Chesterfield pulled off a shock 2-0 win at AFC Wimbledon to claim their place in the FA Cup third round, with fellow non-league sides Wrexham and Boreham Wood also booking their spots in Monday night’s third-round draw.
Armando Dobra put the National League high-flyers in front just before half-time at Plough Lane on Saturday, and Jeff King’s long-range effort with 15 minutes left made sure of the upset against the League Two side.
Paul Mullin scored a hat-trick as Wrexham, the National League leaders, defeated Farnborough 4-1 at the Racecourse Ground. Mullin headed the Dragons in front from a corner early in the second half, but the visitors quickly levelled through Oli Pendlebury’s free kick.
Elliot Lee put Wrexham back in front with 12 minutes left and Mullin added two more late on to complete his treble. “I’d like to play either Liverpool at Anfield or Everton here [at home],” Mullin told BBC Sport afterwards. “But we’ll take whoever we get and try and do our best in the game.”
Boreham Wood produced the biggest shock across Sunday’s six games, beating League One Bristol Rovers 2-0 at the Memorial Stadium. The mid-table National League side, who knocked Bournemouth out of last season’s competition, returned to the third round thanks to first-half goals from Will Evans and David Stephens.
Elsewhere on Sunday, former Cup winners Derby County and Ipswich Town both avoided upsets to reach the third round. Derby left it late to secure a 2-1 win at Newport County, with David McGoldrick’s 88th-minute header completing the Rams’ comeback after Louie Sibley cancelled out Priestley Farquharson’s opener.
Things were more straightforward for Ipswich, who eased to a 4-0 win over National League North side Buxton at Portman Road. Conor Chaplin scored twice for the hosts, with Gassan Ahadme and substitute Kayden Jackson also on target as Kieran McKenna’s side reached the third round for the first time since 2019.
Chippenham Town’s first-ever trip to the second round ended in a heavy away defeat to League One side Burton. Deji Oshilaja and Sam Winnall both got on the scoresheet twice for the Brewers as they ran out 6-1 winners. Fleetwood Town edged to victory at Ebbsfleet United, with Ged Garner getting the only goal just past the hour.
In Saturday’s late kick-off, National League Dagenham were denied an upset when Scott Kashket scored a stoppage-time equaliser for Gillingham after Josh Walker had put the hosts in front with just 10 minutes left. The two sides will meet in a replay, as will Charlton and Stockport after Myles Hippolyte headed a stoppage-time equaliser for the Hatters at the Valley.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Forest Green Rovers ended seventh-tier Alvechurch’s hopes of a money-spinning tie in the third round with a 2-1 win. Connor Wickham put Rovers, who are bottom of League One, ahead from the penalty spot in the 24th minute but Alvechurch equalised three minutes into the second half through Jediah Yeboah Abbey’s free-kick.
Josh March put the hosts back in front just two minutes later, scoring against his former club. Forest Green finished the match with 10 men after the defender Dom Bernard was shown a second yellow card. Otis Khan hit a last-minute winner as League Two Grimsby stunned Cambridge 2-1 at the Abbey Stadium.
King’s Lynn, second in National League North, were beaten 3-0 at home by Stevenage. Three goals in five minutes early in the second half, with Luke Norris scoring a quickfire double before Jamie Reid’s strike, ended the Linnets’ hopes. Barnet fell to a 1-0 defeat at Accrington through a late goal from Ethan Hamilton.
The Sheffield Wednesday substitute Michael Smith hit two goals in six minutes in a 2-1 comeback win over Mansfield at Hillsborough, while Shrewsbury beat Peterborough 3-1 to also book a place in Monday’s draw. Colby Bishop scored two penalties as Portsmouth came from behind to beat MK Dons 3-2 at Fratton Park.
Goals from Devante Cole, Adam Phillips and a Josh Benson penalty gave Barnsley a 3-0 victory against Crewe at Oakwell. A brace from Josh Umerah helped Hartlepool beat 10-man Harrogate 3-1 at Victoria Park, and Billy Bodin grabbed two goals in the closing stages as Oxford beat Exeter 4-1 at the Kassam Stadium.
Walsall came from behind to beat Carlisle 2-1 with an 88th-minute Andy Williams equaliser and a stoppage-time goal from fellow substitute Douglas James-Taylor.