FA Trophy weekend reshapes the step 2 to 6 landscape

Dozens of FA Trophy ties were settled across Steps 2 to 6 this week, several of them going all the way to penalties. Cray Wanderers needed spot-kicks to see off Cheshunt, winning 5-4 after a 1-1 draw, while Leatherhead beat Ramsgate 6-5 on penalties following a 2-2 draw in which Ramsgate had fought back from two goals down. Deal Town also progressed via a penalty shootout, and Carshalton Athletic came from two goals down to draw with Southall before winning 4-3 on penalties. Didcot Town edged past Bracknell Town 3-2 on penalties after a goalless draw, and Wimborne Town needed no such luck, winning 3-1 at Moneyfields thanks to a Lewis Williams brace and a Joe Smith penalty.

Among the more emphatic wins, Burgess Hill Town thrashed Winslow United 6-2, Eastbourne Borough beat Welwyn Garden City 4-2, and Quorn saw off Leamington 4-2 to reach the First Round Proper. Bootle thumped Emley 5-0, Avro won 2-0 against Dunston with both goals from Jacob Holland-Wilkinson, and Workington edged Blyth Spartans 4-3 in an end-to-end contest, Dan Hopper scoring twice. Guiseley beat Bamber Bridge 4-2 at Nethermoor, having previously suffered a shock FA Cup defeat to Trafford. Bridlington Town reached the First Round Proper for the first time in 22 years, beating Whitby Town 3-0 with a Tom Allan brace.

Not every big name survived. Peterborough Sports went out 3-1 to Banbury United, Basingstoke Town lost 1-0 to Poole Town, Warrington Town exited on penalties to Ashton United, and Gainsborough Trinity lost a shootout to Bury after a 3-3 draw, despite Aaron Simpson scoring his first goal for the club in the comeback. Rushall Olympic were beaten 3-1 by Stourbridge, Leiston lost 3-0 at home to Dartford, and Real Bedford were beaten 3-0 by Wingate & Finchley.

Elsewhere in the league programme, Fleet Town maintained a four-point lead at the top of their table with a 2-1 win over Balham, Danylo Hubynets scoring an 88th-minute winner. Bromsgrove Sporting made it eight wins in a row with a 1-0 FA Trophy victory over Racing Club Warwick through Billy Shaw's late goal. Billericay Town closed to within a point of Maidstone United at the top of the National League South after beating Torquay United 3-0. Macclesfield moved up to second in the National League North thanks to Danny Elliott's free-kick against Harborough Town.

The First Round Proper draw has already thrown up several notable ties for 24 October, including Bath City at home to Frome Town, Dartford hosting Three Bridges, and Bootle travelling to Leek Town. Off the pitch, Loxwood condemned racist abuse directed at one of their players, while Gresley Rovers and Merthyr Town both issued statements addressing supporter behaviour at recent fixtures.