Chinedu McKenzie helped himself to a hat-trick as ten-man Romford advanced in The Buildbase FA Trophy with a 3-1 win at Horsham.
Visitors Romford started brightly and Jamie Dicks saw a low free-kick deflected wide before McKenzie forced a save from Horsham goalkeeper Josh Pelling.
But from the resulting corner, Pelling tipped a header onto the crossbar and saved a follow up before McKenzie was on hand to tap home his first.
The Buildbase FA Trophy
First Round Qualifying
Sunday 30 October 2016
Winning clubs receive £2700
Things got even worse for the home side as striker Terry Dodd was stretchered off with a knee injury, and Horsham’s afternoon got even worse five minutes later as McKenzie lashed home a half volley.
Dicks then crashed a shot against the bar but just before half time Romford’s Tarren Dehariwel was sent off for a professional foul.
And six minutes after the restart, McKenzie had his hat-trick as he pounced on poor play from Scott Harris before firing into the roof of the net.
Horsham did pull a goal back on the hour mark as Dan Sackman lashed the ball home following a Lee Carney free-kick, but that was as good as it got as Romford booked their place in Monday’s draw for the second qualifying round.
Another team in the hat are Kingstonian as two Ryan Moss goals led them to a 2-1 home win over Lewes.
Visitors Lewes took the lead on 20 minutes as Stacey Freeman met a corner with a towering header and Jonte Smith got the slightest of touches as the ball found the back of the net.
They held onto their lead up until the interval, but Kingstonian were much improved in the second half and they deservedly pulled level on 53 minutes as Moss closed down Lewes goalkeeper Lucas Covolan and side-footed into an empty net.
And just five minutes later Moss scored what proved to be the winner, robbing Steve Brinkhurst and slamming the ball home.
However, Grays Athletic and Wingate & Finchley will go again on Tuesday as the sides could not be separated and drew 1-1.
Visitors Wingate & Finchley started brightly and after hitting the same post twice in the opening two minutes, went ahead midway through the first half as Steve Wales emphatically finished following a Ryan Sellers cross.
But the lead lasted just seven minutes as Shane Gore parried a shot and David Fallah was on hand to smash home the ball.
And that is how the score stayed, although Wingate & Finchley were denied an 80th-minute winner from Wales by the offside flag.
