HARRIERS secured their place in the Fourth Qualifying Round of the FA Cup with a narrow 2-1 win at National League South side Cheshunt on Saturday.

The visitors, boosted by a strong away following and the memories of last season’s epic run to the Fourth Round, flew out of the traps, and netted inside four minutes after Ashley Hemmings showed great composure to take Ethan Freemantle’s ball and finish past goalkeeper Billy Cracknell and into the net.

Hosts Cheshunt, struggling near the foot of National League South, did respond well and almost equalised immediately, Hemmings back doing his defensive duties to hook an effort off the line.

With a dozen minutes played, Harriers went close to a second goal when Gabby Rogers tried his luck with an effort that was tipped wide – the resultant corner finding the head of Alex Penny who thought he’d headed in, only for Cracknell’s knee to intervene.

The remainder of the tie was far less controlled as an unpredictable home side continued to push forward with real height in attack, Brandon Adams forcing Tom Palmer to turn aside a 26th minute shot.

The second period was just six minutes old when Harriers doubled their advantage. The tireless Freemantle was at the heart of it, pressuring Cracknell into a poor clearance before waiting for Hemmings’ resultant cross that he gleefully tucked past the stopper for his fifth goal of the campaign.

Any hopes that it might have been a free-and-easy end to the day from there were quickly dashed, though – Cheshunt again showing good character in response as they pulled one back, sub Mo Camara planting a header past Palmer from a corner.

Freemantle almost restored the two-goal lead ten minutes later but headed wide after Shane Byrne knocked a Hemmings cross back across to the far post, Zak Brown then having the final chance of the day when he shot just wide from inside the area.

On reflection, a relieved Jimmy O’Connor admitted getting through to the next round was by far the post important factor. He said: “I think we learned our lessons last year with these early games in the FA Cup.

“You just have to come through the tie. We weren’t at our best today, we know that, but we showed some character again – real character.

“The lads stood up to it after a really tough week with three away games. We can’t complain, we’re in the hat and that’s the most important thing.”

Harriers head Farsley Celtic at Aggborough Stadium in National League North next Saturday (8th) at 3:00pm.