They then held their nerve in the shootout to win their first game in the competition since 2018.

FA Vase first qualifying round results in brief

Abbey Hey were victims of an upset after exiting the competition on penalties to ten-man Step 6 outfit Doncaster City.

The game ended 1-1, with Jack McKay putting the visitors ahead early in the second half despite already being a man short after Kieran Mortimer’s earlier red card for two bookings.

Bobby Carter pulled one back for the home side, but they lost the shootout 4-3 and ultimately it was a day to forget for the Gorton side.

An injury time winner broke Squires Gate hearts in a 2-1 loss to Tadcaster Albion, with Alfie Dean winning it for the visitors. Ben Thomas had put the Blackpool side ahead before Oliver Green’s equaliser.

Stockport Georgians also suffered late on, with an injury time Curtis Morrison goal winning it 2-1 for Maltby Main. Harry Lyyn with Georgians’ goal. Pilkington are out after a 3-2 defeat at Brigg Town – Kyle Robinson Murray and an own goal for the visitors.

FC St Helens lost 4-3 on penalties to Penistone Church after Ryan Sinnott’s equaliser brought them back into the game. Litherland REMYCA also exit on spot-kicks, losing 5-4 in the shootout after a 2-2 draw which saw both Morgan Falloh and Hugo Rodriguez get their name on the scoresheet.

Cammell Laird lost 1-0 at Liversedge, while Maine Road also bow out after a 2-0 defeat at Crowle Colts. Penrith lost 3-1 at Campion on Sunday.

DECISIVE: Rossington Main’s ‘keeper Jordan Greaves denies REMY (Nick Gerrard)

READ MORE: Witton Albion take first win in 3-1 away day

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