Manager Steve Evans was furious at the “atrocious” penalty awarded against Stevenage after they drew 1-1 with Port Vale in the FA Cup second round.

Goal machine Jamie Reid put Stevenage ahead midway through the second half but the lead lasted only seven minutes before Funso Ojo equalised from the penalty spot.

Referee Tom Reeves judged Uche Ikpeazu was fouled by Terence Vancooten, leaving an angry Evans rueing a missed opportunity and adamant the referee got it wrong.

“If it was played at the bottom of my garden I’d have shut the curtains, that’s a great saying from Bill Shankley,” Evans said.

“It’s just the worst decision to give a penalty. It’s not the first time this referee’s done this to us.

“I’ve already spoken to somebody senior about it in the tunnel but we’ve got nothing other than an apology and we go to Port Vale a week on Tuesday.

“There’s no way we shouldn’t be going through on the basis of his decision. It’s atrocious. I’ll go and speak to him but I’ll get his usual rubbish that I normally get from him.

“Two of their players, I know them really well, and they said it’s not a penalty. He wins the ball really clearly.

“The referee comes from nowhere doesn’t he? And then gives a penalty. It’s as if as soon as the ball went into the box he was giving a penalty, that’s how I feel.”

Vale had goals ruled out for offside in both halves at a foggy Lamex Stadium.

Elliott List could only volley off target for the hosts while Ethan Chislett dragged wide of the mark down the other end in a quiet first half.

But striker Reid pounced on a fine Harvey White through ball to open the scoring in the 69th minute.

Dan Butler could have put the game to bed but he fired just over from the edge of the box and was made to pay.

“I thought it was the least we deserved. I was delighted with lots of aspects,” said Vale boss Andy Crosby.

“They’re having an unbelievable season and they’re a difficult opponent to play against.

“I thought the penalty was the least we deserved. I don’t think the resilience in this group should be in any doubt.

“They’re sticking together. We’re obviously going through a really challenging period in terms of results but this group are really close and tight and they kept going and got the least they deserved with an equaliser.

“The last time we were here we thought the referee [on that day] had missed the most blatant penalty, we then got a letter through from the PGMOL saying we should have had two penalties. Maybe it’s evened itself out. I’m not sure.”

Cambridge interim manager Barry Corr saw his side book a place in the third round of the FA Cup with a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Fleetwood in his first game in charge but said he does not expect to be in the dugout when the U’s return to league action next week.

Corr, who took temporary charge when manager Mark Bonner was dismissed on Wednesday, said the club was already in talks with prospective new coaches.

He will take training again on Monday, but said: “I spoke to Ben (Strang, Cambridge director of football) after the game. He’s had a couple of informal conversations and formal interviews will start next week.

“I’d imagine if the process moves quickly, the new manager could be in place for the Charlton game next Saturday.”

The U’s blew Fleetwood away with three goals in six first-half minutes from Danny Andrew, Elias Kachunga and Fejiri Okenabirhie, before substitute Gassan Ahadme wrapped up the scoring in the second half.

Corr said: “Fleetwood haven’t started well in the last couple of games, so we talked to the players about the importance of a fast start and the game was probably done after 15 minutes, even though I was still nervous in injury time.

“I thought our front four were unplayable at times today.”

Andrew opened the scoring in the seventh minute, curling in a free kick from 22 yards after Kachunga had been fouled by Bosun Lawal.

Four minutes later Kachunga was on target himself, following up to score when Sullay Kaikai’s shot rebounded off the post. Then in the 13th minute the impressive Kaikai set up Okenabirhie, who ran clear and finished confidently.

Brendan Wiredu put Fleetwood’s best chance wide from close range before the U’s missed a penalty in the 29th minute – Ahadme’s tame effort easily saved by Fleetwood goalkeeper Stephen McMullan after a foul on Kaikai by Lawal.

Ahadme made amends in the second half, converting Paul Digby’s 83rd-minute cross to complete the scoring.

Fleetwood’s leaky defence has now conceded 10 goals in three games and manager Lee Johnson apologised to the traveling fans for what was a meek performance.

Johnson said: “It was a crazy 15-minute spell at the start where the details were horrific in terms of our play. I picked a team that I believed could get on the front foot but we were out of sorts.

“I didn’t see that coming and 10 goals in a week is not acceptable. We’ve missed a massive opportunity to advance in the cup because I think Cambridge were beatable.”

Johnson bemoaned his side’s habit of conceding early goals. He said: “It’s been a problem all season and all we can do is get our heads down, fight, and do the basics right.”

Doncaster boss Grant McCann hit out at the officials and insisted the assistant referee “only has one job” after his side were beaten 2-1 by League One Peterborough in the FA Cup second round.

McCann’s men fell 2-0 behind thanks to strikes from Harrison Burrows and Ephron Mason-Clark but reduced the deficit through Mo Faal before Kyle Hurst hit a post in stoppage time.

Faal thought he had pulled one back earlier in the 69th minute but was denied by the offside flag, a decision that angered McCann.

He said: “Ultimately, we’ve lost but we were hard done by. Watching it back he’s two yards onside, Mo Faal. He’s actually behind the lad when Joe (Ironside) heads it.

“We just needed a bit of the rub of green away from home and we didn’t seem to get it.

“If we’d have scored there, that would have given us 30 minutes to equalise and with that time we would have gotten back into it.

“The man’s got one job and he’s managed to look down the line from the far side and flag it offside. I’m sure we’ll get an apology on Monday morning.

“It was a good performance from us. They’re flying high in League One but we more than matched them.

“Apart from the first 10 minutes, where we showed them too much respect, we grew into the game and looked strong.

“They’re one of the best teams in League One, if not the best. I told the players that if we play like that in our own league then we will be absolutely fine.”

Posh boss Darren Ferguson was relieved to see his side hold onto their lead despite some lax defending which saw Rovers gifted a number of clear-cut chances.

He added: “We didn’t play as well as we have been and we were off it a bit but to win when you don’t play well is a good habit.

“We had numerous occasions to just kill the game off but we didn’t and it was a proper cup tie when the boy scored. They threw everything at us, credit to them. We just managed to see it through.

“We got complacent after the first goal and we were too passive. Nick (Bilokapic) has made two really good saves. There’s one massive chance the boy really should score.

“We gave away too many clear-cut chances, more than we have in the last four or five games. But we had three or four really big opportunities to make it two.”

League Two Morecambe booked their place in the third round of the FA Cup with a comfortable 2-0 win at Wycombe.

Goals from Eli King and Tom Bloxham saw Morecambe stun a team 21 places above them in League One and make the third round in back-to-back years.

Wycombe controlled the opening half-hour, with visiting keeper Adam Smith twice called into action to save from Killian Phillips and Kian Breckin.

But Morecambe worked their way into the match and opened the scoring in the 38th minute as Adam Mayor’s corner drifted in under the crossbar, with King on hand to bundle the ball home on the goal line.

The goal gave the Shrimps a boost of confidence, and they doubled their lead after 56 minutes. Michael Mellon’s excellent floated cross found an unmarked Bloxham ghosting in at the far post to sidefoot home.

Wycombe manager Matt Bloomfield, who played the last time his side won a second-round tie, made a quadruple change, but it made no difference and Mellon could have added a third for Morecambe as they ran out easy winners.

Barnet boss Dean Brennan insisted an FA Cup replay against League Two Newport was the least his side deserved after Danny Collinge’s 89th-minute header earned the National League outfit a 1-1 draw at Rodney Parade.

The Bees are just 12 places below the Exiles in the football pyramid, but four successive defeats had derailed their promotion bid in recent weeks.

They looked full of confidence, however, as they took the game to their hosts on a bitterly cold south Wales afternoon.

Newport thought they had done enough to earn a place in the third round for the first time since 2021 as Shane McLoughlin put them 1-0 up in the 44th minute.

Bryn Morris hit a post with a free-kick before that goal and Omar Bogle was denied a second late on, but Barnet dominated possession all afternoon.

Nicke Kabamba saw one effort cleared off the line by Ryan Delaney and was also denied by goalkeeper Nick Townsend before Collinge headed in from close range to snatch a late draw.

“We deserved at least a draw, our performance was very strong,” said Brennan. “To come here and only give them one corner, that shows our dominance in possession – without having that killer punch. But we got it in the end with a deserved equaliser.

“Danny Collinge was immense, I thought he was the best player on the pitch – a real leader and he deserved that goal.

“The biggest thing for us was to stop the rot and show that character. We didn’t come here for a draw, we played expansive football and showed tons of bravery and we got our rewards.

“I’m delighted for the travelling fans. We’ve had a tough few weeks, but we kept going, kept believing in our philosophy and played some really good football.”

County manager Graham Coughlan was frustrated to see the win snatched away at the death, but he admitted Barnet were the better side.

“We are still in the cup,” said Coughlan. “We had chances to put the game to bed but we didn’t, they were better than us and we got out of jail.

“They put us under pressure and started the game right – their mentality was right and ours wasn’t.

“We had a long week, while they had the week off; they were fresh and we weren’t, but they also looked after the ball better than us.

“We kept turning the ball over and giving it away. We were very flat and tired and paid the ultimate penalty at the end of the game.

“It was a real stern test and we won’t be that bad when it comes to the next game at their place. We weren’t good.”

Bolton boss Ian Evatt is amazed by the goalscoring potential of his side after they strolled to a 5-1 win against Harrogate in the FA Cup second round.

After resting his first-choice front two of Dion Charles and Victor Adeboyejo, he saw replacement Jon Dadi Bodvarsson crash a first-half hat-trick and Dan Nlundulu add another two shortly after half-time.

That means Bolton have now scored 104 goals in 2023, levelling a club record that has stood since unchallenged since 1934.

“The two centre-forwards were excellent, they were the biggest plus of the day by miles,” he said.

“We made changes today but I have massive faith in the two of them, they are excellent players, and I thought at times today they were completely unplayable.

“Jon will probably get the headlines for the hat-trick but Dan was excellent, his work outside the penalty box was really pleasing too.

“We have got a very good group of strikers at this club and there are goals in every single one of them.”

Aside from Bodvarsson’s and Nlundulu’s goalscoring exploits, Evatt was nonplussed about his side’s performance overall.

Bolton had kept seven straight clean sheets in all competitions leading into the game, equalling a club record from 1900, but George Thomson’s strike before the break sent the counter back to zero.

“I’m not trying to nitpick,” he said. “But I thought overall it was OK. Nothing spectacular.

“I am happy with the result, happy we are through, but I thought we were a bit loose.

“We were sloppy at times and can be better. I was really disappointed with that goal because we wanted the record as our own, it was a really silly one to give away and I think it was coming at the time because we’d made some poor errors at times.”

League Two club Harrogate provided pockets of resistance but manager Simon Weaver was left feeling shortchanged by the performance.

“You have got to raise your game against top-end League One opposition,” he said. “Bolton are very strong, they have a great squad and I am sure they will be a Championship club next season. But I expected a lot more from our team. I thought we fell short and didn’t really lay a glove on them this afternoon.

“We weren’t without our opportunities. Other than the goal, we had plenty of opportunities to seize the moment and take advantage of, but we didn’t.

“There was maybe a lack of belief in the final third. But that takes a bit more poise, a bit more confidence and people grabbing the moment like Tommo did for his fine finish. Defensively, it was a shambles at times. Conceding five goals by 55 minutes it a source of great embarrassment.”

Sutton are into the third round of the FA Cup for the first time in seven years after a 3-0 victory over non-league Horsham.

Three second-half goals did the damage against a Horsham side who made life difficult for the League Two outfit at Gander Green Lane.

Sutton stopper Dean Bouzanis kept out John Brivio’s header while Horsham’s Lewis Carey did well to deny Dion Pereira, twice, and Harry Smith, with Joe Kizzi having a header cleared off the line.

Sutton squandered chances to lead as Smith and Aiden O’Brien both fluffed their lines by firing wide of the mark.

Pereira finally broke the deadlock in the 64th minute when he held off a challenge to shoot past Carey.

The on-loan winger doubled his tally 10 minutes later when he converted from Omari Patrick’s cross.

Patrick wrapped up victory in the 89th minute as he danced past two defenders and slotted home after a one-two with O’Brien.

National League South side Maidstone came from behind to stun League Two high-fliers Barrow 2-1 in the FA Cup.

A total of 46 places in the league pyramid separate the two sides, but Maidstone made it through to the third round draw thanks to Bivesh Gurung’s superb 74th minute winner.

Barrow threatened in the opening minute when Elliot Newby fired narrowly over the top and the visitors opened the scoring after 20 minutes when Ben Whitfield tapped home, after the Maidstone defence failed to clear Emile Acquah’s flick towards goal.

The Kent side levelled soon after when Sam Corne pounced on a loose ball in the box before drilling past Barrow goalkeeper Paul Farman.

Paul Appiah was inches away from adding a second for Maidstone just before the break.

Barrow threatened first in the second half when substitute Sam Foley volleyed off target following Whitfield’s pass.

However, Gurung smashed home from 20 yards to hand the hosts a shock win and a first place in the third round since their reformation in 1992.

Gillingham beat League One side Charlton 2-0 to progress to the third round of the FA Cup.

Former Addicks striker Macauley Bonne opened the scoring on 26 minutes before Timothee Dieng netted a second four minutes later.

Jonny Williams’ ball forward was taken down by Jayden Clarke and he was met by the onrushing Ashley Maynard-Brewer, but picked out Bonne on the edge of the box who swept home his fourth of the season.

It was another former Charlton man who set up the second, George Lapslie’s through ball finding Dieng whose first-time effort nestled in the bottom corner on the half-hour mark.

The midfielder almost put the Gills three up before half time but his free-kick whistled narrowly wide of the post.

Charlton, who arrived in Kent seven unbeaten in all competitions, barely troubled their League Two hosts after Alfie May’s effort was kept out by Jake Turner.

Stephen Clemence’s men held out in the second half to secure a second third-round appearance in succession after losing out narrowly to Leicester in round three 12 months ago.

Stevenage and Port Vale will do it all again in an FA Cup second-round replay after a 1-1 draw at an extremely foggy Lamex Stadium.

Goal machine Jamie Reid broke the deadlock with his 16th of the campaign for Stevenage but the lead lasted only seven minutes before Funso Ojo equalised from the spot.

Vale had goals ruled out for offside in both halves and they will host Boro a week on Tuesday.

Elliott List could only volley off target for the hosts while Ethan Chislett dragged wide of the mark down the other end in a quiet first half.

But striker Reid pounced on a fine Harvey White through ball to open the scoring in the 69th minute.

Dan Butler could have put the game to bed when he fired just over from the edge of the box.

Uche Ikpeazu was then brought down inside the area by Terence Vancooten and Ojo made no mistake from 12 yards as he bagged his first goal since September with 14 minutes to go.

Grant McCann’s return to London Road ended in defeat as Peterborough moved into the FA Cup third round with a 2-1 win against Doncaster after surviving a late fightback.

Harrison Burrows opened the scoring after just three minutes with an incredible piece of luck that saw his cross from the left sail over everyone and bounce into the top-right corner.

Kwame Poku and Ricky-Jade Jones both wasted great one-on-one opportunities to add to the lead in the first half but it was Ephron Mason-Clark, a McCann signing, that added the second after 53 minutes.

After picking up the ball on the right of the box, he cut inside and hit a brilliant curling effort right into the bottom corner.

The League Two side responded to the setback well and pulled a deserved goal back with 15 minutes to play when Mo Faal powered home a header from Joe Ironside’s cross.

Doncaster almost completed the comeback in stoppage time but Kyle Hurst’s volley crashed back off the post.

Danny Collinge’s 89th-minute header earned National League promotion hopefuls Barnet a 1-1 draw at League Two Newport in a tight FA Cup second-round tie.

A replay was the least the visitors deserved for an impressive display at Rodney Parade.

Wing-back Shane McLoughlin, who scored both goals in the Exiles’ first-round win over Oldham, looked like being the hero again for the Welsh side as he opened the scoring in the 44th minute.

McLoughlin, who now has five goals this season, was in the right place to tap in a cross from fellow defender James Clarke.

Barnet, just 12 places below their opponents in the pyramid, enjoyed plenty of possession and caused County problems with their set-pieces.

The home side went close just before the opening goal as Bryn Morris cracked a free-kick against the post and Will Evans headed inches wide.

Ryan Delaney denied Barnet’s Nicke Kabamba with a goal-line clearance after the break and goalkeeper Nick Townsend saved from the Bees striker late on, before Collinge’s late intervention secured the visitors a replay.

Three goals in six first-half minutes set Cambridge on the way to a dominant 4-0 win over Fleetwood as they booked a place in the third round of the FA Cup.

The U’s, with Barry Corr in caretaker charge following the sacking of manager Mark Bonner on Wednesday, never looked back after Danny Andrew opened the scoring in the seventh minute.

Andrew curled in a free kick from 22 yards, awarded after Elias Kachunga had been fouled by Bosun Lawal.

Four minutes later Kachunga was on the scoresheet himself, netting from close range after Sullay Kaikai’s shot had hit the post.

In the 13th minute, Kaikai set up Fejiri Okenabirhie who ran clear and finished confidently.

Brendan Wiredu put Fleetwood’s best chance wide from close range before the U’s missed a penalty in the 29th minute. Gassan Ahadme’s tame effort from the spot was easily saved by Stephen McMullan after a foul on the lively Kaikai by Lawal.

Ahadme made amends in the second half, converting Paul Digby’s 83rd-minute cross to complete the scoring

Des Buckingham enjoyed a first win as Oxford manager as the League One side reached the third round by beating League Two opponents Grimsby 2-0.

The Mariners were unable to repeat last season’s cup exploits when they became the first club in the competition’s history to knock out five teams from higher divisions on their way to the quarter-finals.

Marcus McGuane fired Oxford ahead in the 11th minute and Billy Bodin got the second 15 minutes from time.

Grimsby were the architects of their own downfall as Oxford’s opener came from their own corner. Josh Murphy raced 60 yards and although Harvey Cartwright parried his drive, McGuane followed up to score.

Otis Khan had two half-chances for Grimsby in the first half and with 20 minutes to go Donovan Wilson was denied by James Beadle’s low save.

Cartwright was much the busier, saving from Stan Mills, twice, and Ruben Rodrigues. The visiting keeper also saved superbly from Bodin and Tyler Goodrham’s drive.

But he could do nothing to stop Bodin nodding in Cameron Brannagan’s chipped cross in the 75th minute to seal Oxford’s progress.

Jon Dadi Bodvarsson struck a first-half hat-trick as Bolton breezed into the third round of the FA Cup with a 5-1 win against Sky Bet League Two side Harrogate.

The Icelander last claimed the match ball for Reading in a 3-0 win against Stevenage five years ago and this time triggered a ruthless performance which took Bolton to a club record 104 goals for the calendar year.

Gethin Jones and Will Forrester conspired for Bodvarsson’s first in the ninth minutes, and his second was down to some unselfish work from Dan Nlundulu just after the half-hour mark.

The hat-trick goal was stabbed in from close range after goalkeeper Jonathan Mitchell failed to keep hold of Carlos Mendes Gomes’ stinging shot.

George Thomson ended Bolton’s seven-game streak of clean sheets with a curled 20-yard shot before the break but Nlundulu quickly ended any hopes of a comeback with two delightful finishes shortly after the restart.

Town keeper Mitchell denied Nlundulu and Kyle Dempsey before the end but it proved to be a most comfortable afternoon for the League One promotion chasers.