Seventh-tier Wimborne Town pulled off a deserved FA Cup upset by beating League Two basement side Crawley 2-0 and reaching the second round for the first time. The Southern League Premier Division South club were worthy winners against opponents three tiers and 57 places above them.
Wimborne were only making their second-ever appearance in the first round, and Crawley's miserable season took another dip.
A gift and a goal
Seung-woo Yang curled a brilliant shot into the top-left corner early on. It came after a loose throw by former Sunderland goalkeeper Vito Mannone gifted possession to the home side, and Angel Diaz teed up Yang.
Mannone made amends shortly afterwards with a sharp save to stop Joe Smith doubling the lead before the break, after a long ball put Smith through on goal. It was a half of few chances.
Crawley run out of ideas
Crawley had plenty of possession after the break but made little of it. Kai Jennings fizzed a low shot across goal and just past the left-hand post, and Charlie Barker's low strike from the edge of the box curled the wrong side of the post. The visitors managed only two attempts on target all match.
The tiring hosts nursed their slender lead in relative comfort. Late on, a wayward shot from Jackson King deflected in off Cameron Munn to make it 2-0, and Wimborne almost added a third when another King piledriver was tipped over the bar by Mannone.
Another cup exit for Crawley
Three points adrift at the bottom of League Two, Crawley have now gone out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle for the fifth time in six seasons.
For Wimborne, a Dorset side from the seventh tier, the second round is new territory.
Match facts: Wimborne Town 2-0 Crawley Town, FA Cup first round, Sunday 8 November 2026. Goals: Yang (early), a late deflected goal off Cameron Munn. Wimborne reach the second round for the first time. Source: BBC Sport.
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