Dale Eve’s Spennymoor Town advanced to the third qualifying round of the Emirates FA Cup after beating AFC Fylde 1-0 in a replay last night at home.

Glen Taylor’s first-half penalty eventually separated the two sides, but Eve was another hero for Spennymoor when he made a brilliant point-blank save early in the second half to deny the visiting side.

The match report stated that Eve’s save left most spectators stunned — and a number of Fylde players, too — when a curling free kick into the box was headed into the air before it dropped to winger Ben Tollitt about four yards from goal. Eve spread himself and somehow managed to palm away the half-volley.

The win ensures a meeting with Southport in the next round.

Reggie Lambe’s Stowmarket Town lost their Cup replay against Sudbury when Romario Dunne scored a 90th-minute winner against the run of play to take the visitors through to the next round.

In Northern Ireland, Jonté Smith’s Ballymena United won 2-0 against Harland & Wolff Welders in the first round of the Toals Co Antrim Shield.

Smith was substituted in the 68th minute, with his replacement, Paul McElroy, opening the scoring two minutes later. They sealed the win with a second goal from a free kick in the 78th minute. by Ryan Waide.

Meanwhile in the Vanarama National League, Justin Donawa was an unused substitute as Solihull Moors kept their first clean sheet of the campaign last night, but in a disappointing draw away to bottom club Dover Athletic.