Phil Babb’s side moved comfortably into the first round proper of this seasons FA Trophy competition with a well executed 6-0 victory over Ryman Division One side Horsham at York Road on Sunday afternoon.

Grant Smith and Mason Spence returned to the United starting line-up which also included a debut for newly loaned Southend United striker Isaac Layne in a two-pronged attack alongside top scorer Pat Cox.

United started well against the Sussex side with two in the box efforts being blocked by well timed defensive challenges by the visitors, firstly denying Isaac Layne and then Pat Cox.

Horsham ‘keeper Gareth Williams was first drawn into action on 12 minutes when Rhys Murrell-Williamson won possession while on his backside, Layne took the ball on and hit a low shot that Williams turned around the post.

The deadline was broken after 24 minutes when Louis-Rae Beadle and Layne combined to feed the ball to skipper Matty Harriott who took a touch before striking a low shot from 20 yards into the bottom corner of the Horsham net.

Horsham came back at United having gone behind with probably their only real effort to cause Grant Smith anxiety, Byron Napper drilled in a 25 yard drive that only just cleared the United crossbar.

Beadle had a shot charged down before combining with Lewis Ferrell to feed Layne who saw his shot on the turn touched wide by Williams. Just two minutes later United doubled the lead when a cross in from the left was smashed against his own post by Horsham’s Billy-Joe King and as the ball came back into play off Williams’ hand, Cox was quickest to react and he fired home from close range.

The impressive Layne headed just wide from a deep Mason Spence centre before getting his name on the scoresheet in first half stoppage time, firing home after Murrell-Williamson’s cross has ricocheted off a defenders leg to the striker.

The second half started with Williams again being kept busy as he turned away another Harriott drive after good approach play involving Beadle and Cox. Then minutes later Layne showed great pace to chase down a deep line-ball, catching it on the bye-line before nipping past Lewis Hamilton and curling a shot towards the far post that was inches wide.

Number four came just after the hour mark, Layne slid the ball into the run of full-back Spence who advanced into the box before firing past Williams’ desperate dive.

For the visitors, a free-kick by Samir Hadi which flew over off the wall was about all the United defence had to handle as the game progressed towards its inevitable conclusion which saw United net twice more before the final whistle.

First was a second for debutant Layne, an upfield clearance being headed vertically by Hamilton, the United striker nipping past the defender to control and fire confidently past Williams from the edge of the box.

The sixth and final strike came in stoppage time, Beadle took the ball from defender King on the United right wing, moved inside the box and hit the ball across Williams from an acute angle into the far top corner to round off a fine afternoon for Phil Babb’s side.

Report by Kevin Watts.

Photos by Ray Peploe.

SKYex United Man of the Match: Isaac Layne.

Print the Teamsheet: Here.