Roundup of the first round of the 2026-27 FA Cup which delivered plenty of dramatic twists and cupsets.
This round saw the 48 teams across League One and League Two enter the competition alongside the 32 non-league clubs who progressed through qualifying to reach the first main phase of the cup, and the first round proved eventful with plenty of cupsets and drama.
Non League vs EFL
Lewis Fiorini’s extra-time penalty saw Stockport County avoid a cupset at seventh-tier Cray Wanderers with a 3-2 comeback victory, after Kyle Wootton and Mikael Mandron cancelled out goals from Sammie McLeod and Alex Hernandez, during which the Hatters’ Luca Ashby-Hammond was red carded.
Goals from Seung-woo Yang and Cameron Munn saw seventh-tier Wimborne stun League Two’s Crawley 2-0 at Wyatt Homes Stadium.
League Two’s Grimsby edged past Stafford Rangers 3-2 on penalties following a dramatic 3-3 draw after extra time, in which Darrahyl Mason struck twice and Jack Birch netted for the hosts whilst Harvey Rodgers, Maldini Kacurri and Geza David Turi delivered the Mariners’ goals.
Louis Page, Emil Riis, Kamari Doyle and Tommy Watson fired Leicester to a 4-2 win at sixth-tier Oxford City, whilst Scott Pollock and Josh Ashby netted for the hosts.
Callum Roberts salvaged a 2-2 draw for Notts County at Altrincham after Lucas Weaver and Lewis Banks put the fifth-tier team in front from behind following Jacob Bedeau’s opener for the Magpies, in a tie which eventually was won by County 3-2 on penalties in deep fog.
David Ajoboye’s deflected 44th-minute winner saw Carlisle knock out League Two leaders, Salford City in a 1-0 win at Brunton Park.
Braces from Nick Powell and Adam Phillips plus goals from Matthew Pennington, Will Swan and George Lapslie saw Bradford thrash Marine 7-0 at Valley Parade, whilst Marine’s Isaac Abankwah was red carded for a 54th-minute foul on Lapslie.
Cameron McGeehan’s hat-trick and Vimal Yoganathan’s brace plus goals from Reyes Cleary and Rylan Brownlie saw League One’s Barnsley thrash Aldershot 7-2 at Oakwell, whilst Anisius Lewis netted a consolatory brace for the visitors.
Morgan Fox’s brace and Jon Mellish’s opening goal saw 2013 winners, Wigan avoid a cupset at National League leaders, Boreham Wood with a 3-0 win.
Will Collar, Raphael Borges Rodrigues, Charlie Webster and Zak Scutt fired Burton Albion to a 4-0 home win over eighth-tier AFC Rushden and Diamonds.
Jake Evans and George Miller’s goals helped Cheltenham cruise past Halifax Town in a routine win.
Jayden Williams’ 32nd-minute strike fired Colchester past Worcester City.
Joel Randall’s 89th-minute winner saw Chesterfield snatch a 4-3 win over Yeovil, as Jack Simpson struck twice and Josh Koroma too netted for the Spireites whilst Slavi Spasov, James Daly and Hayden Muller netted Yeovil’s goals.
Isaac Fletcher struck a 87th-minute winner as Shrewsbury scraped past Eastleigh with a 2-1 away win, after George Lloyd’s opening goal was cancelled out by the hosts’ Will Randall.
Innes Cameron’s 92nd-minute finish saw National League’s Barrow scrape a 1-0 victory at League Two’s Gillingham.
Josh Bowler’s 118th-minute finish saw Blackpool complete a 2-1 comeback win at Hornchurch in extra time from behind after Jordan Brown’s volley cancelled out Henry Hearn’s opening finish.
Lewis Walker, Maz Kouhyar and David Davis fired National League’s Kidderminster Harriers to a shock 3-0 home win over League One’s Doncaster.
Idris El Mizouni’s brace plus goals from Armando Dobra, Aaron Connolly and Tony Springett saw Leyton Orient avoid a cupset as they beat Harborough Town 5-1 in East London.
First-half goals from Emilo Lawrence and Jordan Clark saw Luton cruise past Forest Green Rovers to a 2-0 win at Kenilworth Road.
Nathan Moriah-Welsh, Rhys Oates and Jordan Bowery fired Mansfield past Macclesfield to a 3-0 win at Field Mill, which denied the National League North club another fairytale cup run.
Will Evans’ brace coupled with goals from Michael Baidoo and Ronan Curtis saw Plymouth Argyle battle to a ruthless 4-0 home win over Alvechurch at Home Park.
Keyrol Figueroa, Onel Hernandez, Matt Watters and Oliver Lynch fired last season’s Quarter-Finalists, Port Vale to a 4-2 win over Scunthorpe United at home, as James Norwood and Declan Howe netted consolatory goals for the National League visitors.
EFL vs EFL
Karl Robinson suffered a difficult start to life as Bromley manager after the Ravens suffered a 2-0 home loss against Rotherham, in which Sonny Aljofree headed the Millers ahead on the cusp of half time before Tom Bradshaw’s 56th-minute strike settled the tie.
Charlie Cummins’ late finish saw League Two’s Exeter City stun League One’s Huddersfield in West Yorkshire with a 2-1 win, after Jack Taylor’s opening goal was cancelled out by the Terriers’ Ibane Bowat’s header.
Will Sutton’s 110th-minute header saw Oldham defeat Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 at Boundary Park, after Calum Kavanagh’s opener was cancelled out by Davis Keillor-Dunn.
Connor Taylor’s rebound finish and Daniel Harvie’s header saw Wycombe claim a 2-0 win at Accrington Stanley.
Late goals from Kane Smith, Nnamdi Ofoborh and Damola Ajayi saw Barnet cruise past Tranmere at The Hive.
Charlie McNeil’s strike and Conor Thomas’ header saw Crewe Alexandra beat League One’s AFC Wimbledon 2-1 despite a consolatory goal from Andy Yiadom.
Baba Adeeko’s 111th-minute strike saw Rochdale snatch a 2-1 win at Fleetwood Town in extra time, after Luke Hannant’s opening goal was cancelled out by Ronan Coughlan.
Early goals from Marvin Ekpiteta and Aaron Collins saw MK Dons beat Swindon 2-1 at Stadium MK, amidst Aaron Drinan’s consolatory effort for the visitors in first-half injury time.
Kion Etete’s brace and Michael Adu-Poku’s finish saw Newport County come from behind to eliminate Walsall, after Andrew Dallas fired the Saddlers into a seventh-minute lead.
Carl Piergianni’s fourth-minute header saw Stevenage edge past Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium in a clash between the League One rivals.
Jamie Reid’s brace plus goals from Daniel Kyerewaa, Jack Marriott and Charlie Savage saw Reading cruise to a 5-0 victory at Peterborough.
Second-half goals from Reiss Russell-Denny and Fabrizio Cavegn saw Bristol Rovers eliminate League One’s high-flying Cambridge United.
Ollie Pearce’s brace plus goals from Alex Hunt and Josh Stones fired York City to a 4-0 victory over fellow League Two opponents, Northampton Town.
Non League vs Non League
Nathan Odokonyero’s brace plus goals from Josh Hedges, Jeremy Sivi, Luke Russe and Jaiden Bartolo saw Salisbury thrash Sholing 6-0 to secure their second-round spot.
Comeback goals from Luca Thomas, Aaron Drewe, Tom Whelan and Millar Matthews-Lewis saw AFC Fylde come from behind to win 4-1 at Harrogate in a clash between the fifth-tier sides, after Will McGowan put the hosts into a ninth-minute lead.
Jack Bates’ first-half brace saw Dover clinically defeat Wealdstone 2-0 at the Crabble Athletic Ground.
Jordan Thewlis’ 95th-minute finish saw seventh-tier Guiseley scrape a 1-0 win over National League’s Sutton United.
Rocky Neal’s penalty brace saw Plymouth Parkway come from behind to beat fellow seventh-tier opposition, Berkhamsted 2-1 after extra time at Bolitho Park following Luke Andrews’ opener for the visitors.
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