There were goals galore and a few upsets too as the Emirates FA Cup first round proper got into full swing with 34 fixtures being played out across a dramatic Saturday.
Macclesfield won a goal-fest at Moss Rose while there were famous wins for non-League outfits Boreham Wood, Carlisle United and Gateshead against league opposition.
Chelmsford City also claimed Essex bragging rights on what was a bumper day of cup action.
Non-League trio upset the odds
There was plenty of magic up and down the country and none more so than at Meadow Park, The Cherry Red Records Stadium and Select Car Leasing Stadium.
Regan Linney became an instant Emirates FA Cup hero at the latter, with a brilliant hat-trick to help Carlisle come from 2-0 down to beat Reading 3-2 in extra time.
Lewis Wing and Mark O’Mahony looked to have sent the Royals into the second round proper but Mark Hughes’ outfit responded in kind, with Linney scoring twice in stoppage time – including a 98th-minute equaliser.
Linney then completed a dramatic hat-trick in extra time with a low shot into the corner.
🐐 @ReganLinney1 pic.twitter.com/CXX8IEb2fC
— Carlisle United (@officialcufc) November 1, 2025
National League’s Boreham Wood made home advantage count as they upset League Two Crawley Town 3-0.
Matt Rush got his side off to a fast start on nine minutes before Zak Brunt added a second from the spot.
Abdul Abdulmalik put the game beyond doubt on 72 minutes as he grabbed his Boreham Wood’s third after Crawley’s Ryan Loft had earlier been sent off.
Second Round Proper bound ⏩#WeAreTheWood | #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/kuLIDCs1k6
— Boreham Wood FC (@BOREHAM_WOODFC) November 1, 2025
Elsewhere, Gateshead shocked League One outfit AFC Wimbledon 2-0 in front of over 5000 fans in south west London.
Having made the near 300-mile trip south, it was the Tynesiders who left with the spoils after goals from Kain Adom and Fenton John were enough to see off Mick Buckley’s men.
Macclesfield win out over AFC Totton in nine-goal thriller
Danny Elliott scored a hat-trick at Moss Rose as Macclesfield held on to win a see-saw Emirates FA Cup encounter against AFC Totton.
It was the Silkmen who took the lead of the all-sixth-tier tie after just six minutes when Elliott headed home Josh Kay’s cross but the National League South side responded three minutes later as Tony Lee was on hand to head home Craig Tanner’s in-swinging delivery.
Macclesfield retook the initiative through Elliott’s calm finish on the rebound after Matthew Hall’s save.
The Stags, whose director of football is former Premier League striker James Beattie, then turned the game on its head through Scott Rendell’s quickfire double – the second of which being a delectable volley.
However, the first half ended 3-3 thanks to Elliott completing his hat-trick after a well-worked Macclesfield move.
After a rip-roaring first 45 minutes, Macclesfield quickly got their noses in front after the break thanks to Paul Dawson’s strike.
Rollin Menayese’s close-range finish on 64 minutes gave the hosts a precious two-goal buffer, and Lewis Fensome rounded off the scoring 11 minutes from time to book Macclesfield’s place in the second round proper for the first time since the club reformed in 2020.
Chelmsford beat Braintree in Essex derby
In the day’s early kick-off, Chelmsford City put Essex rivals Braintree Town to the sword with a 4-1 win at Melbourne Stadium.
A derby win and through to the next round of the #EmiratesFACup ✅
The perfect day for @OfficialClarets manager, Angelo Harrop 🤩 pic.twitter.com/UM7C8Sq0BF
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) November 1, 2025
A brace from Lyle Taylor and goals from Jason Adigun and Jesurun Uchegbulam did the damage as the National League South side recorded a famous triumph against opposition a division above them.
Best of the rest
Elsewhere, Barnsley survived a potential scare against York City to come out on top 3-2, Burton Albion comfortably beat St Albans City 6-0 and National League North side Buxton saw off Isthmian League Premier Division Chatham Town 2-1.
A Michael Mellon hat-trick helped Oldham Athletic past Northampton Town while Newport County were one of three sides to win on penalties, beating Gillingham 4-3 after the game finished 2-2.
Michael Mellon signed on loan for the team his Dad manages, @OfficialOAFC on deadline day 🤝
Today, he scored a hat-trick, including a stunning overhead kick, to send them to the #EmiratesFACup second round proper 🏆 pic.twitter.com/dT2qvgrcMf
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) November 1, 2025
Also, Salford City beat Lincoln 4-2 via spot-kicks while League One Wigan Athletic survived a mighty scare against Hemel Hempstead, eventually winning 5-3 on penalties.
For a complete round up of today’s Emirates FA Cup First Round results, please see below:
Chelmsford City 4 -1 Braintree Town
AFC Wimbledon 0 – 2 Gateshead
Barnsley 3 -2 York City
Blackpool 1 – 0 Scunthorpe Utd
Bolton Wanderers 2 -1 Huddersfield Town
Boreham Wood 3 – 0 Crawley Town
Bromley 1 – 2 Bristol Rovers
Burton Albion 6 – 0 St Albans
Buxton 2 -1 Chatham
Cambridge United 3 – 0 Chester
Cheltenham 1 – 0 Bradford
Colchester 2 – 3 MK Dons
Crewe 1 -2 Doncaster Rovers
Fleetwood 2 -1 Barnet
Grimsby 3 -1 Ebbsfleet
Halifax 0 -2 Exeter
Macclesfield 6 – 3 AFC Totton
Mansfield Town 3 -2 Harrogate
Newport County 2 -2 Gillingham – Newport win on pens
Oldham 3 -1 Northampton
Peterborough 1 – 0 Cardiff
Reading 2 -3 Carlisle
Rotherham 1 – 2 Swindon
Salford 1 – 1 Lincoln – Salford win 4-2 on pens
Slough 2 -1 Altrincham
Spennymoor 0 – 2 Barrow
Stevenage 0 – 1 Chesterfield
Sutton 2 -1 Telford
Tranmere 1 – 3 Stockport
Wealdstone 1 – 0 Southend
Weston-super-Mare 2 – 1 Aldershot
Wigan 1 -1 Hemel Hempstead – Wigan win 5-3 on pens
Wycombe 2 -0 Plymouth
Brackley L-L Notts County
