GEORGE Hallahan was Basingstoke Town’s FA Cup hat-trick hero as he helped his side to a 4-0 home victory over Bemerton Heath Harlequins in the first qualifying round.

The Wiltshire visitors from the Wessex League Premier Division arrived as underdogs, and got off to the worst possible start, as they found themselves a goal down after just four minutes.

Skipper Matt Partridge, who started the game in midfield, hit a shot from outside the area, which Bemerton goalkeeper Max Frampton pushed away.

From the resulting corner, Partridge’s header hit the post and George Bennett was denied by a great reflex save.

The danger was not cleared and Bennett’s shot hit the post, before Partridge turned in the rebound.

On the 13 minute mark, the home side were forced to reshuffle their line-up after left back Tamille Roache suffered a nasty looking hamstring injury.

This saw Robert Atkinson replace him at left back, Partridge slotted into the hole left by Atkinson into the middle of the defence and sub Michael Atkinson took Partridge’s place in midfield.

This did not harm the Dragons as they doubled their lead soon after.

Good work from the returning lively Aaron Jarvis found Marcus Johnson-Schuster marauding down the right flank and his great cross was met at the back post by the head of George Hallahan.

The home side continued to dominate with further chances and it looked only a matter of time, before the Dragons would add a third goal.

It arrived on 37 minutes, when a shot from Hallahan reared off the surface and beat Frampton.

Minutes, later and Town so nearly added a fourth goal, as Hallahan turned provider and only an excellent save with his legs from Frampton denied Jarvis.

During the half-time break, it started to rain and it got heavier as the half went on, as the game turned into a very even scrappy affair.

The wet conditions did not help and few chances were created.

The home side did manage to add a fourth goal on 76 minutes, as a great ball down the line from Partridge was brought down superbly by Hallahan.

The striker cut inside, and from just outside the penalty area unleashed an excellent shot to complete his hat-trick.

Soon after, tempers became frayed as Town’s Richie Whittingham and Adam Costello got tangled up.

It led to a coming together of the players including the two goalkeepers, but it soon calmed down and both players were booked.

With six minutes left, Bemerton produced their best chance of the game, as Michael Hubbard’s corner was met by the head of Jack Slade and only a superb finger tip save from Alex Tokarczyk denied the visitors a goal.

After the game, Town manager Terry Brown said: “I am delighted with the win and the clean sheet. Full marks to Bemerton they stuck three up top in the second half and gave it a go.

“The only negative is the injury to Tamille (Roache) which could see him out for six to eight weeks.”

The victory puts Town in the hat for the second qualifying round draw tomorrow and next for the Dragons is a league trip to Hitchin on Saturday.