BASINGSTOKE Town progressed through to the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup with a comfortable victory over Chelmsford City at The Camrose on Saturday.

Early goals from Manny Williams and Chris Flood had Town in charge and while Aiden Palmer pulled one back for the visitors on the half-hour, Liam Enver-Marum's second-half double put the result beyond doubt despite Mark Hughes late consolation strike.

Overall, it was a strong performance from the hosts, who are now unbeaten in five games, having won three of their last four.

A couple of dodgy moments aside, they looked strong in defence, and they were even more impressive going forward, creating and taking chances throughout.

The absence of the suspended Shaun McAuley and injured duo Simon Dunn and Jamie Brown meant that Town manager Jason Bristow had to switch formations. He opted for a midfield diamond, with Enver-Marum partnering Flood in attack.

The first half-chance fell to the visitors, but Hughes was unable to direct his header from a corner on target and Basingstoke grabbed the lead with 12 minutes on the clock.

Good work down the left from Tom Bird and Enver-Marum gave Louie Soares the chance to shoot from just outside the area. Visiting goalkeeper Christian Dibble failed to hold his low effort and Williams was the first to react, slotting home the rebound.

Going ahead seemed to improve the hosts' confidence and they doubled their advantage after 23 minutes.

The build-up was simple, with Jay Gasson finding the impressive Harrison Gilkes on the half-turn. He in turn passed the ball into the feet of Flood and while the striker was given space to turn and shoot 25 yards from goal, his finish was of the highest order, finding the top corner to give Dibble no chance of saving.

More good play almost resulted in a third goal on the half-hour, but Enver-Marum's low angled shot fizzed wide of the far post.

However, Chelmsford hit back a minute later. Williams was at fault, giving the ball away deep inside his own half, allowing Sean Shields to release Palmer with a clever reverse pass. He did well to evade Gasson, before slipping the ball through Aaron Howe's legs to find the net.

They almost had the chance to level soon after, but David Ray made a fine challenge to stop Shields getting a shot away.

The visitors enjoyed their best spell of the match in the period before half-time, but they were unable to get on terms.

Hughes fired straight at Howe from the edge of the area, while Chelmsford were inches away from pulling level on 43 minutes.

Howe misjudged a corner and Soares had to be alert on the goal-line to nod away Rory McAuley's header. However, the danger was far from over and a mad scramble ensued, with Tomi Adeloye seeing his close-range effort saved by Howe and Flood making a crucial block.

The half ended with a similar scramble at the other end, but neither Ray nor Enver-Marum were able to force the ball in from close range.

Town improved after the break. They nearly claimed a third when both Williams and Flood narrowly failed to get a touch on Gasson's low cross, while Flood also headed wide from a corner.

The hosts got a deserved third goal on the hour. Williams won the ball from Shields on halfway and with the visitors appealing for a free-kick, Town broke through Gilkes. He fed Enver-Marum down the right channel and the striker fired an angled drive through bodies and into the far corner.

Enver-Marum put another chance wide as the hosts pressed for a fourth, with Ray also going close from a corner, but it took a good save from Howe to prevent Chelmsford reducing the deficit to a single goal once more.

Striker Jordan Brown got in down the left and it took a fingertip stop from the goalkeeper to divert the ball wide of the far post.

Gilkes failed to get hold of his shot as Town broke from a Chelmsford corner, but the visitors went close again through substitute Hugo Skepelhorn, who showed good feet before firing narrowly over.

Enver-Marum put the result beyond doubt with his second goal nine minutes from time. The hosts were allowed far the time and space to pass their way through the Chelmsford, but there was still plenty for the striker to do when he received the ball from Gilkes with his back to goal, just outside the area.

An excellent first touch set up the chance, with Enver-Marum firing an excellent shot on the turn into the bottom corner of the net.

With the game won, Bristow gave academy graduate George Hallahan a run-out and he nearly added a fifth, being denied by Dibble from Lloyd Macklin's low centre.

Chelmsford kept throwing men forward and pulled a second goal back in the final minute, Hughes smashing a stunning volley in off the post from just outside the area, seconds after Soares had made another block on the line.

Referee Carl Brook played five minutes of added time, but there was to be no further drama, though Hallahan had a couple of half-chances and Shields fired in a shot that was comfortably saved by Howe.

Click here to watch a post-match interview with Basingstoke Town manager Jason Bristow

PLAYER RATINGS

Aaron Howe - 7 (out of 10)
No chance with either goal and made one excellent save to deny Brown in the second half. However, his kicking was poor and he needed Soares to clear off the line when he misjudged a corner.

Nathan Smart - 6
Found Shields too hot to handle at times.

Tom Bird - 7
Untroubled defensively and did some good work in forward areas.

James Harper - 7
Rarely gave the ball away.

Jay Gasson - 8
Kept the visiting striker quiet and played some incisive passes.

David Ray - 8
Made some vital challenges and caused problems in the Chelmsford area.

Louie Soares - 8
Went about his work quietly but effectively. Not shy to get shots away, one of which resulted in the opening goal, and twice cleared off the line.

Harrison Gilkes - 8 (Gazette Star Man)
Asked to play in an unfamiliar central midfield role, but showed that he is more than capable. Always available to receive the ball and involved in the build up to three of the four goals.

Liam Enver-Marum - 8
Took his goals really well and a constant threat during the second half.

Chris Flood - 8
A fantastic strike to make it 2-0 and another hard-working performance.

Manny Williams - 7
Played some incisive passes and showed his striking instinct to open the scoring, but gave the ball away in a bad area in the build-up to Chelmsford's opening goal.

SUBSTITUTES

Lloyd Macklin (for Williams 62min) - 7
Harried defenders and a constant threat in behind the defence.

George Hallahan (for Enver-Marum 84min) - 7
Got into good positions and slightly unfortunate not to open his account for the club.

Robbie Rice (for Gilkes 87min) - 6
Solidified the midfield in the closing stages.

Subs (not used): Will Salmon, Taylor Watts, Aaron Jarvis, David Smalley

Chelmsford City: Christian Dibble, Robert Girdlestone, Aiden Palmer, Mark Hughes, Marvin Ekpiteta, Rory McAuley, Luke Daley (sub Jonah Gosling 67min), Lee Sawyer, Jordan Brown, Tomi Adeloye (sub Hugo Skepelhorn 49min), Sean Shields

Subs (not used): Harry Morgan, Marvel Ekpiteta, Charlie Henry, Connor Pearce, Bagasan Graham

Attendance: 498