BOWERS & Pitsea made it through to the first round of the FA Vase for the first time in seven years with a 1-0 win at Southend Manor in the second qualifying round of the competition on Saturday.

Lorenzo Ramsey bagged the only goal of the game at Southchurch Park in the 35th minute of the match.

And Bowers boss John Doyle felt his side fully deserved the victory.

“It was a close game but I thought we dominated the first half and that’s when we got the goal,” said Doyle.

“The second half was more even stevens but Manor didn’t really trouble us in the way I thought they would, so I’m pleased to have got the won and made it through to the next round.”

Doyle will now be eagerly awaiting the new of this morning’s draw. But he does not mind who his side come up against.

“We’d like it to be an easy one and ideally at home but we will take whoever we get,” said Doyle.

“Hopefully it will be against someone who isn’t in our league but we’ll have to wait and see.”

Doyle also handed new signing, midfielder Reece Casson, his debut in Saturday’s game. Casson is certainly already well known among his team-mates after scoring five goals for Barkingside against Bowers in last season’s Essex Senior League cup final which Barkingside won 9-1.

>HULLBRDGE Sports also made it through to the first round of the FA Vase after beating Long Melford 4-0.

Chris Brown gave Sports a 1-0 lead at half-time before Liam Nash doubled his side’s advantage from the penalty spot.

Kurtis Clarke and Carl Mullings then also worked their way on to the scoresheet to complete a comprehensive win for Hullbridge.