A 21st-minute red card for Haverhill Borough’s captain Rory Bone effectively decided this tie as the home side scored from the subsequent free kick and never looked back.

East Anglian Daily Times: Haverhill get their bodies in the way of a Felixstowe attackHaverhill get their bodies in the way of a Felixstowe attack (Image: Archant)

The visitors started the game at a high tempo and Felixstowe were happy to make sure they defended properly against the The Thurlow Nunn Division One side, who had already taken one Premier Division scalp in the competition this season, knocking out their ground share partners, Haverhill Rovers, in the qualifying round.

There never looked likely to be a repeat of that after the opening 10 minutes as the Seasiders’ passing and movement off the ball began to stretch the visitors.

Craig Jennings drilled a shot across the face of the Haverhill goal and Miles Powell fired inches over from 20 yards before the Borough goalkeeper Graham Smith produced an excellent save from Jordan Matthews to end a slick build up.

While the visitors worked hard, they were struggling to stem the flow of attacks and in the 21st minute Powell cut inside from the right and looked in on goal when Bone bundled into him with a clumsy challenge.

East Anglian Daily Times: Scott Chaplin scoresScott Chaplin scores (Image: Archant)

Referee Cameron Brown had little option but to raise the red card with the visitors’ captain being the last man and Powell having a free run at goal.

Powell took the resultant free kick which was initially blocked but Scott Chaplin, following up, tapped the loose ball into the net.

It might have been worse 10 minutes later when Powell went down in the Haverhill area but the referee waved away strong appeals for a penalty.

Chaplin limped out of the game in the 38th minute but his replacement Chris Williams only added to the visitors’ problems with his pace causing several anxious moments before the break.

East Anglian Daily Times: Chris Williams sets up a goalChris Williams sets up a goal (Image: Archant)

The home side pushed both full-backs forward in the second half, leaving just two at the back, with Haverhill’s Charlie Holmes ploughing a lonely furrow in attack.

The Seasiders doubled their lead in the 56th minute, Powell finishing a well-worked move down the left between Ethan Clarke and Jordan Matthews.

Jennings killed the tie off just after the hour with the Seasiders’ third goal.

Smith was then kept busy keeping the scoreline down, making half a dozen saves before Williams drove in an effort he could only parry and the ball fell to young Kyron Andrews, a 72nd minute substitute, to hit home into an empty net.