Curzon Ashton’s dazzling 3-2 victory over Exeter City was the pick of three shocks sprung by nonLeague clubs in the FA Cup first round on Saturday. Blyth Spartans, who beat Shrewsbury Town 3-1, are renowned as the North East’s most greedy giant-killers and Histon, 1-0 winners over Swindon Town, have become a formidable and consistent force in the Blue Square Premier under the generalship of Steve Fallon and John Beck.

Curzon, however, were thrust into the glare of the spotlight for the first, giddy time. Gary Lowe, their manager, said: “As soon as we got off the pitch, two camera crews asked to come into the changing-rooms. It was more than an hour before I finished the interviews and was able to make my way up to the bar for a drink – I made up for it afterwards, though.

“The main thing I’ll remember, though, is the faces of people who have supported us for so long. They are the people who sweep up, clean out the dressing-rooms, who fix a bulb in the floodlights. There were a few tears.”

The manager had steadfastly maintained that his side from the UniBond League first division north could cause an upset over their Coca-Cola League Two opponents. “On Saturday morning I sat the players down and told them I wasn’t giving them a cock and bull story to get their heads up but they genuinely had a chance,” Lowe said.

The message struck home as Curzon went 3-0 up after 79 minutes with goals by Chris Worsley, James Ogoo – a stunning dipping shot on the turn from 30 yards that surprised even his manager, who said: “He doesn’t even score in training.” – and Michael Norton. “When the third went in, I turned to my assistant, Derek Hall, and said for the first time ‘That might be enough,’ ” Lowe said. “They then scored twice [through Steve Basham and Dean Moxey] and all I could say was, ‘No, no.’ ”

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