Skelmersdale, Cray Valley, Hayes and Oxford excel as NL sides tumble at first hurdle

Francis Babalola is a picture of joy after scoring Cray Valley’s winner at Maidenhead in the 90th minute
Photo: Dave Cumberbatch

Hayes & Yeading United, Oxford City and Cray Valley Paper Mills made the headlines with superb away wins at National League grounds on Saturday afternoon as the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round took place.

Hayes & Yeading of the Southern League Premier Division South made the very short trip to Ruislip to face National League side Wealdstone and came away with a shock 2-0 win in the Middlesex derby.

Francis Amartey had already put Hayes & Yeading 1-0 up before Wealdstone’s Charlie Wakefield was sent off just after half time. Omar Rowe added a second goal for United.

Elsewhere, The Millers from St Mary Cray on the London/Kent border, looked destined for defeat having gone 2-0 down at Maidenhead United, but struck back with three incredible goals to shock the National League team.

Ade Yussuf, Connor Dymond and a 90th minute winner from Francis Babaloloa sent the former works team into the FA Cup First Round for the first time in their history.

Oxford City were another club to visit a National League side, in this case, Weymouth and came away with a victory. Goals from James Roberts, Josh Ashby and an 88th minute volley from youngster Louis Hall secured a famous victory for the Hoops.

Their next league game is at home against another side who won away yesterday, Hampton and Richmond Borough, who won at Hemel Hempstead. The two sides could easily be drawn together on Monday night.

The lowest ranked side left in the tournament is Paul McNally’s Skelmersdale United who were the biggest winners of all.

Leiston players celebrate their second goal but went down 3-2 to Barnet at Victory Road in Suffolk
Photo: Hannah Parnell

They headed to Stafford Rangers, of the Northern Premier League Premier Division. Although they play in the lowly North West Counties League Premier Division, they hammered Rangers 4-1 on their own patch. Emini Adegbenro scored twice for the West Lancashire side. Lloyd Ellams scored the other two.

They become the first NWCFL side to reach the First Round Proper since 1996/97.

Elsewhere, FC Halifax Town lost 2-0 at South Shields in what was a disastrous day for the National League.

Five further National League sides saw their interest in the FA Cup come to an end at the first hurdle, Aldershot, Dover Athletic, Stockport County, Wrexham and Sutton United all suffering exits, with Notts County also being forced to withdraw due to a COVID outbreak.

Chester FC of the National League North went down 1-0 at home to Marine of the Northern Premier League Division One North West.

There were also away wins for Woking, Havant & Waterlooville, Hartlepool, Barnet, Torquay United and Bromley

With so many National League sides out of the competition, the odds of a team from Level Six and below meeting a league time are increased.

Interestingly however, so are the odds of two sides from below the National League meeting and guaranteeing one of them progressing to the 2nd round.

Saturday Results:

Aldershot Town 1 Woking 2

Banbury United 2 Bury Town 1

Bath City 0 Havant & Waterlooville 3

Boreham Wood 2 Wimborne Town 0

Brackley Town 5 Marske United 1

Canvey Island 3 Cray Wanderers 2

Chester 0 Marine 1