Wimborne advanced in the FA Cup after a commanding 4-1 victory, led by Joe Smith, who scored a hat-trick to secure the win. The Magpies opened the scoring in the 15th minute when Smith converted a penalty awarded after Cam Sullivan was fouled in the box. The visitors doubled their lead just before halftime, with Max Bustamante’s deflected half-volley finding the back of the net. In first-half stoppage time, Bustamante assisted Smith, but the striker’s finish was thwarted by a boggy pitch.
Max Davies pulled one back for the hosts, marking his third goal in consecutive games, but Wimborne quickly restored their two-goal advantage as Smith chipped Freddie Godden. Despite pressure from Taunton in the closing stages, Wimborne maintained control and saw out the match comfortably.
Whitehawk overcame league difficulties with a penalty shootout win over St Albans following a thrilling 3-3 draw. The match, the first under new manager Rob Kember, featured notable moments, including Rhys Murphy having a goal disallowed for offside. Whitehawk took the lead through Liam Moore, and Junior Nkwonta nearly doubled the advantage with a shot tipped over the bar.
St Albans fought back with two quick goals from Kai Brown, who capitalized on a rebound and produced a precise finish, putting the visitors ahead. Whitehawk equalized through Kamarni Ryan in the 73rd minute, and Murphy scored again to regain the lead with nine minutes remaining. In the 89th minute, St Albans earned a penalty, but Zane Benton’s initial effort was saved; he then scored on the rebound, sending the match to penalties. After both sides converted their opening attempts, Whitehawk’s Nikolai Krokhin secured victory in sudden death when the visitors missed their shot.
Weymouth narrowly escaped defeat against Sholing in a match played amid severe weather on the south coast. In a dramatic finale, Sholing were awarded a penalty in stoppage time after Dan Mason was fouled, but Weymouth captain Jake McCarthy’s spot-kick struck the bar. Weymouth had taken the lead early through Lewis Beardmore, who scored from a free-kick, and were aided by goalkeeper Cam Plain’s saves against Ben Seymour and Jay Murray.
The closing minutes were marked by intense action, including a red card for Freddie Godden, who was dismissed following an altercation with the referee after a penalty was awarded for a foul by Davies. Sholing’s Fin Toghill also missed a penalty when his shot hit the crossbar. With the match balanced on a knife edge, Jack Rice’s penalty was saved, and Weymouth ultimately secured the win with a late goal from Cam Munn.