Lowestoft Town 4, Redbridge 1: Two goals in the final seven minutes gave Lowestoft Town a flattering victory and passage into the FACarlsberg Trophy first qualifying round in which they will visit Hendon in a fortnight.

Lowestoft Town 4, Redbridge 1

Two goals in the final seven minutes gave Lowestoft Town a flattering victory and passage into the FACarlsberg Trophy first qualifying round in which they will visit Hendon in a fortnight.

With Matthew Halliday injured, Matty Potter came into the starting line-up for his first game of the season. The teams were greeted by a strong wind blowing straight down the pitch which spoilt the game as a spectacle and made life difficult for the players.

Redbridge had the first shot at goal but Harry Oniha's effort went straight at Andy Reynolds. With the strong wind behind them Lowestoft were prepared to try their luck from distance. Neil Plaskett shaved the post from 30 yards and an excellent turn and shot by Matt Nolan was inches too high.

Lowestoft's mounting pressure paid off in the 23rd minute as they took the lead. Jamie Bly mis-controlled a high, bouncing ball and Nolan pounced to shoot past David McCartney from 12 yards.

Neil Plaskett, Matt Nolan and Jamie Godbold combined to open up the Redbridge defence but Nolan's shot was parried by David McCartney.

Redbridge enjoyed a better spell and an Andy Edmunds free-kick was saved by the diving Reynolds, who did even better moments later as he finger-tipped the ball over from a fierce Leon Diaczuk drive.

Lowestoft increased their lead in the 41st minute with Nolan getting his second of the day, shooting home from12 yards.

Early in the second half Adam Smith set up Godbold, but McCartney held the ball under the bar. Play became very scrappy before Redbridge pulled a goal back in the 63rd minute. A quickly-taken throw in on the right released Oniha who crossed low for Diaczuk to calmly take the ball round Reynolds to shoot into an empty net.

Stung into action, Lowestoft came more into the game and Craig Bussens twice made tracks down the right and from the second his cross picked out Gary McGee whose header was saved by McCartney.

Ross King made ground down the opposite flank but his low cross saw Simon Peddie's excellent tackle deny Nolan his hat-trick. Andrew Fisk saw his 25-yard effort saved at the foot of the post by McCartney.

At the other end a Diaczuk from 30 yards dropped tantalisingly close to the upright. Lowestoft settled their nerves with a third goal in the 83rd minute. Neil Plaskett won the ball and played it forward to Nolan who in turn released Fisk down the right. Fisk unselfishly squared the ball into the middle to give Gary McGee a simple tap-in.

Lowestoft added a fourth goal in the 86th minute. Fisk picked up a rebound after Bussens' shot had been blocked and played it through for substitute Christy Finch to shoot across McCartney inside the far post.

t Lowestoft: Reynolds, Plaskett, Smith, Woodrow (Sub King 33), Crane, Potter, Godbold, Fisk, Nolan (Sub Darren Cockrill 84), McGee (Sub Finch 84), Bussens, subs (not used) Lovelock, Attridge

t Redbridge: McCartney, Alder, Peddie, Matson, Bly, Habu, Edmunds, Diaczuk, Georgiou (Sub Read 60), Oniha, Jesus (Sub Layton (49), Subs (not used) Adams, Nougher, Durell

t Attendance: 642.