WITHAM Town boss Adam Flint was delighted to see his side progress in the FA Cup after their 2-0 win at Canvey Island but was equally pleased that his side had got their season up and running with a first victory.

Goals from Tyler Corlett and Sam Ashford allowed the visitors to see off the Gulls in their preliminary round clash.

Flint felt it was a mature performance from his players and is hopeful that his side can build on their opening win of the campaign when they return to Bostik League division north action at Aveley on Friday night before Bank Holiday Monday’s home game against Barking (kick-off 3pm).

The Town boss said: “I’m really pleased with the win because it has got us off the mark.

“I think we grew up a lot against Canvey because we managed the game really well, which we didn’t do much last season.

“We had four central defenders playing and I think we worked harder than them.

“I know we have quality in this team but we just haven’t started the season how we would have wanted.

“Hopefully now we can push on.”

Witham’s reward for their FA Cup heroics last weekend will be another away day at a fellow Bostik League division north side in the first qualifying round.

The first qualifying round draw has handed them another trip when they will head to Ware.

First qualifying round games will be played on September 2, with a £3,000 prize up for grabs as well as a place in the second qualifying round.

Witham have already pocketed £1,925 from their win against Canvey and Flint admitted that the extra money coming into the club would be a bonus.

The Witham boss added: “This is a good result for the club.

“Canvey are a big club and they will probably be surprised to have been knocked out in this round.

“A lot of people wouldn’t have expected us to win so it is money coming into the club that we might not have expected.

“That money will go into the club and help us throughout the season.”

Aside from the result that his team earned at Canvey Island - a side who some have tipped to win the Bostik League division north title this year - Flint was also pleased to see players step into the Witham line-up after spells out.

Town have struggled with a number of injuries in the early weeks of the season, but the manage hopes fans will now get a chance to see a fuller strength squad as they look to build on their FA Cup success.

He added: “Damien Green played at Canvey but he hadn’t trained for three weeks.

“He just came back for that game and played.

“Sam Ashford also came on and scored the second goal after he pulled his hamstring in the last game of pre-season.

“My left and right backs also weren’t there so injuries haven’t been kind to us.

“People won’t have seen those boys before this game and I hope we will get better and learn from the mistakes we made last year.”