Farnham Town cruised into the first qualifying round of the FA Trophy with an emphatic 3-0 victory at home to Isthmian League South East Division outfit Erith Town.

Goals from Adam Liddle, Darryl Sanders and Owen Dean sealed Farnham’s progress at the Memorial Ground and set up a home tie against Southern League Division One Central outfit Flackwell Heath on Saturday, September 7 (3pm).

Farnham went close to breaking the deadlock in the 16th minute when Sam De St Croix held the ball up and slid in Jack Dean, but his effort was blocked for a corner. De St Croix went close two minutes later, but his effort was saved by Erith keeper Tommy Taylor.

The visitors had their first sight of goal on 19 minutes, when Harry Taylor’s 20-yarder fizzed just wide of Pat Nash’s goal.

Farnham were soon back on the front foot, and a lovely move on 23 minutes involving Sanders and Joe Jackson ended with Sanders clipping a ball to Owen Dean at the far post, but Dean’s effort was well saved by Tommy Taylor.

The home side continued to press and Jackson drove forward four minutes later and slipped a ball through to Sanders, but his effort was well blocked by Tommy Taylor.

Farnham were finally rewarded for their pressure when they scored the opening goal in the 28th minute. Harry Cooksley hung up an inviting ball to the back post for Liddle, who expertly volleyed low into the bottom left-hand corner.

The hosts doubled their advantage four minutes later when Jack Dean cut the ball back to Sanders, who expertly curled his right-foot shot into the top left-hand corner of the net.

Farnham continued to press and Sanders slipped in Jackson on the overlap on 35 minutes, but his effort was well saved by Tommy Taylor at his near post.

Erith created a rare chance a minute later, but Louie Clarke’s chipped effort sailed over the bar.

Jack Dean went close for Farnham in the 40th minute when his shot was spilled by Tommy Taylor, who then gathered the ball at the second attempt.

The hosts created another good chance on 42 minutes when Mark Waters slid in Owen Dean, who jinked past three challenges before his shot was blocked.

Farnham were quick out of the blocks at the start of the second half and won a penalty in the 47th minute when Jack Dean drove into the box and was tripped. Owen Dean stepped up from the spot and emphatically fired his penalty into the right-hand corner of the net.

The hosts pushed for a fourth and Sanders’ low shot on 52 minutes was well held by Tommy Taylor.

Jack Dean then drove into the box and cut the ball back to Liddle in the 58th minute, but his powerful shot was blocked at point-blank range.

Town almost scored a fourth late on when Joel Rollinson slipped in Sanders, but his effort was well blocked by Tommy Taylor and Sanders couldn’t control the rebound to slot home.

Rollinson then went close in the 87th minute when his low shot fizzed just wide of the right-hand post.

Shay Brennan went close for Farnham in stoppage time, but his shot went just wide of the far post.

Next up for Farnham is a trip to the John Jenkins Stadium to face Moneyfields in the Isthmian League South Central Division on Saturday, August 31 (3pm).