An emphatic header from Lawrie Marsh and another brace from Callum Stead helped Hitchin Town beat Needham Market 3-0 to win through to the FA Cup second qualifying round.

Hopes were high before kick-off that Mark Burke's Canaries would transfer their excellent league start to the world's oldest cup competition and embark on another stirring run.

They were to be proved correct as Hitchin eclipsed the Marketmen in a hard-fought clash at Top Field on Monday evening, with the scoreline slightly flattering the home side.

However, while the visitors could argue Burke's braves did not deserve to win by a three goal margin, the home side will not care as they gained revenge of sorts for the 8-1 shellacking they received at the hands of the visitors two seasons ago.

The result meant Hitchin would keep this season's dream of a stirring cup run alive on Monday evening at Top Field after former Biggleswade defender Marsh escaped his marker in a crowded box to time his run to perfection and nod home on 14 minutes.

It was good football all round with Jhai Dhillon's pinpoint cross making it two assists in two matches.

Just after the half an hour mark keeper Charlie Horlock was involved in a scramble which saw the visitors hit the bar, only moments after Dhillon thudded the woodwork at the other end. Somehow the ball did not close the line, much to the Canaries relief.

In truth, conceding would have been harsh on Burke's team, after such a lively start, which saw Rio Dasilva shine.

The pacy wideman with so many tricks up his sleeve he could nutmeg a mermaid unsettled the Marketmen's backline throughout.

An impressive aspect of many from Hitchin during this embryonic season has been the willingness of the side to work hard off the ball, from the front men up top all the way through the team.

Their intense pressing unsettles opponents, with the Canaries relentless harrying and closing down of space affording opportunities to win back possession and stifle attacks.

Hitchin's high intensity meant Needham Market fell to their first defeat of the season, after they drew 1-1 with Redditch at the weekend.

Their loss was confirmed after Stead angled a close range header past the visitor's keeper Marcus Garnham to make it 2-0. The goal came from another Dhillon cross on 68 minutes, as in-form striker Stead made it four goals in two games this season.

The Canaries have pedigree in the FA Cup with the club's antecedents taking part in the first ever campaign in 1871-72.

In the mid-1990s Hitchin provided the headlines as they reached the second round after beating Bristol Rovers 2-1 on an unforgettable afternoon at Top Field, with a side that included boss Burke.

More recently, in 2018, the Canaries once again reached the first round, falling to Solihull Moors after an epic cup run which included dramatic penalty-shoot outs along the way including a never-to-be-forgotten evening victory at Leatherhead to send them through to the first round proper.

Hitchin have already started to make a mark in this season's vintage, which was underlined when Stead grabbed his second late on to seal a 3-0 victory.

The beauty of the cup at this early stage is that clubs such as Hitchin can harbour hopes of drawing lower league 'big boys' in the first round proper three ties from now.

The Canaries satisfying result in front of a bumper crowd of 410 loyal fans certainly kept those dreams alive.