Carragher ends drought, Fabio Borini cameo and wonder goal at Slough – FA Cup second-round magic moments you may have missed

With so much action across the weekend, it is understandable that some moments may have gone under the radar. So, here is a recap of some of the best stories.

The Carragher drought is finally over

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher was never renowned for his goals. But you would think he must have found the net at least one in the FA Cup during a 19-year professional career that saw him win the trophy twice. Not so.

One-club man Carragher made 40 appearances in England’s premier cup competition but never found the net – at least for his own side, that is. He did inadvertently score an own goal in the 2006 final in Cardiff, when Liverpool beat West Ham.

Anyway, the Carragher family can finally celebrate a goal at the right end in the FA Cup after Jamie’s son James – unsurprisingly, also a centre-back – scored for Wigan Athletic against Barrow. It wasn’t a classic by any means, but that just makes it all the more Carragher.

James ends Carragher family wait for FA Cup goal

Video credit: TNT Sports

Fabio Borini – at Salford City?!

When Fabio Borini left Sunderland for AC Milan in 2017, initially on loan and then on a permanent deal, we thought we had seen the last of him on these shores. And then, out of nowhere, there he was – Fabio Borini, aged 34, coming off the bench for League Two side Salford City.

He marked an 11-minute cameo by scoring Salford’s third as they cruised past Leyton Orient with a 4-0 victory.

Last season, they were thumped 8-0 by neighbours Manchester City in the third round, so hopefully, the draw is a little kinder to them this time around.

‘What a performance!’ – Borini bundles home Salford’s third to seal ‘convincing’ FA Cup upset

Video credit: TNT Sports

Non-league dreamers in hat after wonder goal

The football gods ensured we would have at least two sixth-tier sides in the hat for the third round draw after pitting National League North/South sides Chelmsford City and Weston-super-Mare, and Slough Town and Macclesfield, against each other in the second round.

For the first time in their history, Weston-super-Mare will appear in the third round after a 2-0 win on the road, prompting wild scenes of delight.

Louis Britton struck twice in the second half as the visitors claimed a precious victory in Essex.

Meanwhile, an absolute wonder winning goal helped Macclesfield into the third round.

James Edmonson curled an absolute beauty into the net from distance in extra-time as Macclesfield saw off Slough.

Edmonson’s goal put Slough 2-1 ahead in extra-time, and Regan Griffiths added a third late on as the visitors claimed a 3-1 victory.

Former Tottenham and England great Glenn Hoddle, part of the TNT Sports commentary team at the game, was clearly stunned by the quality of the strike.

Hoddle said: “What a goal. That left foot comes alive. My word, what a finish. You cannot get that in a better position. That is quality. No goalkeeper in the world stops that.”

There was even hope of a third sixth-tier side progressing when Buxton took a 2-1 lead over Cheltenham Town, but the League Two strugglers hit back in ruthless style to come through 6-2.

Former PL and FA Cup winner has afternoon to forget

Christian Fuchs knows all too well about the glories of the FA Cup.

In a fine career with Leicester, Fuchs won an FA Cup winners’ medal in his final season with the club in 2021.

Five years earlier, Fuchs was part of the Leicester team that produced one of the most astonishing underdog triumphs in this history of English football, winning the Premier League in the 2015/16 season.

Fuchs retired from playing in 2023, and is now a manager at Newport County.

He was back in the FA Cup on Sunday, although it wasn’t exactly an afternoon to remember.

Boreham Wood, who went all the way to the fifth round and a tie at mighty Everton in 2022, ran out comfortable 3-0 winners.

National League manager Hughes has ‘no ego’

Mark Hughes managed over 450 Premier League games, but the Welshman says he still has plenty of enthusiasm for football as Carlisle United bowed out following a 4-1 loss to League One side Blackpool.

The club have suffered back-to-back relegations and that has landed them in the National League, and Hughes said a return to League Two could spark the dormant potential of the side.

“Maybe I just haven’t got too much of an ego,” the former Manchester City manager said about managing in the National League.

“I think if you’ve got too much of an ego, then you don’t find yourself in the National League, But I just love matchdays and being in and around the lads, trying to get a result and making them better.

“I’m still doing it. What am I now, 62? I’m not sure how long I’ll be doing it for after these next few years, but we’ll see. As soon as I lose the enthusiasm for it, then that’ll be it.”

Hughes took charge of the club in February 2025 and was unable to save the struggling side from relegation from League Two, but wants to turn things around for the club.

Mark Hughes explains why he is managing in the National League: ‘I haven’t got an ego’

Video credit: TNT Sports

He looks to be doing just that, with the club third in the table and level on points with leaders Rochdale.

“It’s been really difficult. Two relegations are not easy to deal with, and the club had to restructure a little bit, given the resources are different now we’re in the National League, but we’re a good team.

“It’s a good group of players. We’ve changed it around a little bit. It was important we started well and thankfully, we’ve been able to do that.

“There’s huge potential, that’s the attraction for me as well. Clearly, we’ve got to get out the National League, that’s the important thing, of the first step. But if we can do that, then the potential to keep on building is certainly there I feel.”

Boreham Wood would ‘love’ Arsenal in third round

Boreham Wood manager Luke Garrard said he would love to face Arsenal in the third round after a 3-0 win against Newport County saw the National League side cruise through.

Jeff King and Regan Booty scored in the first half for the hosts before Matt Rush added a third following the break at Meadow Park.

Gunners supporter and Boreham Wood manager Luke Garrard was quick to reveal his ideal clash in the third round would saw his club head to the Emirates.

“Listen, I’d love Arsenal,” he said. “Being an Arsenal man, away from home to play a competitive game against. “Chelsea, probably for our chairman.

“But the boys are going out tonight, they’ll enjoy their night. For me, I just need to go and have a quiet beer and reflect. But I’ll enjoy the draw tomorrow with my two young kids.”

A fixture against Chelsea would also mean a reunion for 19-year-old goalkeeper Ted Curd, an England youth international on loan from the Blues.

Boreham Wood would ‘love Arsenal’ in FA Cup third round after Newport success

Video credit: TNT Sports

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