The latest stop on the 'Road to Wembley' was a 3-0 victory for Bristol City over Dagenham & Redbridge.
Two goals from the magical feet of powerhouse striker Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and a Marvin Elliot strike were enough to secure City's place in the Second Round at the expense of their League Two opponents.
Speaking with TheFA.com in the away dressing room beforehand, Daggers manager Wayne Burnett had spoken of his young side being positive against the West Country outfit.
Match Details
Bristol City 3-0 Dagenham & Redbridge
The FA Cup with Budweiser
First Round Proper
Saturday 9 November 2013
With former England youth internationals Gavin Hoyte, Rhys Murphy and Zavon Hines in their ranks they certainly provided a threat, with the latter two both providing early strikes on goal.
Buoyed on by their noisy 250 supporters to a beat of a drum, the Essex side were growing in confidence and they looked to have taken the lead on 20 minutes as confusion spread throughout the City defence.
Hines looped in an aimless cross, and as the goalkeeper and backline stood still, Luke Howell somehow managed to reposition his body to skew a shot goalwards. It appeared as if everyone inside the ground could only stand still and watch as the ball rolled towards the net, but luckily for The Robins Aden Flint was alert to dart back and clear at the last moment.
City had edged the possession but had failed to create any clear-cut chances, but this scare brought them to life, and Marlon Pack was to come close with a 30-yard free-kick which Chris Lewington did well to save to his left.
Bristol City 3-0 Dagenham & Redbridge
On 35 minutes Lewington was left helpless though as City took the lead. The impressive Brendan Moloney bombed down the right flank and cut the ball back for Emmanuel-Thomas, and the former Arsenal man's low drive was deflected past the wrong-footed Lewington by Hoyte as the deadlock was broken.
In the second half City really had the wind in their sails as they pressed forward in search of another, but some excellent defending and wasteful finishing prevented them from stretching their advantage.
Emmanuel-Thomas firstly left Jack Connors in a heap on the right of the area as the big forward showboated his way past the defender and fired past the keeper, but Hoyte was perfectly positioned to block on the line.
Flint then headed over at the near post following a Scott Wagstaff cross as City began to really crank up the pressure, with the goalscorer coming close again on 65 minutes, shooting narrowly wide from 25 yards.
It was only a matter of time before the second came - and it duly arrived on 86 minutes.
Marlon Pack found his way to the byline and crossed, and Marvin Elliot was on hand to stab the ball home from six yards.
The goalscoring was not over, however, as man of the match Emmanuelle-Thomas put the icing on the cake in additional time, firing a beautiful angled drive clean as a whistle past the outstretched keeper from out left into the far corner.
Make sure you check out the Road to Wembley feature on TheFA.com on Monday.
Bristol City
13 Elliot Parish, 2 Brendan Moloney, 3 Derrick Williams, 5 Aden Flint, 9 Sam Baldock (C), 10 Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, 11 Scott Wagstaff (27 Wes Burns, 89), 14 Bobby Reid (25 Marvin Elliot, 79),17 Greg Cunningham, 21 Marlon Pack, 22 Nicky Shorey (16 Jordan Wynter, 86)
Substitutes not used 1 Frank Fielding, 18 Ryan Taylor, 23 Marlon Harewood, 26 Mitch Brundle.
Head Coach Sean O'Driscoll
Dagenham & Redbridge
1 Chris Lewington, 4 Scott Doe (2 Luke Wilkinson, 79), 5 Brian Saah, 6 Billy Bingham, 7 Medy Elito (14 Chris Dickson, 65), 8 Abu Ogogo (C), 9 Rhys Murphy, 17 Luke Howell (11 Afolabi Obafemi, 65), 18 Gavin Hoyte, 26 Jack Connors, 41 Zavon Hines.
Substitutes not used 30 Jordan Seabright, 3 Femi Ilesanmi, 10 Josh Scott, 20 Sean Shields.
Manager Wayne Burnett
