JUST as had happened to them in an FA Cup extra preliminary round match last month, an incident late in Stanway Rovers' FA Vase tie saw their first qualifying round tie abandoned at the Hawthorns.

Rovers had been beating Thurlow Nunn League division one south leaders White Ensign 2-1 after 80 minutes of their Vase encounter, but a nasty injury suffered by the visitors' Liam Sewell saw the game called off.

It means the pair will have to replay the fixture in the same way that Stanway had to when their earlier FA Cup game - against Tower Hamlets - was abandoned at about the same time in that particular match.

White Ensign were playing their first-ever game in the Vase and made a strong start when they took the lead thanks to a goal from Andy George.

However, they missed a chance to double their lead when Stanway keeper Lewis Hawley saved a penalty and Ensign were ruing that further when Callum Griffiths levelled for the hosts.

It remained that way until half-time, but Stanway went ahead when Harry Seal fired home after the break and that was how it stood when Sewell had his unfortunate incident.

Elsewhere in FA Vase first qualifying round action, there was progress for Brantham Athletic and Holland FC, but Wivenhoe Town and Halstead Town bowed out.

Brantham earned their place in the next round with a 3-1 win at Stansted after Sam Newson scored twice and George Clarke was also on target for the Imps.

Holland, meanwhile, triumphed 4-2 at home against Cornard United.

Strikes from Steve Eaton, Joe Martin, Jayden Randall and Billy Wales put Holland four up after half an hour and although Cornard came back into the game with two goals, the damage had already been done.

It proved a tough day for Halstead, though, as the Humbugs, who are unbeaten in Thurlow Nunn League division one south so far, suffered a 6-0 defeat at Spartan South Midlands League division one leaders Enfield Borough.

There was also a defeat for Wivenhoe as the Dragons were beaten 2-1 at Newbury Forest.

Wivenhoe had gone ahead with a Tonye Joseph goal and almost doubled their lead when Aaron Donaldson hit the crossbar, but Newbury Forest came back with two goals to deny the Dragons progress.