HARROGATE are firmly on the FA Cup map thanks to the thrilling exploits of Town and Railway.

Both sides battled through to the first round proper for the first time in their histories on a Saturday to remember.

Free-scoring Railway pulled off a fantastic 4-2 victory over higher-ranked Marine, while John Reed's Town made their class tell in a comfortable 2-0 triumph at Wisbech.

Goal crazy Railway, from the Northern Counties East League, have now scored an incredible 29 goals in their five qualifying ties which have featured a total of 45 goals.

This time UniBond League premier division side Marine were on the end of another super show by York-based Paul Marshall's men at Station View.

There was no hint of the carnage to follow when the teams went in goal-less at half-time, but the introduction of Steve Davey soon changed all that.

Railway, who had hit a post through Jim McDaid in the first half, took just 50 seconds after the restart to break the deadlock when top scorer Kevin Smith collected left back Ian McLean's cross on his chest in the penalty area and slammed the ball past goalkeeper Billy Stewart.

Stewart was immediately replaced by Chris Conneally, but the deputy'keeper's first job was to fish the ball out of the net after a brilliant individual goal by Davey.

Rick Bainbridge' header pulled one back for Marine, but Railway restored their two-goal cushion on 63 minutes when Smith gobbled up his second goal from Davey's cross.

Davey rammed home a 70th minute penalty to make it 4-1 and Railway were virtually home and dry. Not even Neil Black's late effort for Marine could stop the Railway fans from celebrating long in to the night.

Harrogate Railway: Neale, Watkinson, McLean (Walker), Wilson, Danby, McDaid (Sunley), Ames, Flynn (Davey), Stansfield, Smith, Gore. subs, not used: Hart, Philpott

Referee; D Foster

Attendance: 703

Railways's UniBond League premier division neighbours Town were strutting their stuff at Wisbech.

They were largely in command and were unlucky not to take the lead after 16 minutes when Dave Merris cracked in a 20-yard drive which came back off a post.

However, the Jewson Eastern Counties outfit responded with their first incisive raid which finished with their leading scorer Andy Furnell lobbing the ball goalwards after goalkeeper Ashley Connor had missed a cross but Paul Sykes cleared off the line.

Town continued to threaten and and gained their reward on 32 minutes when Colin Hunter pulled the ball back to Scott Bonsall on the edge of the box and his shot squirted in to the path of Robbie Whellans who made no mistake from 10 yards.

Town had a let off when Vince Petty totally miskicked with the Harrogate goal gaping, but Harrogate always looked the more assured side and sealed their place in the first round in the 79th minute when Bonsall found space in the Wisbech box and clipped a fine low shot in to the corner.

Boss Reed said: "I thought we played all the football and that 2-0 flattered them. We did a very, very professional job."

Harrogate Town: A Connor, Richardson, Sykes, Sturdy, McNaughton, Merris, Donaldson, Bonsall, Jackson (Marcelle), Whellans, Hunter. Subs (not used): Turley, Farthing, Kerr, G Connor.

Wisbech Town: Pledger, Coleman, Mace, Hill, Dear, M Jimson, Thackray (McManus), Sedlan, Furnell, Petty (D Jimson), Flanz (Chiltern)

Referee: M A Harris

Attendance: 1,061

Updated: 12:10 Monday, October 28, 2002