LONDON Colney are into the next stage of the FA Cup after a 3-0 extra preliminary round victory over Hatfield Town on Saturday.

Despite an early scare, which nearly saw the Blueboys go one down, goals from Matt Newman, Jimmy Warner and Russell Gallagher steered Colney through.

In the first minute Mark Whittamore was robbed on the edge of the box as he tried to clear the ball and although Jay Rolfe won the ball he wasted his chance to score as he mis-hit his shot wide.

Following this The Blueboys quickly got into their stride.

Newman was unlucky not to score after he twisted and turned inside the box to create a space to shoot, but his effort flashed past the far post.

Next Gallagher raced onto a Warner pass and his firm drive went just wide of Danny Sonner’s right hand post.

London Colney took the lead when a neat pass from Danny McCafferty split the Hatfield defence and Newman steered the ball in past Sonner.

Hatfield had more misfortune minutes later as two of their defenders, Jay Welsh and Dean Bouho, clashed heads with Welsh left with blood pouring from a nasty cut.

He received treatment on the side of the pitch before being taken to hospital for stitches.

Greg Shaw then had a fierce drive pushed away by Sonner and although Newman was onto the loose ball quickly he could not squeeze the ball home from a very acute angle and it hit the side netting and went wide.

The Blueboys continued to press and Newman had a hook shot go just over after being set-up by Knightley and Warner then had a firm header saved.

London Colney then scored goal number two when Gallagher played the ball out wide to Kenny Hull who swept it low into the box whereupon Newman stepped over the ball allowing Warner to score with a precise low shot from 12 yards.

Early in the second half John Butler made a great run down the left wing and his cross struck Hatfield defender Taylor Sussex on the chest and then rebounded back off Sonner for nearly an own goal with the ball being eventually cleared.

For Hatfield Sam Harris had a good chance, but his effort went just over Whittamore’s crossbar, while after a good cross in from Warner, Newman missed the ball in front of goal and it fell to Butler who kneed over.

The Blueboys scored their third and final goal of the game as Warner squeezed the ball to Newman who drew the keeper and a couple of defenders to him but he quickly slipped the ball to Gallagher who drove it home from eight yards.

The Blueboys held out for a clean sheet with the back four playing well and Bobby Armstrong again having a good game at centre half.

The reserves won 5-0 away at Croxley Guild with goals from Josh Galloway (two), Sebastian Thomas (two) and one from Dean Newman.