Three Bridges 4 Crowborough Athletic 0

And it was by the same scoreline that they’d beaten Arundel in the previous round!

There were chances at both ends in the opening minutes, Jess Grimstone forced to make a clearance to deny Sam Carrington and Kevin Everest heading wide from a corner as Crowborough fancied their chances of an upset.

Marcus Elliott had a solid drive well held by Ben Head, but Bridges took control once they took an eighth minute lead as Hassan Nyang met Williams Peauroux’s corner with a bullet header.

Peauroux was certainly involved in plenty of the major moments of the game. He’s seen his low drive held by Head, while his header from Abu Touray’s cross was well blocked before he fired the rebound into the side netting. And in between, after 34 minutes, he hit the post with a weak penalty kick awarded for a foul on Joel O’Hara.

But on the stroke of half-time he beat the offside trap and crossed for Elliott to head home at the near post to send Bridges in comfortably ahead at the break.

Romone McCrae, who had been delayed because of a puncture on his way to the ground, came on at half-time and within four minutes he’d threaded a lovely ball through for Elliott, whose finish was of the highest quality, and he almost scored himself after being sent clear by Peauroux, who then somehow missed with a simple headed chance following a great cross from the excellent Yaw Boateng.

A rare break by the visitors saw a hopeful crossfield ball from Carrington fall perfectly for Elliott Wood, but the big striker’s final shot was high and wide.

Peauroux at last got onto the scoresheet with a header at the near post from McCrae’s cross after 77 minutes, but McCrae really should have added a fifth when put through by the ever lively Abu Touray, but somehow his shot seemed to screw off the post to safety.

The game also presented an opportunity to give 16-year-old striker Dean Bown his debut due to McCrae’s late arrival, and the youngster worked dilligently up front, while another new face in the shape of John Kamara came on midway through the second half on the left flank.

Bridges: Grimstone, Boateng, Carden, Maxwell (Olafunmishe 49), Hooper, Peauroux, O’Hara (Kamare 65), Nyang, Elliott, Bown (McCrae 46), Touray

Unused sub: Johnson

Aerotron Man of the Match: Yaw Boateng