Macclesfield stun Swindon in FA Cup as Chelmsford win Essex derby
Non-league Macclesfield Town pulled off the biggest shock in the first round of the FA Cup when they won 2-0 at League One promotion challengers Swindon Town.
The Conference team, relegated from the Football League last season, were not the only non-league side to beat league opposition with Chelmsford City, Hereford United and Harrogate Town also moving into the second round at the expense of higher-ranked teams.
Macclesfield are sixth in the Blue Square Bet Conference Premier and on Saturday they took the lead in the 63rd minute through a stunning long-range strike from Tony Diagne. Things got worse for Swindon when moments later Aiden Flynn was sent off for the second time in four games when he was given a straight red card for a challenge on the Macclesfield midfielder Sam Wedgbury.
The upset was sealed when Louis Thompson scored an own goal in the last minute.
The Conference South team Chelmsford City beat in-form Colchester United, 12th in League One, 3-1. The hosts went ahead against their Essex neighbours when Anthony Cook fired in from distance in the 23rd minute and they moved closer to an upset when Donovan Simmonds headed into the net in the 63rd minute. Colchester pulled one back seven minutes later through Michael Rose's long-range free-kick but Jamie Slabber sealed victory late on.
Torquay United had an unbeaten home record which had guided them to seventh in League Two but they went down 1-0 at home to Harrogate Town. Chib Chilaka scored the only goal after 20 minutes to send the Conference North side into the second round.
Hereford United, 14th in the Conference Premier, provided the first shock of the day when they dumped out League One Shrewsbury Town 3-1 thanks to two goals by Ryan Bowman.
Will Evans gave the hosts a third-minute lead, slotting Chris Todd's header into the bottom left-hand corner. Hereford doubled their lead nine minutes later through Ryan Bowman's fierce shot. Luke Summerfield's free-kick halved the deficit on the half-hour but Bowman's second, a penalty, wrapped up victory.
Lincoln City, 19th in the Conference Premier, were on the brink of an upset when they led League One Walsall 1-0 thanks to Jamie Taylor's effort in first-half injury time. However, George Bowerman headed an equaliser three minutes from full time to secure a replay.
League Two sides also secured some impressive League One scalps, most notably when Rotherham United beat Stevenage, fourth in League One, 3-2. Mark Bradley fired the Millers ahead after half an hour before the on-loan Lee Frecklington, with goals in the 53rd and 56th minutes, apparently putting the match out of Stevenage's reach. However, James Dunne pulled one back two minutes later with Filipe Morais making it 3-2 with a little under 20 minutes remaining but the South Yorkshire side held on.
The League One strugglers Hartlepool United suffered a 6-1 hammering at Chesterfield. Scott Boden, after 16 minutes, Mark Randall (29) and Craig Clay (42) gave the Spireites a 3-0 half-time lead.
Terrell Forbes (54) made it four and while Antony Sweeney pulled one back with 12 minutes remaining, Jack Lester and Craig Westcarr rounded off a humiliation for the visitors.
The League Two leaders Gillingham hammered their relegation-threatened League One opponents Scunthorpe United 4-0 at Priestfield.
Hendon, of the Isthmian League Premier Division, threatened an upset when they went ahead at the out-of-form League Two side Aldershot, Dean Cracknell firing in an unstoppable volley after 28 minutes. However, Danny Hylton levelled 13 minutes after the break before he powered home a late winner.
Sheffield United were the highest-ranked team playing on Saturday but the team second in League One were given a scare when David Clarkson took advantage of some slack defending to put Bristol Rovers ahead in the fifth minute at the Memorial Ground.
However, Nick Blackman equalised eight minutes after the break with an unstoppable shot across the keeper and Chris Porter won the game nine minutes later.
Crawley Town won 2-1 at the Met Police. Josh Simpson and Billy Clarke put the visitors 2-0 up and although Alan Tait pulled one back with seven minutes remaining, the Isthmian Premier League side could not muster an equaliser.
The League Two high-flyers Port Vale survived a comeback at Forest Green when the Conference Premier Division side hit back from two goals down to pull level at 2-2. Ben Williamson restored the league side's lead against the run of play 10 minutes from time to give them a 3-2 victory.
Cheltenham Town, third in League Two, dispatched Yate Town, the lowest-ranked team left in the competition, 3-0.