Hilltop FC 1, Grays Athletic 5

GRAYS produced an emphatic victory to make progress in the FA Cup at the expense of Combined Counties League Premier Division North Hilltop on Friday evening (7 August).

The extra preliminary round victory earned the Blues £1,125 in prizemoney and secures a trip to either Northwood or Hutton in the next round on Saturday, 22 August when a winning prize of £1,444 is up for grabs.

Essex Senior League Hutton, playing in their first ever FA Cup clash, pulled off a 1-1 draw at higher league Northwood on Saturday (8 August) and will replay at Billericay's New Lodge ground on Wednesday evening (12 August).

Friday nght's clash at Silver Jubilee Park didn't start well for Grays, who went behind after just six minutes.

However, they were on level terms just four minutes later through Alex Moss - and they never looked back.

It remained 1-1 at half time but seven minutes into the second stanza Ned Hepburn put the Blues in front.

And he doubled his personal tally with a second on 75 minutes.

The game was effectively wrapped up when Gabriel Chapps netted with seven minutes to go and substitute Gael Kileba added the icing on the cake with a fifth for Grays three minutes into added time.

Watch manager Mitch Hahn's post-match verdict:-