Dunston advanced into the second qualifying round of the Isuzu FA Trophy following a comprehensive 4-1 win over Brighouse Town. 

Jon McDonald made two changes to the side that defeated Kendal Town last week, with Fin Neary and Josh Donaldson replacing the suspended JJ O’Donnell and Phil Turnbull.

Dunston started the brighter of the two teams, with Jude Swailes seeing a header tipped over by Callister in the Brighouse goal. From the resulting corner, Wil Shaw’s delivery was flicked on by Tom Devitt to put Dunston 1-0 up inside four minutes.

The Blues continued to push for a second goal, and Dan Turner saw his long-range effort fumbled by Callister before the keeper managed to gather. Wil Shaw had the ball in the net after 25 minutes, but his effort was ruled out for a foul on Ferdinand Annor. Brighouse equalised just after the half-hour mark, when good work down the right-hand side by Rhys Plater allowed him to square for Harvey Booth to tap home.

Dunston pushed to regain their lead, and Josh Donaldson broke in behind the Brighouse defence; however, his effort found the side netting. Five minutes later, patient build-up play from Dunston restored their advantage, as Harvey Neary found space behind the Brighouse back line before squaring for Donaldson to tap home from close range.

On the stroke of half-time, Donaldson grabbed his second of the afternoon, beating his man on the left before cutting inside and slotting into the bottom corner, sending Dunston into the break with a comfortable 3-1 lead.

The second half began in similar fashion, with Dan Turner finding space down the left before crossing for Jude Swailes, whose close-range effort narrowly cleared the bar. Twenty minutes later, substitute Liam Thear picked out fellow substitute Sado Djalo, who knocked the ball down to Wil Shaw. Shaw unselfishly squared it to Donaldson, who slotted home from close range to complete his hat-trick.

As the game reached its latter stages, Brighouse pushed for a consolation goal, but the Dunston defence stood strong, limiting them to very few chances.

Next up for Dunston is a home tie against Stocksbridge Park Steels in the FA Cup second qualifying round.

Dunston: Lowson, H.Neary, McDonald, Edwards (Thear, 62’), Swailes, Devitt, F.Neary (Djalo, 52’), Robinson, Donaldson (McNall, 74), Shaw, Turner (Turnbull, 81)

Goals: Devitt (4’), Donaldson, (42’, 45+1, 73’)
Yellow Cards: Turner (20’)

Brighouse Town: Callister, Curtis, Annor, Waldram, Hibbard, Grumley, Dunne, Richardson, Booth, Plater, Preston

Substitutes: Paisley, Mason, Frost, Mohamed
Goals: Booth (31’)

Yellow Cards: Dunne (15’), Annor (33’)

Att: 376

Report by Thomas Boyle