Felixstowe & Walton were left shell-shocked at the end of a mauling by a rampant Whitton side, who looked likely to score with every attack against a fragile defence.
With regular goalkeepers Jamie Stannard and second-choice Paul Cudworth both injured, the game proved to be a baptism of fire for regular reserve team stopper Ben Hall, who was offered little protection against a dangerous forward line.
As early as the first minute, Whitton’s Sam Mead sent a glancing header just wide of Hall’s left hand post.
However, Felixstowe got back into the game and Brad Barber tested former team-mate Liam Jones with a stinging 25 yard effort that was parried away for a corner, before Ben Cranfield drove a free kick into the Whitton ‘keeper’s body.
Whitton broke the deadlock on 15 minutes when Arran Sheppard met Sam Mead’s corner at the near post, getting ahead of Sheridan Driver, to send a glancing header past Hall.
The decisive moments of the match came each side of the half hour mark. Cranfield’s firm header from Danny Thrower’s cross was inches wide of Jones’ left hand post. Clark then tested Jones moments later, the Whitton goalkeeper collecting his effort at the second attempt with Dew closing in.
Having survived some anxious moments, Whitton hit back and the influential Miles Powell worked an opening to play in Chris Williams to double his side’s tally in the 31st minute, passing the ball into the net under Hall from eight yards.
It was 3-0 in the 42nd minute when James Crissell drilled a low 20 yard effort beyond Hall.
Cranfield reduced the deficit within a minute, finishing Driver’s cross from close range, but it was a consolation effort, as referee Adrian Sanerude blew for half-time moments later.
Any hopes of a comeback from the home side were dashed within six minutes of the restart when Allicion Blake showed great close control before somehow squeezing the ball inside Hall’s near post from the tightest of angles to make it 4-1.
Crissell added his second and his side’s fifth in the 71st minute, before Blake executed a perfect low free-kick around the wall for the sixth, three minutes later.
The home side huffed and puffed but looked well beaten, long before Rhys Barber added a second consolation goal as the clock ticked into stoppage time.
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