Saturday 7 November 2015 21:49, UK
Vanarama National League sides Altrincham, Forest Green and Eastleigh produced giant-killing performances in the opening round of the FA Cup.
Altrincham had beaten league opposition on 16 previous occasions, but the last of those came 21 seasons ago when Wigan were their victims.
On this occasion it was League One strugglers Barnsley who were the visitors to the J Davidson Stadium, and they were defeated 1-0 by a goal from prolific striker Damian Reeves seconds after half-time.
Eastleigh's victory came at the expense of League One's bottom side Crewe, who were beaten 1-0 at Gresty Road on a nightmare day for their goalkeepers.
Crewe had regular No 1 Ben Garratt dismissed on 63 minutes for a foul outside the box on striker Yemi Odubade.
Garratt's replacement Danijel Nizic then brought down Ross Lafayette to hand the Spitfires a 75th minute penalty, and Ben Strevens made no mistake from the spot to score what turned out to be the game's only goal.
The most dramatic finish came at Kingsmeadow, where Forest Green snatched a 2-1 win over AFC Wimbledon with a goal from Elliott Frear three minutes into added time.
League Two side Wimbledon went 1-0 down in the sixth minute when Darren Carter struck for Rovers, but Callum Kennedy levelled the scores on 24.
A replay appeared to be on the cards, but National League leaders Forest Green claimed a place in the second-round draw when Frear lashed home a superb winner with seconds remaining on the clock.
A shock looked possible for a while at Grosvenor Vale, but Wealdstone were eventually beaten 6-2 by Colchester, with Macauley Bonne scoring four of the U's goals.
Bonne put Colchester in front on 26 minutes, but Wealdstone responded well to take the lead with goals from Jefferson Louis (31) and Bradley Hudson-Odoi (38).
The rest of the game proved to be all Bonne for Colchester, with the 20-year-old Academy product scoring three more goals on 44, 47 and 68 minutes before George Moncur added a fifth eight minutes from time and Marvin Sordell wrapped up the scoring in added time.
Jackie McNamara made a losing start as York boss as Accrington claimed a 3-2 victory, while Cambridge edged Basingstoke.
Elsewhere, Leyton Orient had no trouble in disposing of Ryman Premier League opposition, running out 6-1 winners over Staines Town.
The game was over within 13 minutes at the Matchroom Stadium, Ollie Palmer scoring twice and Dean Cox sandwiching Palmer's goals. Darren Purse responded for Staines but Cox grabbed a second on 33 and John Marquis and Sean Clohessy wrapped up the rout with goals in added time.
Worcester City's dreams of a shock at Bramall Lane came unstuck with goals from Jose Baxter - a 19th minute penalty - Connor Sammon (81) and Kieran Freeman (90) enough to secure a 3-0 win for Sheffield United.
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing helped himself to a hat-trick for Rochdale in a 3-1 win over Swindon Town, Martin Ling tasting defeat on his return as Swindon manager, and Conor Washington scored twice for Peterborough as they eased past Burton Albion 3-0.
League One player of the month Aiden O'Brien was on the scoresheet as Millwall avoided a first-round shock by beating National League North high-flyers AFC Fylde 3-1 at The Den.
Wigan Athletic, who won the FA Cup as recently as 2013, crashed out at the first hurdle this season as they were thrashed 4-0 by Bury in a local derby at Gigg Lane. Tom Pope (18), Danny Mayor (34), Nathan Cameron (45) and Leon Clarke (65) were on target for the Shakers.
There was a shock at the Ricoh Arena, where Coventry City were beaten 2-1 by their former landlords Northampton Town. The Cobblers, in financial trouble themselves, took the lead through Zander Diamond (5) and Marc Richards scored their winner on 18 after Jacob Murphy had equalised.
Gillingham are also going well in League One, but their FA Cup campaign is already over after goals from Steven Schumacher, Chris Whelpdale and Armand Gnanduillet gave Teddy Sheringham's Stevenage a 3-0 win.
Barnet also provided an upset of sorts by seeing off struggling League One outfit Blackpool with goals from Tom Champion and Michael Gash sealing a 2-0 victory, while Josh McQuoid sealed a late Luton win at Crewe.
There will be other non-league sides in the hat for Monday's draw, with Welling United beating Barwell 2-0, Stourbridge shocking in-form Dover Athletic 2-1, Grimsby thrashing St Albans City 5-1 and Northwich Victoria playing out a 1-1 draw with Boreham Wood.
