This weekend saw the return of the FA Cup, a new campaign back on the BBC.
The Iron managed to overcome a potential banana skin tie by winning 2-0 at non-League Forest Green on Sunday.A deadly double from Gary McSheffrey helped Mark Robins’ side into the hat for the second round draw, which takes place at the National Football Museum in Manchester tomorrow evening.
Here’s a brief review of what happened elsewhere this weekend, with plenty of surprise results to remind the nation of the magic the FA Cup can produce.
● Coventry were on the wrong side of one of the shock of the rounds, when Worcester City won 2-1 at the Ricoh Arena.
Sean Geddes bagged a double for the non-League outfit. The first was a penalty after Sky Blues ‘keeper Lee Burge saw red for kicking out at an opposition player. Geddes then produced an outstanding finish to double their lead in the early stages of the second period.
Reda Johnson had a second-half penalty saved before he scored a header but it was too little, too late, as Cov were ousted by Worcester.
● Halifax nearly got the better of Bradford in a West Yorkshire derby at the Shay.
Lois Maynard put the home side ahead early on before the Bantams scored twice in three minutes to complete the turnaround through Jon Stead and Filipe Morais.
● Warrington Town kicked off the weekend’s shock results on Friday, when they were 1-0 winners at home to Exeter.
Managed by Peter Reid’s brother, Shaun, Town’s part-time defender and plasterer Craig Robinson headed them into an early lead in front of the BBC cameras.
● Stefan Payne’s goal on the stroke of half-time helped Conference side Dover beat League Two Morecambe 1-0 on the south-east coast.
● Cheltenham advanced to the second round of the competition with a resounding 5-0 win over League One side Swindon Town.
It was the Robins against the Robins and Mark Yates’ outfit came out on top, with thanks to Byron Harrison’s hat-trick. Matt Richards and Tony Gornell were also on the score sheet for the League Two club.
● Chester also produced a surprise result at Roots Hall, where they beat Southend 2-1. They took the lead through Ben Heneghan and Barry Corr levelled the Shrimps with a penalty before Craig Mahon smashed the Conference side into the next round.
● Bury were nearly taken to a replay by Hemel Hempstead. The Conference South club took the lead early on when James Potton found the net, but Andrew Tutte soon levelled David Flitcroft’s men. Nathan Cameron made it two for Bury after 88 minutes and Daniel Nardiello made it 3-1 two minutes later.
● League Two Cambridge were 1-0 winners at home to Fleetwood. Graham Alexander’s side lost to Richard Money’s men when Kwesi Appiah scored ten minutes from time.
● Plymouth Argyle overcame another banana skin tie when AFC Fylde were visitors.
Peter Hartley and Marvin Morgan bagged at Home Park to give Argyle a 2-0 win.
● Port Vale and MK Dons played out a seven-goal thriller when the latter came out on top 4-3. Benik Afobe netted twice for Karl Robinson’s men after Vale initially took the lead.
● Nearly 11,100 fans fled to Fratton Park to watch non-League side Aldershot draw 2-2 with Portsmouth.
Danny Hollands netted late on to rescue a replay for Pompey, who had Paul Robinson sent off after he saw two yellow cards.
Here’s a full list of results over the weekend in the FA Cup.
There’s one more game to be played, tomorrow, when Havant & Waterlooville host Preston North End.
Mansfield v Concord and Weston Super Mare v Doncaster were postponed, so their matches will be rearranged in due course.
Sunday
Halifax 1-2 Bradford
Blyth Spartans 4-1 Altrincham
Braintree 0-6 Chesterfield
Coventry 1-2 Worcester City
Forest Green 0-2 Scunthorpe
Gosport Borough 3-6 Colchester
Norton United 0-4 Gateshead
Portsmouth 2-2 Aldershot
Stevenage 0-0 Maidstone United
Wrexham 3-0 Woking
Notts County 0-0 Accrington
Saturday
Barnsley 5-0 Burton
Basingstoke Town 1-1 Telford
Bromley 3-4 Dartford
Bury 3-1 Hemel Hempstead Town
Cambridge 1-0 Fleetwood
Cheltenham 5-0 Swindon
Crewe 0-0 Sheff Utd
Dag & Red 0-0 Southport
Dover 1-0 Morecambe
Eastleigh 2-1 Lincoln City
Gillingham 1-2 Bristol City
Grimsby 1-3 Oxford Utd
Hartlepool 2-0 East Thurrock United
Luton 4-2 Newport
Northampton 0-0 Rochdale
Oldham 1-0 Leyton Orient
Peterborough 2-1 Carlisle
Plymouth 2-0 AFC Fylde
Port Vale 3-4 MK Dons
Southend 1-2 Chester
Tranmere 1-0 Bristol Rovers
Walsall 2-2 Shrewsbury
Yeovil 1-0 Crawley
York 1-1 Wimbledon
Friday
Warrington Town 1-0 Exeter