Liversedge 3

Prescot Cables 0

Liversedge steamrolled over UniBond Premier League opposition Prescot Cables to reach the next round of the FA Cup and ambitious manager Eugene Lacy is already dreaming about mixing it with the bigger clubs.

Lacy wanted to meet his old club Farsley Celtic in the next round but they crashed out at Altrincham. "We're happy to take on anyone - we have a good side," he said.

Sedge had already beaten UniBond Division One side Rossendale United in the competition but went one better on Saturday.

Prescot Cables were muttering about Sedge's sloping pitch before the kick-off and their misgivings were not lost on the home players.

They tore into their opponents as though their lives depended on it, with skipper Chris Walton in particular letting them know he was around.

And within 15 minutes Sedge were in the lead. Nathan James broke away from his defender on the right and whipped in an inviting cross which Scott Metcalf swept into the back of the net.

Minutes later and the home side were two up. A free-kick on the edge of the Prescot box was despached with sheer brilliance by Asif Hussain. The cultured defender bent his kick around the wall and into the bottom corner of the net. The visitors were stunned.

Liversedge didn't sit back - they broke forward at every opportunity with Metcalf and Gareth Hamlet getting in where it hurts.

After the break, Liversedge had the low sun in their eyes but the defence held firm often catching their visitors off-side.

And when Sedge were awarded a penalty, that was game over. Paddy Gaughan crashed the ball high into the net and it was 3-0.

Many teams might have packed their defence - not Sedge. They could have had a hatful more as James and Hamlet missed chances and Walton sent a header crashing against the upright.

Lacy introduced Wayne Crossley into the fray late on and the tiny attacker scared the tiring Prescot defence half to death. Lacy said: "We played very well. We deserved everything we got. We also missed a lot of chances. But we miss chances every week.

"Fortunately we converted three chances against what is supposed to be a good side. They have actually just turned up here thinking they are going to roll us over. They were wondering who they were getting in the next round.

"But we thrive on commitment. We got an early goal as well. We constantly nag at Nathan to get at his full back and he doesn't do it. He did on this occasion and we are pleased.

"Asif took his free-kick well but he has done that regularly as well. The players have got to get into a habit of believing they are a good side.

"We have got to concentrate on the league now and get a little bit more consistency."