The Emirates FA Cup delivered full chaos in the first round as non-league sides Boreham Wood, Gateshead and Carlisle United knocked out EFL opposition, while a 9-goal thriller at Macclesfield and a string of penalty shoot-outs lit up a ridiculous Saturday of football.
It was a day of late equalisers, red cards, hat-tricks and full meltdowns, with 34 ties played and more than a few managers left answering uncomfortable questions.
Non-League Carnage, Late Drama Everywhere
Non-league clubs drove the storyline. Boreham Wood overpowered Crawley Town 3-0, taking control early through Matt Rush before Zak Brunt made it 2-0 from the spot and Abdul Abdulmalik wrapped it up. Crawley finished with 10 men after Ryan Loft was sent off, and never looked like recovering.
Further south, Gateshead dumped AFC Wimbledon out 2-0 in front of more than 5,000 supporters. Kain Adom struck on 21 minutes, Fenton John added a second after the break, and the National League side saw it out with maturity that will not have gone unnoticed higher up the pyramid.
WHAT A DAY! 🤯
Let’s keep this momentum building — back the Blues at Brunton Park on Tuesday night. 🎟️
— Carlisle United (@officialcufc) November 1, 2025
The comeback of the day, and maybe of the entire round, belonged to Carlisle United. Trailing 2-0 at Reading and seemingly headed out, Mark Hughes’ side refused to die. Regan Linney scored twice in stoppage time, including an equaliser in the 98th minute, to drag the tie to extra time. He then completed his hat-trick in extra time to seal a 3-2 win and turn the away end into complete chaos.
There was also penalty heartbreak. Lincoln City were taken all the way by Salford City. Erik Ring put Lincoln in front on 26 minutes but a 90+3 equaliser from Kelly N’Mai forced extra time, and Salford then held their nerve to win 4-2 on penalties.
Wigan Athletic needed spot-kicks as well, edging past Hemel Hempstead Town 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw that included a Wigan red card and a pressure penalty for Hemel to level it in normal time.
Elsewhere, Brackley Town sent Notts County out. Brackley drew 2-2 after extra time, then finished the job 4-3 on penalties. For a club operating well below League Two level, it is a massive result.
Macclesfield Chaos, Chelmsford Bragging Rights, Big Wins For League Clubs
At Moss Rose, Macclesfield and AFC Totton produced a 6-3 classic. Danny Elliott scored a first-half hat-trick, Totton led at one stage through Scott Rendell’s double, and it was 3-3 at half-time. Macclesfield then pulled away after the break through Paul Dawson, Rollin Menayese and Lewis Fensome to reach the second round for the first time since the club reformed in 2020.
In Essex, Chelmsford City claimed derby bragging rights with a 4-1 win over Braintree Town. Lyle Taylor scored twice, Jason Adigun and Jesurun Uchegbulam also found the net, and Braintree finished with 10 men. For a National League South side to put four past opponents from a division above, that will live for a while.
One of the most bizarre goals I’ve ever seen. Referee has had a stinker there. https://t.co/MgF3eIKjbX
— The Real EFL (@RealEFLSocial) November 1, 2025
Some EFL clubs did their jobs with zero fuss. Burton Albion put six past St Albans City, with Tyrese Shade scoring inside the first minute and adding a second late on. Peterborough United squeezed past Cardiff City 1-0 thanks to Harrison Leonard. Wycombe Wanderers beat Plymouth Argyle 2-0, both goals from Cauley Woodrow.
There were tight finishes everywhere you looked. Barnsley survived a scare from York City, eventually winning 3-2 thanks to a stoppage-time goal from Marc Roberts after York had levelled late. Oldham Athletic saw off Northampton Town 3-1 with a ruthless hat-trick from Michael Mellon.
Mansfield Town edged Harrogate Town 3-2. Swindon Town stunned Rotherham United 2-1 after extra time. Stockport County won 3-1 at Tranmere Rovers with three second-half strikes.
The message from the first round is simple. The gap between leagues is only on paper.
