Harpenden Town's hopes of an FA Cup shock disappeared with a 5-2 defeat away to St Ives Town.

The Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division team had earned a replay at their Southern League Premier Division Central hosts with a 0-0 draw on Saturday at Rothamsted Park.

But three goals in the final 10 minutes of the first half proved crucial in deciding the first qualifying round tie.

Both teams made three changes from game one.

Taylor Keeley, Alfie Osborne and Isaiah Hilaire came in for Harps, replacing Lawrence Whiffen, Jake Collins and Dave Keenleyside 

And while that feeling of 'what if' would eventually be the over-riding one, Westwood Road was a nervy place until two goals in two minutes put them clearly in front.

They had done most of the pressing in the early stages but hadn't really tested Harpenden keeper Connor Coulson.

That was until the 22nd minute when they got their noses in front.

A long throw from the right was headed out to the edge of the box and volleyed back by Kobe Chong.

He didn't get the sweetest of strikes but the volley was only skewed slightly, and went low to the left of Coulson.

If that settled the nerves, they were back two minutes later.

A long cross from the right was dropping over Dan Wilks, with the keeper seemingly happy that it was going out.

He was completely unaware though of Hilaire coming sneaking in behind, and the winger's header back into the middle took him out of the equation, allowing Jake Anthony to poke it into the roof of the net.

If Harpenden could have got to half-time level, or even just one behind, it would have been a different story.

But Ives went back in front on 36 minutes and then scored a third two minutes later.

The first of them saw a shot across the face of goal bounce off the far post, with David Adegbola unmarked to stick the rebound away.

Moments later Peter Adimbola was the last recipient of a couple of passes, and he shimmied and swayed his way past Coulson, rolling the ball into the net.

That was tough for Harpenden and their task was made even harder on the stroke of half-time when Jonny Edwards hit a shot with power and dip from the left edge of the area and across Coulson and in.

Harpenden did come up with purpose but Ives killed the game off, if it wasn't already with a fifth on 57 minutes.

Adimbola got it again and again it showcased some nifty dance moves, the subtle body sway and shimmy giving him the space to bend the ball into the corner of the net.

That ended the game as a contest although Harpenden did still try to play with pace and intensity.

They got into some good positions too but too often the ball was either the wrong pass, or the intended receiver was not alert to the situation.

However, they got it right on 88 minutes, Marcus Williams with a firm low drive that beat Wilks at his near post.

Harpenden will now look forward to getting their league campaign, which resumes on Saturday with a trip to MK Irish.

St Ives will have a home game against Berkhamsted in the next round of the cup.

Match details

St Ives Town (4) 5 Harpenden Town (1) 2

Harpenden Town: Coulson, Keeley, Rodrigues, Plowright (Codling 61), Palmer, Locke, Webb (Ajana 71), Osborne, Anthony (M.Williams 61), Spaul (Sweeting 71), Hilaire (McLeod 77).

Subs (not used): Andreou.

Goals: Anthony 24, M.Williams 88

Booked: 

 

St Ives Town: Wilks, Adegbola (Kaziboni 71), Smith, Lawrence, J.Williams (Creary 57), Collard, Chong (Watkins 84), Abimbola (Dickson 84), Edwards (Alexandrou 71), Obeng, Casey.

Subs: all used. 

Goals: Chong 22, Adegbola 36, Adimbola 38, 57, Edwards 45

Booked:

 

Added time: 1+4

Referee: Joseph Karram (Milton, Cambridge)

Attendance: 224