DESPITE his team’s FA Cup adventure coming to an end with a 6-0 defeat at AFC Sudbury, Halstead Town manager Mark Benterman felt the Humbugs could bow out with pride from this year’s competition.

Halstead had twice pulled off heroics against higher-placed opponents to advance into the first qualifying round, but their Ryman League premier division neighbours just had too much firepower.

The three-league gulf between the two clubs was evident in the hosts’ clinical edge and Sudbury striker Luke Callander netted four on the day.

However, Benterman was still proud of his team and the journey they’d been on this year.

He said: “It is what it is, but we’re really proud of the journey that we’ve made.

“Unfortunately it’s come to an end in a manner that we didn’t want.

“Sudbury were as strong as they could have been, which is respect to our boys and they play very well on their own pitch.

“They move the ball well and I was very impressed with them.

“It’s just unfortunate that the journey has come to an end but we have to regroup again and go in the Vase again next weekend.

“We wanted to go out on a high, but I feel we’ve still done that because of the journey that we’ve made regardless of the result.”

While Halstead bowed out, though, there was progress for WITHAM TOWN into the second qualifying round as they won 3-0 at fellow Ryman League division north side Haringey Borough.

A burst of three goals in six minutes – two from Nathan Koranteng and one from Lewis Payne – just before half-time was enough to send Witham through.

They will be joined in the second qualifying round draw by HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS after an intriguing afternoon against AFC Dunstable, although they will need to win a replay to progress after their game ended 2-2.

Visitors Dunstable were leading 2-0 heading into the final ten minutes, but goals from Lewis Dark and Michael Toner on 82 and 88 minutes earned Heybridge their replay on Tuesday.

However, the game ended on a downbeat note for Swifts as goalkeeper Danny Sambridge was sent off in the dying moments of the tie.

The FA Cup dream is over for BRIGHTLINGSEA REGENT, STANWAY ROVERS and MALDON & TIPTREE though.

Maldon were knocked out by a single second-half goal in a 1-0 defeat by Biggleswade Town, while one strike sent Stanway out as they lost 1-0 to Barton Rovers and Brightlingsea lost 2-1 to Billericay Town.

Regent had gone ahead from a 20th minute Aaron Condon penalty, but a strike in each half from Quentin Monville sent Billericay through.