Both sides play in the Isthmian League Division One North, but the similarities end there with the Ramblers cast adrift at the bottom with a -32 goal difference.
And any hopes of an easy afternoon disappeared after only seven minutes when Phil Kelly headed the visitors in front from a corner. Michael Brothers added a second in the 34th minute, but there was still hope for a second half comeback.
Russell Malton made sure that was never going to happen by scoring a third goal against them just three minutes after the break and Ben Newson made it four with 21 minutes to go.
Another headed effort from a corner, this time from Jake Holman, made it a fab five for Brightlingsea before possibly the goal of the match came from Ramblers' Bradley Nobbs with 88 minutes on the clock.
Brightlingsea's reward for their impressive victory is a tricky First Round Qualifying tie at Bedford Town, who were 5-2 winners over Chipstead.
It was a cracking cup tie with Bedford's Tom Liversedge emerging as the hero of the day for the home team with a hat-trick inside the first 50 minutes.
A few other teams notched up five on a great day for non-League goal action with perhaps the most impressive away win being Spalding's 6-1 win at Soham Town Rangers.
For the most entertaining goal-feasts of the day, all of the clubs had to bow to Heybridge Swifts' match with Herne Bay and Loughborough Dynamo against Kidsgrove Athletic – the four sides producing 18 goals in their respective matches.
At Heybridge, visitors Herne Bay brought it back to 4-3 down with nine minutes to go before Billy Hunt scored two quickfire goals to send them through to an away tie at South Park, who were 5-1 winners at Cheshunt.
The other big-scoring match was also a 6-3 special from which Loughborough emerged worthy winners. They have earned the right to a home fixture against Grantham Town.
The final match of a busy Saturday afternoon of Trophy action featured an interesting but fruitless trip for Bedfordshire side Barton Rovers, who went to Guernsey for an evening kick-off.
Marc McGrath put Guernsey ahead after 22 minutes and Dave Rihoy added a second just two minutes later. But they had to wait until 17 minutes to go before Luke Winch scored their third before he added a fourth and final strike without reply in the 90th.
Guernsey will now have all the travelling to do as they face a tie in the London Borough of Hillingdon against Northwood FC, 3-1 winners over Waltham Abbey.
The FA Trophy kicks back into action on 1 November for First Round Qualifying.
