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Manchester City win the Manchester derby for the FA Cup Final 2023, Wembley
Manchester City win the Manchester derby for the FA Cup Final 2023, Wembley | (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

Football | FA Cup | Second Round | Roundup

Robert Wheeler
Football

By Robert Wheeler

  • Maidstone shock Barrow
  • Eastleigh upset Reading
  • Horsham’s dream over
UK – The second round of the FA Cup saw some shock results which included non-league sides Maidstone United and Eastleigh both knocking out teams from the English Football League.

 

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Stones shock Barrow

Maidstone United of the National League South knocked out League Two side Barrow. It is the first time that the Stones have made it to the third round since 1988.

Maidstone were unlucky to fall behind after a mix-up at the back led to Ben Whitfield giving Barrow the lead. However, Sam Corne equalised before Bivesh Gurung fired in the winner from range.

The Kent team’s reward in the next round is a home tie against Stevenage or Port Vale.

Eastleigh upset Reading

Reading of League One were defeated by National League side Eastleigh. The Royals are struggling right now and made eight changes for this fixture but it is still a surprise result.

Eastleigh had led through Paul McCallum‘s goal but Reading equalised in the 86th minute through Femi Azeez. McCallum was the Spitfire’s hero as he then got a 94th-minute winner.

Richard Hill‘s side will play Newport County or Barnet in the third round.

Horsham’s dream is over

Horsham were only playing in the second round as Barnsley who had defeated them was chucked out for fielding an ineligible player.

However, the team from the Isthmian League had their remarkable run ended in a 3-0 defeat to Sutton United of League Two. Sutton travel to Plymouth Argyle in the next round.

Best of the rest

Gillingham beat local rivals Charlton Athletic 2-0. Macauley Bonne scored against his former club and Timothee Dieng got the other.

Ramsgate of the Isthmian League South East came unstuck against AFC Wimbledon at Plough Lane. The Rams were on the end of a 5-0 defeat.

The third round of the FA Cup gets underway on January 6, 2024.