Gareth Dean’s second-half goal prevented Hanley Town from pulling off the biggest upset of the round as Brackley Town held the Midland League Premiership Division side to a 1-1 draw.
Playing in the Emirates FA Cup third qualifying round for the first time in their history, Hanley took the lead on 35 minutes with a strike from Louis Dodds at Potteries Park.
But Northamptonshire-based Brackley, who are currently second in National League North - three divisions above their hosts, responded through Dean to level on 56 minutes.
Hanley were then reduced to 10 men for the final five minutes when Ryan Shotton saw red but the lowest-ranked team left held on to keep their Emirates FA Cup dream alive.
Carl Dickinson’s side are the only club remaining in the competition who entered in the extra-preliminary round, winning five games on the bounce to get to the third qualifying round.
They now face a replay at Brackley on Tuesday to decide who will progress and player-manager Dickson admitted he could not be prouder of his players upon the final whistle.
“I thought we were excellent first half and couldn’t just keep them at bay,” he said. “But thank you to everyone for coming and cheering us on, it means a lot. We go again Tuesday.”
Ole Ole Ole Ole PONTE PONTE! 🎶 pic.twitter.com/OXAkrGSF72
— Ponte Colls FC (@PonteCollsFC) October 2, 2021
Pontefract Collieries were also making their Emirates FA Cup third round qualifying debut against Handsworth Town, with both sides attempting to reach the fourth qualifying round for the first time.
But the Northern Counties East League Premier Division side were no match for the hosts, who romped to an emphatic 6-0 success as Vaughan Redford bagged a brace.
Jack Greenhough, Spencer Clarke, Eli Hey and Scott Smith also scored for the Northern Premier League Division One East outfit as they registered their biggest ever win in the competition.
Elsewhere, Frome Town’s fairytale run came to an end at the hands of Bath City, who produced a five-star display at Twerton Park to secure their place in the fourth qualifying round.
The Robins had already beaten National League South opposition Oxford City in the previous round but rarely troubled City in a one-sided clash as the hosts prevailed 5-0.
Alex Fletcher opened the scoring from Elliott Frear’s 16th-minute cross before Frome spurned two good chances to equalise as Murphy Mahoney denied Jon Davies and George Rigg.
Jack Batten extended the Romans’ lead on 39 minutes as the hosts took a 2-0 advantage into the break before Frear got himself on the scoresheet two minutes after the restart.
Cody Cooke made it four on 64 minutes when he steered home Eddie Jones’ cross and he wrapped up a comfortable victory with his second goal on 83 minutes.
The goal of the round was scored by Jack Newell as his incredible 30-yard volley found the top corner as Bromsgrove Sporting beat Welwyn Garden City 1-0 to progress.
FROM THERE?! 💥#EmiratesFACup @SportingFC pic.twitter.com/qXxZLGZijd
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) October 2, 2021
Southern League Division One Central side Welwyn play one level below Sporting but they more than held their own until Newell’s remarkable match-winning strike in the 50th minute.
His effort did face some stiff competition from Corinthian-Casuals' Kieron Cadogan, who scored from the halfway line as his side were held to a 1-1 draw by Wingate & Finchley.
Meanwhile, Morpeth Town cruised past league rivals Radcliffe FC with a 3-1 win as goals from Michael Turner, Liam Noble and Joe Walton found the net at the Neuven Stadium.
It’s the first time in 23 years that the Highwaymen have reached this stage of the competition and they are now 90 minutes away from the Emirates FA Cup first round proper.
Fellow Northern Premier League side Buxton FC showed no mercy against City of Liverpool as they secured their safe passage with a dominant 6-1 victory at Ellesmere Port.
Marine kept their hopes of emulating last season’s run to the third round proper – where they lost against Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham Hotspur – alive with a 0-0 draw at Atherton Collieries.
There were also impressive wins for Curzon Ashton, Boston United, Dartford, Yate Town and Hampton & Richmond Borough while Bedfont Sports Club played out a dramatic 3-3 draw with Sholing FC.
For the full list of all results, click here.
