Macclesfield held as National League North clubs scatter in FA Cup

For one Saturday the National League North table mattered less than the hat. Macclesfield, who had gone top of the division a week earlier by coming from two goals down to beat South Shields 4-3 in front of 2,767 at the Leasing.com Stadium, were pegged back at home by Anstey Nomads. The tie finished 1-1 and will be replayed at Cropston Road on Tuesday, with the club pricing admission at £12 for adults, £8 for over-65s and £3 for under-18s.

Harborough Town had no such trouble. Dempsey Arlott-John's eighth-minute goal put the Bees ahead against Spennymoor Town, and after Finlay Holcroft equalised on 70 minutes, substitute Britt Assombalonga headed in six minutes later before Eliot Putman volleyed a third. A crowd of 975 at the Beehive saw Mitch Austin's side into the First Round Proper. "It's a great achievement for the lads, the football club, myself and the staff all worked really hard since the start of the season and I think you saw a really good team there today," Austin said. It is a second qualifying-round win in a fortnight for Harborough Town, who had beaten Southport 1-0 in the league the previous Saturday through Riley O'Sullivan.

Marine also went through, winning at Hartlepool United with a match-winner from 17-year-old James Potter, while Oxford City won at Torquay United — a result that has forced the postponement of their trip to Darlington on 7 November. Chorley drew 1-1 with Worcester City in front of 1,096 and travel to Sixways for a replay on Tuesday. South Shields lost 3-2 at FC Halifax Town, Morecambe went out 2-1 at AFC Rushden & Diamonds, and Spalding United drew 2-2 at home with Alvechurch, Dan Jarvis scoring twice before Miracle Okafor's late penalty.

League business carried on elsewhere. AFC Telford United beat Darlington 2-1 through a Kian Ryley winner; Scarborough Athletic won 2-0 at Hebburn Town; Radcliffe took a first away win and first clean sheet of the season, 2-0 at Southport, with loan arrival Ben Jackson and Jack Atkinson both debuting. Buxton recovered from 2-0 down to draw with Worksop Town, whose loan signing Mason Bennett scored inside a minute. Merthyr Town and King's Lynn Town drew, Ben Margetson scoring, while Hednesford Town beat Brackley Town 3-2.