FA Cup fourth qualifying round reshapes a week in National League South

Dover Athletic and Dorking Wanderers met for the second Saturday running at the Megger Community Stadium in the headline tie of the fourth qualifying round at Step 2. Seven days after a 1-1 league draw settled by Jack Bates' stoppage-time rebound, Dover won 3-2 in front of 1,370 to reach the First Round Proper for the first time since 2019. Bates curled in the opener, George Nikaj levelled for the visitors, and Decarrey Sheriff struck twice either side of Josh Barrett skying a penalty. Dennon Lewis pulled one back from 20 yards, but Dorking Wanderers could not find a third. "Our support was phenomenal," Marc White said afterwards. "The fans deserve so much more."

Salisbury reached the First Round Proper for the first time since the club's reformation by beating Eastbourne Borough, with Josh Hedges scoring his fifth of the season and Jeremy Sivi heading in his first for the club. Chelmsford City went out 1-0 at Wimborne Town, while Truro City lost by the same scoreline at Sutton United, Emmanuel Osadebe's 25-yard strike the difference in front of 1,154. Torquay United were beaten 1-0 at home by Oxford City.

At Chesham, the football was secondary. Chesham United announced the death of majority shareholder Roger Payne, with chairman Peter Brown writing: "Non-league football has lost someone special." A minute's applause preceded the goalless draw with Forest Green Rovers that sends the tie to a replay at The New Lawn on Tuesday. Tributes were also paid across Kent and Essex to former Tonbridge Angels, Billericay Town and Dagenham & Redbridge player Doug Loft, who died aged 39.

Of the six league fixtures, Ebbsfleet United were the most emphatic, beating Weston-super-Mare 6-1 with a Kwesi Appiah hat-trick inside 23 minutes to climb to second. Maidstone United beat Maidenhead United 2-1 before 2,398, Horsham came from behind to win 2-1 at ten-man Slough Town, who remain bottom on four points, and Tonbridge Angels edged Hemel Hempstead Town 1-0 with a Nathan Harness penalty save. Folkestone Invicta ended a long wait for three points by beating AFC Totton 2-1, and Farnborough saw off Dagenham & Redbridge 2-0.