FA Trophy round-up | Macclesfield hit seven as first round provides Step 4 shocks

Last season’s semi-finalists were ruthless in front of goal at the Leasing.com stadium and raced into a commanding 4-0 lead at half-time, with D’Mani Mellor grabbing a brace.

Despite Darius Osei scoring the first goal of the second half for Ashton, Robbie Savage's Silkmen didn’t let up in front of goal, securing their place in the second round in impressive fashion.

The other two all-Premier Division ties saw Bamber Bridge and Worksop Town progress.

Bamber Bridge withstood a strong second half from Workington to run out 3-2 winners. 

The Brig led 2-0 at Borough Park at the break, and despite Steven Rigg’s second half brace, a 75th minute strike from Lucas Weaver was enough to send Jamie Milligan’s side through.

Worksop, meanwhile, returned to winning ways after two straight league defeats with a commanding 2-0 win at home to FC United of Manchester.

The rest of the round’s games saw few upsets, as fellow Premier Division sides saw off sides in divisions below.

The only Premier Division side to be knocked out by non-NPL opposition was Mickleover, who were defeated 2-1 at home by Southern Central side AFC Telford United.

Stockton Town and Warrington Rylands each took care of NPL East Division opposition, beating Newton Aycliffe and Ossett United respectively.

Elsewhere, Gainsborough Trinity scored three second-half goals at Clitheroe to defeat the NPL West Division side 4-1.

And Basford United were victorious via a penalty shootout for the second straight round, knocking out NPL Midlands Division side Anstey Nomads.

Coleshill Town provided one of the upsets of the round, as the Midlands Division side knocked out Southern League Premier Division leaders Gloucester City, who played in the National League North last season.

Midlands side Sporting Khalsa also downed higher opposition, defeating Southern Central side Barwell 2-0 away from home.

Congleton Town were unable to make it a trio of upsets, however, as they were beaten 4-1 by Halesowen Town.

And in an all-step 4 NPL tie, penalties were all that separated Chasetown and Belper Town, with NPL West Division side Chasetown picking up a spot-kick win that sent them into the next round.

The draw for the second round will be made on Monday, with teams in Step 2 entering the competition at this stage.

FA Trophy results involving Northern Premier League sides:

• Barwell 0-2 Sporting Khalsa
• Basford United 1-1 Anstey Nomads (5-3 pens)
• Chasetown 1-1 Belper Town (5-4 pens)
• Clitheroe 1-4 Gainsborough Trinity
• Gloucester City 2-3 Coleshill Town
• Halesowen Town 4-1 Congleton Town
• Macclesfield 7-1 Ashton United
• Mickleover 1-2 AFC Telford United
• Stockton Town 2-1 Newton Aycliffe
• Warrington Rylands 4-0 Ossett United
• Workington 2-3 Bamber Bridge
• Worksop Town 2-0 FC United of Manchester