WINSFORD United reached the first qualifying round in style on Saturday, recording their biggest FA Cup win for 20 years.

Their reward is a trip to Whitby Town, from the Northern Premier League’s top flight.

As they did at Staveley at the previous stage, Blues made their hosts play catch-up.

They did so after recovering from the early blow of losing defender Adam Bayley to an injury sustained when he tried to divert a loose ball over the line after Alsager goalkeeper Chris Fletcher had fumbled Harry Brazel’s header.

The visitors took the lead shortly afterwards, when Fletcher struck an attempted clearance Brazel’s way.

His header reached Nathan Cotterell, who swept in a smart finish.

The Bullets blew a chance to level when front man Michael Lennon missed the target with only Blues’ custodian Michael Langley in front of him.

Adam Dawson was similarly wasteful from close range too.

Alsager will have felt worse when player-manager Lee Duckworth curve d in direct from a free kick to double his side’s lead after half an hour.

At the other end, Dave Harry missed his kick when he seemed certain to score before Warren Holmes halved the hosts’ arrears when he nodded in after back-marker Sam Parr had cleared off the line.

However Winsford restored a two-goal advantage by the break when Cotterell converted Dale Jennings’ cross.

Harry hit wide once again in the second period, while Troy Bourne prompted Langley to react brilliantly after shooting from an acute angle.

Cotterell turned provider for Brazel to fire with power past Fletcher for 4-1, then Kyle Riley’s attempt – when a corner fell kindly – made it five for the visitors.

And Riley, Blues’ captain, slid in to complete the scoring with time running out after Fletcher tipped another Cotterell effort into his path.

It marks the first time the men from Barton Stadium have celebrated back-to-back FA Cup wins in more than a decade.

Alsager | Fletcher (GK), Minton, Bourne, Mountford (Bennion 46), Taylor, Holmes, Sargent (Tomkinson 70), Dawson (Donaldson 46), Harry, Lennon, Glover Subs not used Stubbs, Moorhead Goal Holmes 42 Booked Donaldson

Blues | Langley (GK), Stott, Duckworth, Jennings (Rothwell 75), Bayley (Collins 10), Parr, Taylor (Hudson 67), Brazel, Riley, Cotterell, Clarke Subs not used Osborne (GK), Moores, Egan, Dean Goals Cotterell 18, 45 Duckworth 30, Brazel 65, Riley 72, 82

Referee Daniel Parkes

Attendance 125

Additional reporting by Bob Astles