Roundup of the second round action in the 2025-26 FA Cup.
The 40 first-round winners entered this round knowing that victory would secure passage to the third round where Premier League and Championship clubs entered the competition, which set up the potential for cupsets and drama.
Non League vs EFL
Goals from Jeff King, Regan Booty and Matthew Rush saw Boreham Wood eliminate League Two’s Newport County 3-0 at Meadow Park.
Braces from Isaac Hutchinson and Jordan Thomas saw Cheltenham avoid a cupset at home to sixth-tier Buxton as they came from 2-1 down at half time to win 6-2, with Robbie Cundy and Ethon Archer also on the scoresheet whilst Taione Sodje and George Ward struck for the visitors.
Jaze Kabia’s brace plus goals from Kieran Green and Jamie Walker saw Grimsby cruise past National League’s Wealdstone in a 4-0 home win at Blundell Park.
John Marquis netted a 92nd-minute winner as Shrewsbury came from behind to beat Sutton 2-1 in extra time, after Ismeal Kabia equalised in injury time to cancel out Kai Jennings’ s 69th-minute opener, whilst Sutton’s David Ogbonna, Junior Eccleston and Shrewsbury’s Josh Ruffels were red carded.
Daniel Kanu’s 25th-minute penalty and Aden Flint’s strike saw Walsall cruise to a comfortable 2-0 victory at Gateshead.
Ashley Fletcher’s brace plus goals from Tom Bloxham and Scott Banks saw Blackpool comfortably avoid a cupset at home to National League’s Carlisle in a 4-1 win at Bloomfield Road.
Tyrese Shade’s hat-trick saw Burton Albion condemn National League’s Brackley Town to a first home defeat against EFL opposition in the FA Cup.
EFL vs EFL
League Two’s Salford City cruised past Leyton Orient to a 4-0 victory at the Peninsula Stadium through Killian Cahill’s own-goal to open the scoring in this round, before Kallum Cesay, Fabio Borini and Kelly N’Mai completed the result with second-half goals.
Fleetwood upset League One’s Luton 4-2 on penalties after the pair played out a 2-2 draw at Highbury, as Ethan Ennis twice put the Cod Army ahead amidst equalisers from Jerry Yates and Teden Mengi in regulatory time.
Aaron Drinan’s hat-trick saw Swindon thrash League One’s Bolton 4-0 at the County Ground, in which Joe Snowdon netted their second goal.
Joe Tomlinson, Liam Kelly and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing fired MK Dons to a comfortable 3-1 victory at home to League Two rivals, Oldham, as Luke Hannant netted a consolatory penalty for the Latics.
Mansfield avoided a cupset at Accrington with a 3-1 win on penalties following a 2-2 draw, in which Isaac Heath and Paddy Madden twice put the hosts ahead amidst equalisers from the Stags’ Will Evans and Kyle McAdam.
Jack Senior netted a 90th-minute winner to fire Doncaster to a comeback 2-1 victory at Chesterfield, after Odin Bailey cancelled out Lee Bonis’ 31st-minute opener just three minutes later whilst the Spireites’ John Fleck was red carded on the hour mark.
Ben Jackson and Michael Williams saw their penalties denied as Barrow lost 4-3 at League One’s Wigan on penalties following a 2-2 draw, in which James Carragher opened the scoring for the 2013 winners before Will Aimson salvaged the tie following comeback goals from Jack Earing and Niall Canavan for the League Two visitors.
Jack Aitchison’s brace plus goals from Akeel Higgins and Jayden Wareham saw Exeter cruise past Wycombe 4-0 in their all-League One tie.
Patrick Kelly netted a 73rd-minute winner as Barnsley scraped past Peterborough United.
Ben Waine rifled in a 47th-minute winner as Port Vale scraped past League Two’s Bristol Rovers to end the Pirates’ FA Cup run.
Cambridge United knocked out League One’s Stockport County 5-4 on penalties after a goalless draw at Edgeley Park, in which the hosts’ Owen Moxon was the only player to see his spot-kick saved in the shootout.
Non League vs Non League
James Edmondson and Regan Griffiths netted in extra time as Macclesfield won 3-1 at Slough after Daniel Elliott initially put them ahead from the spot following Kiki Oshilaja’s red card, only for Wiktor Makowski to then net a penalty for Slough to force the additional 30 minutes.
Louis Britton’s brace saw Weston-Super-Mare cruise to a 2-0 win at Chelmsford City to reach the third round for the first time in their history, whilst the hosts’ Taylor Clark was sent off in the 86th minute for a high foot on Charlie Cummins.
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