Indeed AFC settled the quicker of the sides, and after just 3 minutes went in front thro Adam Dine, who took advantage of lax defending to open AFC's account 0-1 AFC.

This scoreline was certainly not in the script, as the visitors continued to cause problems, and on 6 came near again following an AFC corner which keeper Seb Bos gathered at the second attempt, more was to follow with an Ash Elms cross that had the bustling Connor Martin heading straight into Bos's arms.

After these early scares the Anvils started to inch their way back into the game, with Nick Sullivan finding brother Dan who in turn fired over, a Williams Peauroux free kick from 30 yds then seemed to clip the upright and away, come 17 and a thro ball had Oli Leslie just missing out to keeper Tom Bradford, more excitement on 32 with Leslie having two bites of the cherry in an attempt to force the ball home, but this constant pressure eventually paid off, and on 37 a Nick Sullivan cross found Lee Thomas whose hard and low cross goal attempt was inadvertently turned in by an AFC defender to restore parity at a goal a piece, final action of the half came with Thomas nodding a Dan Sullivan corner into keeper Bradford’s arms. HT 1-1.

Come the second half with weather conditions approaching monsoon proportions, the game took a turn for the worse for the gallant AFC, as the Anvils started to take complete control, with first Josh Martin feeding Peauroux who in turn found the upright, then followed Marc Pelling heading over from a corner, on 50 it was Russell Malton's cross striking the bar, on 55 came the break thro with Thomas on the left finding Dan Sullivan on the right who in turn fired home. 2-1 Anvils.

By now the possible fitness levels of the Anvils continued to show, as the gallant AFC started to tire with all this intensity, come 62 it was Michael Belli's turn to add to the scorecard after finding a gap in the now tiring defence to add number three. 3-1 Anvils

With the game looking now safe, it was 'all change' time for the Anvils with Martin and Peauroux being replaced by Mike Spence and Kieran Greig, followed just after by Malton being replaced by Sam Packham.

AFC though under the 'cosh', continued whenever possible to keep attacking, with the burly Martin leading the way, but the Anvil back four held firm in facing whatever came their way.

With the game coming to a close it was left to Nick.Sullivan to close proceedings with a double in the 75 and 80th mins, to give the Anvils game set and match by 5 goals to 1, and entry into Round 2. FT 5-1 Anvils.

Team: Seb Bos, Russell Malton (Sam Packham), Josh Martin (Mike Spence), Williams Peauroux (Kieran Greig), Blair Cooney, Marc Pelling, Dan Sullivan, Michael Belli, Nick Sullivan, Oli Leslie, Lee Thomas.

MOM: Oli Leslie Attn: 43.

Author: MIke May