Grays Athletic advanced in the FA Cup on a Friday night under the lights at Silver Jubilee Park, just down the road from Wembley Stadium itself, with an impressive 5-1 win against step 5 Hilltop FC. Perhaps though the scoreline was a little flattering to the Blues against a determined and skillful opposition, who felt the full force of a second half charge from the visitors.

Blues were quickly out of the traps, creating a couple of early chances. A corner was scrambled clear by the Hilltop defence and then Gabriel Chapps created space for himself, volleying just wide.

Against the run of play, Hilltop then took the lead after just six minutes, working the ball nicely down the field with Abdulwahab Mohamed finishing with a low and accurate shot from the edge of the box.

However, any thoughts that a shock might be on the cards were quickly extinguished just four minutes later when Denim Nnamudi’s cross was met by a fine header from Alex Moss to level the scores at 1-1.

Blues continued to make chances but they couldn’t make them pay. Macca Joynes fed Denzel Effah down the left and his shot was nearly turned into his own net by Mohamed Hussein. Ned Hepburn, last season’s young player of the year, making his first appearance this time round, then broke clear but his lob went wide.

But Hilltop were certainly not lying down and continued to worry Grays with their pass-and-move game with Ibrahim Ali Khan down the right wing causing persistent problems. And they nearly took the lead again when Nadeer Kahssay hit a post from close range trying to nip the ball past Danny Sambridge in the Grays goal. Samim Rahmani also shot wide.

At the other end, Jordan Clark went on a thunderous run downfield, playing a lovely one-two with Connor Hogan but running out of steam by the time he got into the opposition penalty area. Nnamudi then fed Chapps on the edge of the box but again the finish didn’t find the net.

Just before the break, Hilltop tried hard to break the Blues defence but bodies on the line kept the score level and with Sambridge alert to keep out a run and shot from Ali Khan.

Half time : Hilltop 1 v 1 Grays Athletic

The next goal was always going to be key in this game. The Grays keeper needed to be alert at the start of the second half to thwart Jibril Mahdi but after that Blues took control. Effah’s great cross from the left found Ned Hepburn and he controlled the ball and finished smartly to give Grays a 2-1 lead. The same player was then found by Rob Harvey but this time he couldn’t get his shot away.

Both managers then started to empty his bench but the quality of Mitch Hahn’s summer signings shone brightly but not before Ali Khan’s long free kick evaded everyone in the Grays penalty area.

It was then in the last quarter of the game that Grays took control. Ollie Muldoon was on the end of a lovely passing move but bearing down on goal he was judged to be just offside - a very tight call. Hepburn then got his second of the game, getting on the end of a long downfield clearance, creating his own chance and finishing smartly for a 3-1 lead.

And it was soon 4-1 when Gael Kileba, making an eye-catching appearance off the bench, made ground down the right and crossed low for Chapps to finish from close range. And into injury time, the scoring was complete when another late sub, Liam Morritt crossed for Kileba to get a goal of his own, making it 5-1 to Blues.

The final scoreline was probably a bit harsh on Hilltop who never stopped trying and clearly have some tricky players in their squad. But the strength and quality of Blues was, in the end, too strong. After the game, manager Mitch Hahn was delighted with the overall performance, especially after conceding the early goal, praising his team’s attacking intent.

The next round is in a fortnight’s time, when Blues will visit either Northwood or Hutton, again both Step 5 sides.

We wish Hilltop all the very best for their campaign in the Combined Counties League this season

Final score : Hilltop 1 v 5 Grays Athletic

Grays Ath : Sambridge, Harvey, Joynes (80, Norton), Moss (84, Jude), Hogan, J Clark, Effah (57, Kileba), Moncur (84, Morritt), Chapps, Nnamudi (66, Muldoon), Hepburn

Subs not used : Drew, L Clark