Lowestoft Town travelled to Basildon United for this Isuzu FA Trophy second qualifying round tie feeling they were long due an extended run in a national competition, writes Terry Lynes.

With both previous visits to The Hive in the national competitions bringing victory, hopes were high that they could reach the third qualifying round for only the fifth time in 14 years - and in all four of those previous seasons they had been exempt until that stage.

On a dry, bumpy pitch Lowestoft started the game confidently and deservedly took the lead after 16 minutes with Harvey Sayer drilling the ball low just inside the post from the edge of the penalty area.

It was the 20-year-old’s sixth goal in eight games.

Lowestoft were totally dominant now and it seemed just a matter of time before they added to the scoreline.

Two goals in three minutes virtually settled the tie as the first half came to an end.

In the 36th minute Jake Reed netted the second goal reacting quicker than Ellis Ashworth to slide the ball home after George Marsh could only parry from Sayer again.

The Trawlerboys cheers had hardly subsided when it was 0-3 with Sam Johnson cheekily slipping the ball between Marsh’s legs.

With memories of letting a three-goal lead slip against New Salamis in the previous round, Lowestoft were determined to not make the same mistake this time and prevented the home side from getting any foothold in the game.

A Basildon fightback was expected in the second period but any slight hopes they held were finally shattered when they were reduced to 10 men on the hour mark as Sid Walker’s frustrating afternoon ended with a straight red card.

Basildon then made a triple change but it was all to no avail as the rampant Trawlerboys continued to confidently defend their lead.

The icing was put on the cake as an afternoon of total domination was rewarded with a fourth goal with virtually the last kick of the game as Sam Johnson netted his second of the afternoon and his fourth goal in three games.

BASILDON UNITED: Marsh, Ashworth, Empochontsif, Machado, Walker, Bloss, Brown, Brogan, Ali (sub Duberry 63), Allen (sub Jude 63), Semazzi (sub Fitzer 63). Subs (not used): Osbourne, Thompson.

LOWESTOFT TOWN: Holt, Norman (sub White 75), Murphy, McIntosh, Cole, Travis, Johnson, Hinton (sub J Atkinson 75), Reed, Sayer (sub Haylock 68), Hipperson. Subs (not used): Eagle, Burwood.

REFEREE: J Turnberry

ATTENDANCE: 92

Report by Terry Lynes