C&K Basildon Ladies made club history by making the first round of the Women’s FA Cup for the first time.

Goals from Carly Eagles, Charlie Dolby and Nicola Carty handed Basildon a 3-1 win at home to Hemel Hempstead Ladies.

And Basildon’s reward is a home tie against Southern Combination leaders Lewes in the first round of the cup on Sunday, December 11.

“Our run in the FA Cup is nice,” said first team manager and club secretary Peter King.

“I said to the girls at the beginning of the season that we have had two promotions so we should set ourselves some targets for this season.

“One of them was to get to the first round of the FA Cup. The girls knew that it would take three games to get that far and thought it would be difficult.

“But we have done and are now looking forward to hosting Lewes. We know it will be tough because they are top of their league having played 12 and won 12 and are in the division above us.”

The hosts opened the scoring after 23 minutes when Shareei Singer released Carty down Basildon’s right hand side.

Carty sent in a dangerous cross, that just evaded Angela Arnold in the penalty area. Dolby retrieved the ball and played in Eagles on the edge of the penalty area, from where Eagles sent a curling shot into the back of the net.

It remained 1-0 at half time but Basildon doubled their advantage in the 63rd minute against Hemel, who play in the London and South East Regional League.

The hosts intercepted a Hemel goal kick and the ball was played across to Dolby whose pace took her clear of the defenders, and she hit a low shot across the goalkeeper.

With Basildon now in complete control, it only took another six minutes for a third goal to be added.

Singer broke down Basildon’s right and worked her way into the penalty box, where her shot was parried by the goalkeeper but Carty tucked away the rebound.

Hemel Hempstead replied after 79 minutes when a good move down the centre of the pitch saw the ball moved out to the left flank, from where the forward cut inside, and sent a shot into the top corner of the net.

King added that Hemel were a good side and that the scoreline flattered his Basildon team slightly.

Basildon: Orsman, Gardner (Eyre), Skipper, Whitehead, Lacey, Arnold (Hopwood), Brown-Wealls, Eagles (Thain), Singer, Carty, Dolby Sub not used: Iley.

>Basildon’s reserve team maintained their eight-point lead at the top of the table, as they made it nine wins out of nine with a 6-1 victory at home to Tigers.

Sacha Brinkley and Lauren Knight both scored two, and Louise Balding and Kirsty Knight getting one each