Stotfold's league season has yet to get going but they did record a big victory in the FA Cup - to advance to the first qualifying round.

Two defeats have greeted the start of their Southern League Division One Central season but a penalty, 10 minutes into the second half of their preliminary round match with Takeley of the Essex Senior League, was enough to clinch a 1-0 win.

Joe Sellers West scored the spot-kick while Takeley's George Powell was sent off in the incident leading to the award.

And their reward for passage to the next round, their first time since the 2016-2017 version, is a trip to Isthmian League Premier Division side Hashtag United.

That is on August 31 at Aveley FC.

Hitchin Town meanwhile will face Berkhamsted at home as they enter the competition for the first time this year

The Canaries are still looking for their first win in the Southern League Premier Division Central, although they will be scratching their heads how they never managed it on Saturday.

Not many teams will go away from home, score four and come away empty-handed.

And yet Brett Donnelly's men managed just that in a 5-4 loss away to AFC Telford United.

Alex Gudger had put the home side in front on seven minutes only for Coree Wilson to equalise seven minutes later.

Three minutes later Liam Brooks fired Hitchin in front only for that lead to be wiped out eight minutes later.

And the goals kept coming in the second period.

Dior Angus made it 3-2 to Telford on 54 minutes only for Brooks to get his second on 68.

However, Ricardo Dinanga made it 4-3 with nine minutes to go and a fifth from the home side, two minutes into stoppage time, sealed the win.

It also meant Jack Dreyer's effort on 94 minutes was merely a consolation.

The boss though was all about the positives.

"I couldn’t be prouder of those boys," he said, speaking on Twitter. "To score four away from home and get nothing is so disappointing but this is now becoming a team I want to manage.

"There were shifts all over the pitch with large bits of quality."

There was improved fortunes again for Arlesey Town in the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division.

They made it two wins in two by beating Dunstable Town 2-1 away.

Noah Mosanya and Ezra Forde got the goals as they put memories of last week's 6-1 defeat to Colney Heath well behind them.

Baldock Town though were beaten 3-1 at home by Wormley Rovers, Josh Cross getting their only goal in a fourth loss of the campaign.

Letchworth Eagles fell to a third defeat from five in Division One, William Blair and Aaran Jennings their scorers in a 4-2 defeat at home to Desborough Town, while Codicote drew 0-0 with New Bradwell St Peter in Division Two.