AFC Rushden & Diamonds and Kettering Town have both earned home ties in the FA Cup third qualifying round after strong second qualifying-round wins, giving two Northamptonshire non-league clubs an opportunity to extend their cup runs in front of their own supporters.

AFC Rushden & Diamonds produced the standout result, beating Step 3 Peterborough Sports 3-1 at Hayden Road despite competing a division below their visitors. Matty Warburton opened the scoring with a fine strike in the 24th minute before Tejan Thomas doubled the lead nine minutes later. Peterborough Sports pulled one back through Lewis Green immediately before half-time, but Jordan O’Brien restored the two-goal margin shortly before the hour to seal a deserved victory. It is Rushden’s first appearance in the third qualifying round for a decade.

Manager Elliot Sandy described the result as “unbelievable,” praising a performance in which his Step 4 side controlled a higher-ranked opponent. Nearly 600 fans watched the match at Hayden Road, and the defeat had further consequences for Peterborough Sports: manager Graham Drury was relieved of his duties the following day.

Kettering Town also progressed with a 2-0 home victory over fellow Step 3 club Quorn at Latimer Park. After a goalless first half, Michael Gyasi broke the deadlock in the 63rd minute and Theo Alexandrou added a stoppage-time second to confirm the Poppies’ place in the third qualifying round.

The third qualifying round represents an important point in the FA Cup calendar. Clubs that progress through it move one step closer to the first round proper, when teams from League One and League Two enter the competition. For Rushden and Kettering, home advantage gives them a meaningful chance to sustain their respective runs—and to generate the atmosphere and matchday revenue that make the FA Cup especially valuable at non-league level.