The start of the 2024-2025 FA Cup brought joy for Harpenden Town but that was in short supply elsewhere.

Harps beat Essex Senior League Halstead Town 3-1 in their extra-preliminary at Rothamsted Park.

An Andrew Simmons cross was buried by Ben Spaul to give them a fifth-minute lead but Halstead equalised four minutes later.

Importantly Kyle Rahho put Harpenden back in front before the break and Ryan Plowright sealed the win with a superb strike that rattled the frame of the goal before going in.

Spaul said: "It's always nice to play in the FA Cup, it's a special competition for non-league clubs like us, it could be a real money-spinner.

"But it is a special competition and I don't get many goals so it was nice to score."

They play FC Romania at home in the next round.

Elsewhere though there was disappointment.

Welwyn Garden City conceded two goals in four first-half minutes to go down 2-0 at Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division leaders MK Irish.

READ MORE: MK Irish 2 Welwyn Garden City 0 - match report

READ MORE: MK Irish deserved the win - WGC boss Marc Weatherstone

Colney Heath saw their hopes die with two penalties in a 2-1 loss to Takeley.

The first came seven minutes in, Jaden Marzell fouled by Sankou Jabbi and Jordan Westcott did the rest.

George Sippetts did had a equalising goal disallowed for offside but Colney would not give up and they drew level 30 minutes after falling behind.

A flowing move down the left saw the ball crossed low into the box where Joe Caffery struck a sweet low strike for his first goal for the club.

Ollie Lawford went close after the break from a free-kick and Sippetts was only denied by a superb save from Takeley keeper Jarvis Monk.

Monk also denied Caffery a second but with a replay looming, Sam Denham was penalised for handball and Takeley had their second spot-kick.

A flare-up saw Heath's Chad King get a second yellow and be sent-off while Takeley's Tom Massey was given a straight red.

Westcott kept his cool though to fire Takeley into a preliminary round meeting with Stotfold.

Arlesey Town's superb start to the season has fallen away slightly.

They won their opening league game 5-0 away to Aylesbury Vale Dynamos but were then beaten 3-0 in midweek at home to FC Romania.

And a 4-0 loss saw them go out of the FA Cup, playing away to SSML rivals London Lions.

Baldock Town departed the competition too, beaten 3-1 away to Leverstock Green, who were promoted from the Spartan last season via the play-offs.

Joshua Cross had put the Reds in front on 17 minutes but Levy equalised two minutes later.

They were ahead six minutes later before clinching the win in the second half.

The preliminary round will be played on August 17 while the draw for the first qualifying round will take place two days after that.

Hitchin Town, Potters Bar Town and Royston Town all enter at that stage.