WITHAM Town achieved their second FA Cup victory this season when they beat Brantham Athletic 1-0 in the preliminary round, writes JIM PURTILL.

A 70th-minute goal from Shakeel Morris was enough to beat their Eastern Counties League opponents and book a trip to play Berkhamsted, in the first qualifying round.

Brantham had provided one of the extra preliminary round shocks when they beat Basildon United and this was not an easy victory for Witham, particularly in the first half when the match looked even.

Brantham were the first side to threaten when the impressive Stefano Mallardo had a shot cleared off the line in the 16th minute.

Three minutes later a run on the right flank by Witham’s Ramiah Mills resulted in a dangerous low cross which just missed the far post.

Both sides had chances to score, with Michael Shaikly going close for the hosts and Mills causing problems for the home defence.

Kieran Southgate impressed for Witham and Jose Santa de La Paz was involved in several good attacks for Brantham.

Mills and Adam Vyse both shot narrowly wide towards the end of the first half.

Just after the half-time break a fierce free kick from Witham’s Liam Whipps was punched away by Matthew Walker in the Brantham goal.

Witham looked far more authoritative in the second half and they began to assert their dominance with more possession as they moved forward with greater control.

Most of the action was conducted in the Brantham half, with Gaz Dauti and substitute Callum Matthews making positive contributions for Witham.

The visitors’ defence looked very assured but in attack they found it hard to carve out clear openings.

Neither goalkeeper was threatened in the early part of the second half.

Brantham were given a warning of the danger caused by long throws from Mills when Witham defender Joseph Alatise headed over the bar in the 63rd minute.

Seven minutes later, from a similar position another Mills throw created the only goal of the match.

Witham substitute Shakeel Morris scored in the 70th minute when he was the first to react in the penalty area and he fired a shot into the roof of the net.

Morris had only been on the field for a minute and he scored with his first touch in his second active substitute appearance for the club.

Brantham had done well to match the visitors for much of the contest but after going a goal down they found it harder to raise their game.

Sam Allen shot just over the bar for the hosts shortly after the goal but the home side’s energy levels seems to drop and little was seen of the Brantham attack in the last 20 minutes.

As the final whistle approached Brantham came very close to a late equaliser with their most dangerous moment of the second half.

James Lee found himself in space on the left with the Witham goal exposed.

He tried to lob the ball over Madden but a match-saving touch from the goalkeeper slowed the ball down enough for him to gather it at the second attempt.

Witham manager Chris Taylor summed up the afternoon well when he said that it took some time for the visitors to find their fluency but they deserved the victory.