FA Cup Extra Premliminary Round Felixstowe & Walton United 2 Brantham Athletic 7 Any dreams the home side had of another inspiring FA Cup run were left in tatters on their Goldstar Ground pitch by a Brantham side that were good value for this comprehensive win, writes Phil Griffiths.
Sam Newson struck four times after brother Ben had set the visitors on their way in the 8th minute.
It was 4-0 at the break and when full back Ed Nobbs added the fifth five minutes after the restart, any lingering hope the home side had of getting something from the game disappeared, with the visitors looking very comfortable as they headed towards a Preliminary round meeting with Bostik League (North) Cheshunt in a fortnight.
The Seasiders started brightly forcing an early corner that Josh Kerridge headed wide, but the warning signs went up as they were caught napping with some casual passes across the back, getting away with it twice before the lively Ben Newson intercepted a weak effort and drilled a low hard snap-shot into the bottom corner of Danny Crump’s net.
It was 2-0 in the 24th minute when Jack Smith rose unchallenged to flick on Hughes’ free kick into the area after Davis had been penalised for hand ball, and the visitors defended well to deny the hosts getting back into the game, twice clearing the danger from Ainsley’s free kick and resulting corner before play was halted for a head injury to Sean Gunn that ended his afternoon.
Sam Newson started his goal spree in the 34th minute, ending a sweeping move with a fine finish, and doubled his tally three minutes later converting his brother’s corner.
Nobbs made it five in the 50th minute and Sam Newson completed his hat-trick just after the hour to make it an unassailable lead.
There was little respite for the home side when Nick Ingram pulled a goal back from the spot after Joe Francis went down in the area, with Sam Newson completing his side’s scoring 15 minutes from time, and Chaplin’s lobbed effort over Hawkins in the final minute took nothing away from the visitors’ overall commanding performance.
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