Hodgson jumps ship

FA Cup round-up

SURPRISES on the pitch were few and far between as the professionals of the Second and Third Divisions put the non-league part-timers firmly in their place to claim places in the FA Cup third-round draw. In fact, the most stunning result came at Rochdale where the Darlington manager David Hodgson resigned after his Third Division side had drawn there 2- 2.

Hodgson made his decision known to players and officials immediately after the final whistle and left Spotland and his stunned former colleagues without further comment. Darlington are ninth in the table after losing only four of their 18 league matches.

The four non-League sides definitely still in the Cup shared 1-1 draws. Woking, second in the GM Vauxhall Conference, survived a tricky visit to Enfield who took the lead, had Jimmy Carstairs sent off and then saw Clive Walker equalise. Gravesend & Northfleet and Cinderford , two Beazer Homes League sides, must also replay.

Leo Fortune-West scored twice for Gillingham as they beat Hitchin of the Icis Premier 3-0 win and two goals by Hereford's Steve White accounted for Sutton, who had Nigel Golley sent off.

The Unibond side Blyth Spartans were a goal down to Stockport at Edgeley Park after only three minutes, Jeff Eckhardt inflicting the damage. A Steve Raffell own-goal sunk Spartans.

The day's biggest scorers were Peterborough and Wigan who both won 4- 0. Boro's Sean Farrell scored a hat-trick in their disposal of Bognor Regis Town and Tony Black scored a couple as Wigan rolled out the Barrow.

To end on a happier managerial note, Chris Kamara's reign as boss of Bradford got off to a good start when they beat Third Division Preston 2-1, both goals coming from full-back Wayne Jacobs, his first of the season.