HULLBRIDGE Sports are through to the fourth round of the Essex Senior Cup after claiming a 4-2 win over Witham Town.

Darren Manning’s side were looking to follow the under-18 side’s example by enjoying a cup upset.

And the Essex Senior League high-flyers were able to see off the Isthmian North strugglers thanks to a brace of goals from Nathan Scarborough, along with Jamal Allen and Michael Salako strikes.

Hullbridge got off to the best possible start as they broke the deadlock inside two minutes.

Witham goalkeeper Luca Collins could only push an Aundre Spencer corner into the path of Allen and he made no mistake.

And the hosts doubled their advantage with less than 15 minutes on the clock as Collins rushed off his line and attempted to clear the danger, but Scarborough blocked the attempted clearance and curled the ball around the defender rushing back to the goal-line.

Hullbridge looked to continue their dominance and Dan Okah blazed a volley over the crossbar after starting a quickfire counter attack.

But Sports did not have to wait long before extending their lead as Scarborough headed home a Jimmy Cox free-kick soon after the half hour mark.

However, Witham were to get a goal back before the break as Alejandro Seoane Barber broke through the home defence and found the roof of the net, giving Sports goalkeeper George Marsh no chance.

Scarborough passed up a golden opportunity to complete his hat-trick soon after the break as he latched onto a defensive error, but the frontman’s lob went over the crossbar.

Witham could have reduced the deficit when the referee adjudged Johnny Ashman to have been brought down.

But Hullbridge, who argued contact was minimal, would have felt justice was served as Marsh kept out Ashman’s penalty and the rebound went over the crossbar.

Adebola Sotoyinbo then saw his free-kick tipped onto the post by Collins as Sports looked to kill the game off.

But the visitors were awarded a second spot-kick soon after and, this time, Samuel Ashford made no mistake.

Ashford, who came off the bench in an attempt to turn the tie in Witham’s favour, then forced Marsh into a sharp diving save as Witham aimed to get back on level terms.

Sports substitute Luke Hornsley had a low effort cleared off the goal-line with little more than 10 minutes remaining, but fellow substitute Salako rounded off the scoring late on.