Ipswich Wanderers progressed from the second qualifying round of the FA Vase thanks to a 2-0 victory over Clapton.

With coloured smoke filling the covered terrace at Humber Doucy Lane, and drifting across the pitch at times, this was never going to be an ordinary FA Vase Second Qualifying Round clash.

This was made more so when Wanderers had to lend their east London opponents a spare kit, their own being still somewhere in Leyton. Clapton came with numerous, noisy fans, but they behaved impeccably throughout, a credit to their club.

The early football exchanges were even, with both sides having half chances.

The best of these fell on four minutes to Wanderers’ Craig Jennings whose shot was just wide.

Eight minutes later, Billy Holland’s effort was easy for Pape Diagne in the visitors’ goal. Within a minute of that strike it was Jack Spurling who had to save from Clapton’s Quentin Monville.

Jack Severy, now fully fit and firing on all cylinders, took a free kick that tested Diagne and forced a corner. Wanderers were beginning to look the more likely team.

On the half-hour, Wanderers manager Glenn Read was forced to replace defender Daniel Hitching, who is still not fully fit, with James Buckle. The defensive change revived Clapton who forced two corners themselves before half-time.

The second half, with Clapton’s fans waving their flags and singing to the end, belonged to Billy Holland.

The Wanderers midfielder drove a superb strike into Diagne’s net and stunned the men from Clapton to give Ipswich the lead.

Then, Holland’s defence-splitting pass put Wanderers substitute Ben Deacon through to seal their progress.