By Matt Bishop
Nantwich Town and Billericay Town safely reached the FA Cup first round proper after tight wins over Kettering Town and Brackley Town.
Northern Premier League club Nantwich edged past their Southern League Premier Division rivals Kettering Town 1-0, with Harry Clayton’s solitary goal midway through the first half enough to secure the win.
However, the Dabbers were were indebted to ‘keeper Will Jaaskelainen, as he dived low to his left to brilliantly save Aaron O’Conner’s 89th minute penalty, and secure next month’s away tie at League Two Stevenage.
Big-spending Billericay were the only other seventh-tier side to make it through Tuesday’s nine replays, as they held on to beat Brackley 2-1 away from home.
After Saturday’s thrilling 3-3 draw, ex-Wrexham skipper Rob Evans and ex-Barnet and Oxford man Sam Deering both scored for Glenn Tamplin’s side, meaning they will travel to Leatherhead in the first round in November.
?? Some brilliant ties for the #NonLeague clubs! #EmiratesFACup https://t.co/Bfa0LyZUxr
— The Non-League Paper (@NonLeaguePaper) October 17, 2017
National League North side Chorley snuck past league rivals Boston United in a thrilling encounter, winning 4-3 after extra time – use Bet365 bet credits to see if they can continue their cup run.
After a breathless 90 minutes, which saw the game end 3-3, Fleetwood loanee Nick Haughton scored a dramatic winner in the 111th minute to set up a intriguing tie with his parent club in the first round.
The lowest ranked side still left in the FA Cup, Ossett Town, saw their brilliant run ended at National League strugglers Solihull Moors.
The eighth-tier Northern Premier League Division One North side went down 2-1 at Damson Park, with Moors getting League One Wycombe Wanderers in the next round.
Elsewhere fifth-tier Bromley comfortably swept Dover aside, winning 3-0, and Woking won 2-1 at National League South side Concord Rangers.
After being lucky to escape with a draw on Saturday, Ebbsfleet defeated sixth-tier East Thurrock United 3-0, Macauley Bonne scored the only goal as Leyton Orient edged past Dagenham and Redbridge 1-0 and Maidstone United won 3-1 at seventh-tier Enfield Town, having so nearly crashed out of the competition on Saturday.
