Holders Peterborough United went out and Harrogate Town belied their status as the lowest-placed team still in this season’s Vertu Trophy among 14 ties in the last 32 on Tuesday.
After an uneventful first half away to League Two promotion contenders Swindon Town, League One strugglers Peterborough dominated the second period but conceded the only goal of the game when Robins captain Ollie Clarke slotted in the 88th-minute winner.
Harrogate are a point from safety after taking two points from eight league matches since their last League Two win on September 27, but Jack Muldoon scored the pick of the goals as Simon Weaver’s side moved 3-0 ahead after 17 minutes at the Exercise Stadium against League One visitors Blackpool.
Town held off a comeback and scored again late on through Muldoon in a 4-2 win to ensure they have taken scalps throughout their perfect four-match run in this season’s trophy, beating League One opponents Mansfield Town and Huddersfield Town and Newcastle United Under-21s to top their group.
League One bottom side Port Vale earned the joint-largest win of the night with a 5-0 home win over Barnsley, helped by two Ruari Paton goals inside the opening eight minutes and a splendid first goal of the season for New Zealand forward Ben Waine.
Rotherham United also prevailed by five at Salford City, where the League Two hosts took the lead and made the scoreline 2-2 before a Josh Benson hat-trick inside 17 minutes – including a lob from near the halfway line – helped the Millers win 7-2.
AFC Wimbledon arrived as the unseeded side at League One leaders Cardiff City and proceeded to hand the Bluebirds a shock 5-1 home thrashing, including four goals for 20-year-old academy graduate Aron Sasu and a goal and assist for Omar Bugiel.
Bristol Rovers have lost their last eight matches in League Two and had less than 30% of possession at home to Cambridge United, but the Pirates overcame conceding a 94th-minute equaliser in a 2-2 draw to secure their second win on penalties in this season’s competition, Kamil Conteh scoring the decisive spot kick.
Lorent Tolaj was sent off for violent conduct in Plymouth Argyle’s defeat at Northampton on Saturday and the striker went some way towards atoning for his indiscretion by backheeling the winner in the 93rd minute of their 1-0 win at Leyton Orient.
