Woodford Town's clinicality in front of goal proved too much for Spartan South Midlands Premier Division side Sawbridgeworth Town, with Shane Baptiste's side securing safe passage into the Qualifying Rounds of the Emirates FA Cup on Saturday afternoon, leaving their Manager "delighted" in the process.

The first half brought a proper cup-tie feeling as Woodford returned to Ashton's for their first home game of the campaign. However, rallying support from the crowd didn't prove to have an effect on the pitch, with the hosts looking sluggish as they struggled to get going.

However, a passionate team talk at the break led to a much-improved second half, which saw The Woods create many good chances before eventually taking the lead. Marko Protic drew a good save from Jimmy Parker in the Sawbo net, before several penalty appeals were waved away by the man in the middle. But, in true Woodford style, they didn't let the frustration deter them as they persevered for the breakthrough. That eventually came in the 76th minute, with substitute Emmanuel Sergio in the thick of the action. He received the ball out wide, cut inside and drew a good save from Parker, but he could only parry the effort into the path of Solomon Ofori, who slammed the rebound into the roof of the net, giving us the lead, as well as his first goal in yellow and blue.

With the deadlock now broken, the momentum shifted further our way, and just three minutes later, Ollie Sotoyinbo netted our second, as he opened his account for the season. Played through by Protic, our number nine kept his cool, firing past Parker in a one-on-one situation to double our lead. It was looking all rosy for The Woods as the clock ticked away, but with four minutes of the 90 remaining, Elijah Mamombe fired a fierce volley past Sidi Haidara to claw the visitors back into the affair, creating a nervy ending at Ashton's.

That, however, was until Sergio continued his brilliant cameo on the bench, rattling home a third goal on the counter-attack deep into stoppage time. Played the ball by Angus Hastings, the substitute drove forward at speed, cut inside, and this time his low effort was placed perfectly into the bottom corner, sealing the victory.

The 3-1 win sees Woodford progress into the First Qualifying Round for the second successive year, with a second win in a row over SSMFL opposition in the FA Cup, as our unbeaten start continued.

Starting XI: Haidara (GK); Owusu (C (Mitchell-Nelson - 80 ')), Agboola, Hastings, Kirwan-Meade (46'); Jewers, Kebi, Protic (Anderson - 80'); Ofori, Sotoyinbo (Gomes - 80'), Blackford (Sergio - 58').

Unused substitutes: Ayvaz, Lawal