FA Cup round-up | Dulwich Hamlet, Cambridge and Chatham among big winners in first round qualifying
Dulwich Hamlet, Cambridge City and Chatham Town were among the Isthmian League sides who secured comprehensive victories in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup.
A first-half Ogo Obi hat-trick and Gaspar Mico’s late strike gave Hamlet a thumping 4-0 victory over East Grinstead Town at Champion Hill, while Cambridge City thrashed Maldon & Tiptree 6-1 at home.
Goals from Ryan Fryatt, Charlie Lewis, Fletcher Toll and Jayden Randell effectively sealed victory prior to Kai Redgrave’s consolation effort for the visitors. However, a second for Toll and Lewis Hayes’ 82nd minute strike added the finishing touches to a ruthless performance.
It was also a comfortable afternoon’s work for Chatham Town, who swept aside Isthmian South Central side Egham Town at the Runnymede Stadium.
A superb half-volley from Brad Stevenson set the Chats on their way, before second-half goals from Jack Lyons, Harry Lodovica and a second for Stevenson sealed a 4-0 victory for Kevin Hake’s side.
Saturday’s result saw the Chats bounce back from successive Isthmian Premier losses in style, consigning the Sarnies to back-to-back 4-0 drubbings in the process.
There were no such problems for Enfield Town or Leatherhead either, who beat Frenford and AFC Croydon Athletic respectively to move into the next round.
The Towners demonstrated a real difference in quality to beat Ilford-based Frenford 4-0 away from home, while the Tanners starred in front of their home fans at Fetcham Grove.
Ian Selley’s side secured a 3-0 triumph over the Rams, with James Dickson, Harry Murphy and Braiden Hill getting themselves onto the scoresheet.
It was a disappointing afternoon for the visitors, despite a step up in opposition, who will feel particularly aggrieved by a mistake for the first goal.
Continuing a horror start to the campaign, hosts Whitehawk lost a battle of two Isthmian Premier sides against Eastbourne Borough at The Enclosed Ground.
Despite a resolute comeback that allowed the Hawks to level after going two down early on, an incredible Kai Corbett free-kick on 73 minutes and Darren McQueen’s second five minutes later completed a 4-2 triumph for the Sports.
Another loss here heaps the pressure on Jay Lovett’s side, who are yet to win any of their opening seven matches this season.
It has been a similar story for Cheshunt, who failed to register their first win of 2026/27 on Friday evening.
The Ambers suffered a 4-2 loss to high-flying Aveley, despite pulling ahead twice at Parkside Stadium. A dramatic tie saw Brett Munyard’s team finally go ahead through skipper Ryan Henshaw’s header in the 88th minute, before Ollie Peters converted a penalty deep in stoppage time to put the match to bed.
Despite a winless start, this is actually just Cheshunt'’s second defeat of the season, having drawn five of their opening six league games.
The third and final battle of Isthmian Premier Division sides witnessed a quite remarkable draw at The Dripping Pan.
Hosts Lewes appeared dead and buried as the game entered stoppage time, trailing Cray Wanderers 2-0, but a late double from the returning Charlie Walker booked a part two of their first qualifying round tie.
The 36-year-old pulled one back after dinking over Wands goalkeeper Henry Molyneux, then headed in from Ben Mundele’s cross in the third of nine added minutes.
Over at Silver Jubilee Park, hosts Hendon emerged victorious in the highest-scoring tie of the round.
Isaac Stones’ hat-trick spearheaded a 7-3 win for the Dons against Hullbridge Sports, who certainly had their moments in the capital.
Elsewhere this weekend, Kieron Campbell’s late equaliser for Faversham Town secured a replay against Welling United, while Crowborough Athletic battled to a 1-1 draw with AFC Whyteleafe.
Elliott Duncan’s 82nd minute penalty levelled proceedings after Leafe’s opener 10 minutes earlier, as Ennio Gonnella’s men were left to rue a number of missed opportunities.
In their first taste of life under the newly-appointed Kevin Horlock, Canvey Island played out another 1-1 draw with Newmarket Town.
Jack Palmer’s opener for the Jockeys was cancelled out by Elliot Ronto’s header just before the break, yet neither side were able to find a winner in the second half at Park Lane. The Gulls will now travel to Cricket Field Road for the replay in midweek, bidding to give Horlock his maiden win in charge.
The draw for second round qualifying will be released at 1pm on Monday 7 September. Ties will take place over the weekend of Saturday 19 September.
All results involving Isthmian League sides* are listed below:
Results - FA Cup first round qualifying
AFC Portchester 2-1 Portland United
Ascot United vs Pagham (Sunday, 3pm kick-off)
Aveley 4-2 Cheshunt
Basingstoke Town 0-0 AFC Stoneham
Burgess Hill Town 0-0 Jersey Bulls
Cambridge City 6-1 Maldon & Tiptree
Canvey Island 1-1 Newmarket Town
Chertsey Town 1-1 Carshalton Athletic
Concord Rangers 0-0 Brentwood Town
Crowborough Athletic 1-1 AFC Whyteleafe
Dulwich Hamlet 4-0 East Grinstead Town
Egham Town 0-4 Chatham Town
Faversham Town 1-1 Welling United
Frenford 0-4 Enfield Town
Grays Athletic 0-0 Leiston
Hanworth Villa 4-1 Whitstable Town
Hayes & Yeading United 2-1 Camberley Town
Hendon 7-3 Hullbridge Sports
Leatherhead 3-0 AFC Croydon Athletic
Leighton Town 1-4 Gorleston
Lewes 2-2 Cray Wanderers
Margate 1-3 Snodland Town
Mulbarton Wanderers 3-0 Cornard United
Petts Wood & Holmesdale 1-5 Windsor & Eton
Ramsgate 1-0 Bracknell Town
Redhill 1-2 Sheppey United
SE Dons 2-0 Erith Town
Sittingbourne 3-4 AFC Greenwich Borough
Southall vs Cobham (Sunday, 3pm kick-off)
St Albans City 0-0 Hashtag United
Stanway Rovers 0-0 Needham Market
Three Bridges 0-1 Kingstonian
Ware 3-3 Fakenham Town
Westfield 1-1 Dartford
Whitehawk 2-4 Eastbourne Borough
Wingate & Finchley 0-0 Felixstowe & Walton United
Witham Town 3-2 Stotfold
Yaxley 1-1 Buckhurst Hill
*Bold signifies Isthmian League team