LEISTON overcame Essex-based side Grays Athletic this evening to reach the Second Round Qualifying stage of the Emirates FA Cup writes Craig Cooper.

Three first half goals set up the victory, with Harvey Sayer scoring the first and Adam Mills getting a brace. Grays had chances themselves in the first half but any hopes of a second half revival were dashed as Mills completed his hat-trick five minutes after the break while eight minutes later, Joe Henman added his first goal for the Club, and Leiston’s fifth.

Chris Wigger gave home debuts to Adam Marriott and Nathaniel Copping, during the match, while Liam Shaw came on late in the game.

Henman came back into the starting XI in place of Noel Aitkens, who was unavailable for the tie. Callum Robinson returned in goal for the match after Copping made his debut at the weekend.

Leiston began well and after winning a corner after 90 seconds, Danny Sambridge pushed the ball out only as far as Eddie Jackson, and his effort was deflected over the bar.

On three minutes, Grays had a shot from distance that was wide of Robinson’s goal. In the fifth minute, Ben Batho got forward on the right and his cross was deflected into the arms of Sambridge, as Leiston started well.

Three minutes later, and Batho and Sayer linked up on the Blues right and Batho’s cross was taken by Sambridge once again.

But on ten minutes, Leiston hit the front. A well-worked moved in the middle of midfield saw the ball moved out to the right once more and Harvey Sayer this time cut inside to shoot into Sambridge’s bottom corner.

Grays reacted well and Batho did well to block a shot before the away side converted a cross from close range but the ball had gone out of play on the byline.

Grays won a free kick on the edge of the box on 17 minutes and after Leiston defended well against it, the broke upfield and Sayer’s ball over the visiting defence saw Mills latch on to it and guide the ball over the advancing Sambridge to make it two.

Right back Tyler Brampton got into the Blues box four minutes later for Grays, but his delivery couldn’t be turned home by an away player.

Kyle Callan-McFadden and Fraser Alexander then headed away two corners in quick succession before Macauley Joynes’ free kick was headed just wide by Alex Moss of Robinson’s left hand upright. Leiston effectively made the game safe though on 32 minutes.

Captain Seb Dunbar’s pinpoint ball on the left found Mills who got away from his defender and got into the box to net past Sambridge at a tight angle.

Grays had an early chance in the second period but Robinson got down to his left to save.

The fourth goal came on 50 minutes. Sayer’s shot was pushed away by Sambridge and Mills reacted well to quickly execute an overhead kick and net his hat-trick and his ninth goal of the campaign.

Another good move allowed Henman to get in on the left in the 58th-minute and the midfielder was allowed to cut inside and shoot into Sambridge’s bottom right hand corner for goal number five.

Jude Frostick then picked up the Blues only yellow card on the night while Willie Clemons shot over Sambridge’s bar on 66 minutes.

Grays substitute, Gael Kileba, was off target with an attempt on 74 minutes as both sides made changes.

On 79 minutes, Alexander hit Sambridge’s crossbar while Marriott could only put the rebound over the bar.

In the 87th minute, Batho and sub Cameron Rayworth linked up well on the right and the latter's ball was nearly turned into his own net by a Grays defender.

FT: Blues 5 Grays Athletic 0

Chris Wigger’s team now head to Oxfordshire on Saturday afternoon in league action.

Line-ups:

Blues: Robinson (Copping 85 mins), Batho, Dunbar, Callan-McFadden (Hill 59 mins), Jackson, Henman, Alexander, Clemons (Shaw 75 mins), Sayer (Rayworth 70 mins), Mills, Frostick. Sub not used: Jarvis.

Grays Athletic: Sambridge, Brampton, Joynes, Moss, Clark (Sammons 54 mins), Hogan, Hepburn, Muldoon, Chapps (Kileba 54 mins), Nnamudi, Effah (Harvey 54 mins). Subs not used: Drew, McLean and Hahn.

Match Sponsor, Lacons Brewery, Man Of The Match: Adam Mills

Attendance: 202