There were no giant killings in the ten Emirates FA Cup ties on Sunday but there were plenty of heroics as National League side Hartlepool came from 2-0 down to force a replay and non-League Boston held Rochdale.
Hartlepool’s fightback was all the more impressive as it came away from home at Exeter, who found themselves 2-0 up thanks to headers from Ryan Bowman and Pierce Sweeney.
But the men from the north east came out of the blocks fizzing after the break and reduced the arrears with Nicky Featherstone’s 25-yard rocket on 73 minutes.
That set up an exciting finish and Nicke Kabamba delivered the goods to tap in a rebound six minutes later and earn a deserved replay at Victoria Park.
Meanwhile Boston’s draw at League One outfit Rochdale had decidedly less goals at 0-0, but will be no less celebrated by the National League North Club.
Boston dominated for long periods at Spotland and could have won it through Andi Thanoj, while goalkeeper Peter Crook denied excellent efforts from Rhys Norrington-Davies and Ollie Rathbone.
There would be no such fairytale for eighth tier Chichester City, who went down 5-1 at Tranmere Rovers with Morgan Ferrier netting an 11-minute hat-trick.
If ever there was a game that encapsulated a dam-breaking this was it, with Chichester amazingly holding off the League One side for more than an hour – with all six goals coming after 62 minutes.
The goal of the round likely came in the East Midlands, as Peterborough’s Ivan Toney walloped one in from all of 35 yards after just seven minutes against Dover Athletic.
Frankie Kent and Mo Eisa then sealed the 3-0 win late on as the League One high-fliers booked their place in the third round draw.
Northampton reached the third round for just the second time in 14 years, by beating Notts County 3-1 and earning their seventh win from eight games thanks to goals from Scott Wharton, Vadaine Oliver and Harry Smith.
It was the same scoreline on the north west coast as Blackpool downed Maidstone United by 3-1, while Gillingham overpowered Doncaster Rovers 3-0.
Elsewhere, Fleetwood Town got the only away win of the day - 2-1 at Crawley Town - while Coventry drew 1-1 with Ipswich and Bristol Rovers and Plymouth Argyle recorded the same scoreline.
The draw for the third round takes place at 7pm on Monday night, while the final second round game between Solihull Moors and Rotherham United follows.
Meanwhile, on Saturday a quickfire hat-trick from Port Vale's Tom Pope was one of the standout moments from the second-round action.
Pope netted a stunning nine-minute hat-trick to complete a second-half comeback against Cheltenham Town and book a place in the third round where the big guns will enter the fold.
Carlisle United and Forest Green Rovers need a replay to decide their second-round tie after playing out a 2-2 thriller at The New Lawn.
Isthmian Premier Division side Kingstonian were unable to make it into the third round as they were eliminated following a 2-0 defeat at the hands of AFC Fylde.
A Jordan Williams double before half time put the Coasters into the third round for the first time ever in their history.
Elsewhere 2008 winners Portsmouth knocked out Altrincham in dramatic style as a late Brett Pitman winner gave them a 2-1 victory.
Pompey will have the opportunity to face top-flight opposition once again as Pitman sealed the deal after ben Close’s superb volley had put them ahead but Josh Hancock levelled the scores from the spot.
And there were also wins for Burton Albion who won 1-0 at Oldham Athletic and Shrewsbury Town who beat Mansfield Town 2-0.
Meanwhile on Friday night, FA Cup expert Padraig Amond ensured Newport County squeezed past Maldon & Tiptree with a last-gasp header in Essex.
Amond’s goal means he has now scored for the eighth successive round of the competition – the second-best streak of any player in the competition’s history with only former Blackpool striker Stan Mortensen bettering that record with 12.
