FA CUP: Felixstowe & Walton United joint boss Andy Clarke was Daddy Cool on Saturday.

The Seasiders defeated Wellingborough Town 2-1 in the FA Cup to record their third win in this season’s competition to reach the second qualifying round – the furthest Felixstowe & Walton United have progressed since Felixstowe Town and Walton United merged ten years ago.

However, Clarke’s fellow joint manager, Kevin Witchalls, missed the match due to a long-standing friend’s stag day, while Clarke himself only saw the last half-an-hour due to his daughter’s birthday party.

Clarke said yesterday: “It was my daughter’s fourth birthday party, and family comes first.

“I went to the ground before the game to do the pre-match preparations and was back at the ground for the last 30 minutes.”

Felixstowe, who trailed 1-0 at the interval, equalised in the 55th minute through Adam Hampson’s stunning 20-yard strike before Joe Bloomfield slid home the 79th minute winner to earn the club a place in the next round and with it �3,000 in prize money.

Now the Seasiders, who last reached the second qualifying round as Felixstowe Town in 1994, will be eagerly waiting to see who they are paired with in today’s draw.

Clarke added: “Some people would prefer to have a glamour tie, but I think it would be good to have a ‘winnable’ game at home, especially with �5,000 prize money on the table in the next round.”