The FA Trophy Third Round sees surprise upsets with some National League sides getting dumped out as the competition intensifies.
The 2021–22 competition is the 53rd season of the FA Trophy, an annual football competition for teams at levels 5-8 of the English National League System.
The campaign consists of three qualifying rounds, and seven proper rounds. Teams from level 8 enter into the first qualifying round and second qualifying round, level 7 into the third qualifying round, level 6 (the National League North and National League South) into round 2, and level 5 (the National League) into round 3.
All matches will be in a single-match knockout format, with the winner decided by penalties if the match was drawn after 90 minutes, apart from the Final where the winner will be decided by extra-time and penalties if the match is drawn.
This is the same format as the 2020–21 season which was a change from previous seasons where replays were used and where the semi-finals were scheduled as two-legged.
On Saturday afternoon, there were four upsets with two teams from the top tier of non league getting beaten by sides in a lower division.
Winners from the ties played out will receive £4,500, however the losers will pick up £1,250.
The biggest cupset came at Plymouth Parkway, with the Southern League Division One South side continuing their best ever run in the competition by beating Dulwich Hamlet of the National League South.
After beating Hampton & Richmond Borough in the previous round, the Step 4 side claimed another shock by pulling off a penalty shoot-out win, causing wild scenes at Bolitho Park.
River Allen put the hosts ahead with a spot kick on the 15th minute, and held on to that lead up until injury time of the second half when Alpha Diallo got Hamlet’s equaliser.
It went down to the dreaded penalty shootout and Plymouth Parkway won 4-3 on penalties causing the home team’s player to sprint in celebration.
— GravyDavey (@GravyDavey3) December 19, 2021
Meanwhile, 2021 National League playoff finalists Torquay United put in a bleak performance to lose away at Tonbridge Angels.
The National League South hosts showed that they were up for a shock when going ahead through Joe Turner on the 9th minute.
Gary Johnson’s side got one back on the 35th minute after Little chipped the ball up for an advancing Danny Wright who slots past Henly to equalise.
Angels battled on hard, and their hard work earned them the winner with Ibraham Olutade making it 2-1 on the 86th minute.
💙 | The winning feeling… pic.twitter.com/k5hW3LKDzg
— Tonbridge Angels (@tonbridgeangels) December 18, 2021
There were two other upsets, with another National League side losing their place, Wealdstone falling to a 2-1 defeat at Southern League Premier Division Central outfit Needham Market, whilst Stourbridge of the Southern League Premier Division Central played out a thrilling 3-2 victory against National League North’s AFC Telford United.
FA TROPHY THIRD ROUND RESULTS:
AFC Fylde (0) 0-1 (1) Solihull Moors
Aldershot Town (0) 2-1 (1) Kingstonian
Barnet (2) 2-3 (2) Boreham Wood
Boston United (2) 4-1 (0) Kidderminster Harriers
Cheshunt (0) 0-0 (0) Bishop’s Stortford – Cheshunt win 4-3 on penalties
Cray Wanderers (0) 1-3 (3) Dartford
Curzon Ashton (1) 1-3 (0) Alfreton Town
Dover Athletic (0) 0-1 (1) Bromley
Eastleigh (2) 5-0 (0) Enfield Town
Farsley Celtic (0) 0-3 (1) Southport
Folkestone Invicta (0) 2-0 (0) Uxbridge
Hungerford Town (0) 0-1 (0) Weymouth
King’s Lynn Town (1) 2-1 (1) Nantwich Town
Larkhall Athletic (0) 2-1 (1) AFC Totton
Matlock Town (0) 0-1 (0) York City
Morpeth Town (1) 3-3 (2) Lancaster City – Morpeth Town win 5-3 on penalties
Needham Market (2) 2-1 (0) Wealdstone
Notts County (2) 2-1 (1) Altrincham
Plymouth Parkway (1) 1-1 (0) Dulwich Hamlet – Plymouth Parkway win 4-3 on penalties
Radcliffe (0) 0-1 (0) Spennymoor Town
Slough Town (2) 3-1 (0) Eastbourne Borough
Southend United (1) 2-1 (1) Dorking Wanderers
St Albans City (0) 0-0 (0) Braintree Town – St Albans City win 6-5 on penalties
Stockport County (2) 4-0 (0) Grimsby Town
Stourbridge (0) 3-2 (1) AFC Telford United
Tonbridge Angels (1) 2-1 (1) Torquay United
Wrexham (2) 5-0 (0) Gloucester City
Yeovil Town (0) 3-1 (1) Woking
SUNDAY – Truro City v Dagenham & Redbridge
When Villa away is postponed, leave it to @StourbridgeFC to grab a 93rd minute winner in the FA Trophy vs Telford… What a game 🤣 pic.twitter.com/SZQgGF2Vtp
— Cat (@JordanCatlow) December 19, 2021
Brilliant from #ppfc Dominated most of the game. Had all the best chances Should not have needed penalties. What a day at the football! pic.twitter.com/huf9F56Njx
— Barrie Wood (@TamarSports) December 18, 2021
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