The FA Cup second-round draw was set to turn a weekend of first-round surprises into the next set of fixtures, with lower-ranked clubs seeking to extend their runs against more established opponents.

Reporting on the first round placed the emphasis on the scale of the upsets. Seventh-tier Wimborne Town’s 2-0 win over Crawley Town was described as “arguably the result of the round,” while Kidderminster Harriers beat Doncaster Rovers 3-0 and Guiseley eliminated Sutton United through a stoppage-time penalty.¹ Other reported surprise winners included Oldham Athletic, Dover Athletic, Barrow and Exeter City, underlining the competition’s familiar capacity to disrupt expectations.

That account frames the draw chiefly as a consequence of those results: the newly advanced sides joined EFL clubs in a 40-team pool, with the pairing process due to take place before Plymouth Parkway’s match with Berkhamsted. The ceremony was scheduled for about 6.45pm, following studio coverage from 6.30pm.¹

A separate guide focused less on the weekend’s results and more on access to the event. It said the draw would be held at Bolitho Park, Plymouth Argyle’s home, and carried live on TNT Sports 1, with free global streaming also available through TNT Sports’ YouTube channel.² It also listed ESPN+ as the exclusive US outlet.

The contrast is one of emphasis rather than disagreement: one live report foregrounded the clubs that had already defied the odds, while the viewing guide concentrated on the logistics of a draw that would determine their next opportunity. A further live listing signalled continuing real-time coverage of the second-round ceremony.³