Wivenhoe Town’s season is up and running.

Having waited almost a month and eight games to record their first win of the campaign, it finally came with a success in the FA Vase first qualifying round at Baldock Town Letchworth.

The Dragons and their Hertfordshire Senior County League premier division hosts were level at 1-1 after 120 minutes of play thanks to a strike by Ritchie Meadows.

However, it was Paul Sibbons’ young side that held its nerve in the penalty shootout.

Wivenhoe secured their passage into the second qualifying round and an £800 payout with a 6-5 win on penalties.

Ed Butcher, Ben Pudney, Luke Rogers, Jack Sibbons, Harry Schofield and James Raby were the players on target from the penalty spot for Wivenhoe.

The Dragons will now face a home tie against Potton United of the Eagle Bitter United Counties League division one in the next round on September 19.

Ray Turner scored twice as HALSTEAD TOWN cruised into the second qualifying round of the FA Vase at the expense of premier division strugglers Harwich and Parkeston.

Halstead thrashed the Shrimpers 6-0 at The Royal Oak, with Lee Hyun, Danny Rowell, Tom Webb and Chris Bryan joining Turner on the scoresheet.

Halstead manager Jody Brown was delighted with his side’s performance in beating higher division opposition.

He said: “I think the scoreline reflected our dominance.

“Without wishing to be disrespectful to Harwich, I don’t think the final scoreline flattered us.

“However, at 1-0 our goalkeeper Ed Wootten made an absolutely superb save to push the ball over the bar and that was a defining moment.

“I honestly think we picked ourselves up from that point and it woke us up a bit.

“Harwich’s heads dropped in the second half and we took full advantage.

“We have shown again that we’re confident playing against teams from a higher division.”

Halstead took a two-goal lead in at half-time.

Hyun put them ahead after 20 minutes when he headed in Rowell’s cross at the near post.

Harwich searched for an equaliser and Halstead goalkeeper Ed Wootten needed to make point blank saves to deny Eldridge and Manning. But Halstead increased their advantage on the stroke of half-time when Turner stooped low to guide the ball past Harwich goalkeeper Mahoney.

The tie was practically over as a contest with the second half just minutes old.

Defensive errors allowed Turner to net his second and Halstead threatened to run riot from that point.

Rowell scored Halstead’s fourth – his third in his last three games – after the ball had been given away cheaply in midfield.

And substitute Tom Webb side-footed a fifth goal into an empty net after some good work from Turner on the wing.

Halstead wrapped up their victory before the end when Bryan was given space to cut in from the right and rifle the ball from a tight angle into the far corner.