Waltham Abbey secured their place in the first qualifying round of the FA Trophy with a 2-1 win at Dereham Town on Saturday.

The Isthmian Division One North Magpies squandered the lead to crash out the first hurdle whilst the Abbots pick up a welcome £2,500 in prize money for their endeavours.

Hosts Dereham had the better of the early chances and on more than once occasion Jake Anema tested Abbots goalkeeper Jayden Purdue before skipper Sam Borrer cracked a powerful strike from 20 yards into Purdue’s grasp.

Abbey’s Emmanuel Ohukayowe then cleared off the line to deny Rhys Logan after he charged down Purdue’s clearance.

But in the 34th minute the Magpies lead as Luke Tuttle crossed for Dan Morphew to fire home from 12 yards with a low effort.

Tom Wood responded for Abbey by firing over but the hosts almost increased their lead when Tuttle rattled against the post.

Ryan Crisp and Tuttle again came close after the restart but found Purdue in good form.

However, Martin Hayes’ men equalised in the 61st minute when Wood’s header from a Ryan Flack corner was headed off the line only for Christian Assombalonga to nod in the rebound.

And in the 69th minute Abbey went in front for the first time, Assombalonga sending a superb strike beyond Dereham keeper Will Viner into the top corner from distance.

Abbey host Isthmian Premier Division side Wingate & Finchley in the second round of the Alan Turvey Trophy on Tuesday.

Redbridge finally brought their 11-game losing streak to a halt with a 1-1 draw at Arlesey Town in the FA Trophy preliminary round on Saturday.

The Motormen will now do battle with the Southern League Division One Central side again on Tuesday evening – instead of facing Haringey Borough in Isthmian Division One North as scheduled – for a place in the first qualifying round.

Hosts Arlesey really should have been in front early on when Nathan Olunkanmi cut back for Bill Plumpton to somehow miss an open goal from just five yards.

And Plumpton went closer still soon after, controlling Christian Tavernier’s pass before shooting against the post with Redbridge goalkeeper Jack Avery stranded.

Avery was then called upon to repel a fierce effort from Olunkanmi to keep the game scoreless.

But Redbridge could not resist their hosts forever and in the 23rd minute Arlesey took the lead when Jack Vasey headed in Plumpton’s cross.

The best Dave Ross and Ricky Eaton’s men could muster was a Jay Knight effort which required saving from Arlesey stopper Nick Thompson.

Arlesey continued to push for a second after the break but were instead pegged back in the 53rd minute as Redbridge found an equaliser.

Joe Gent wriggled beyond two home defenders and passed to Knight to sweep beyond Thompson and drag the visitors level.

Redbridge’s tails were now up as they went in search of a winner, but Arlesey still posed a threat and might have snatched a winner through Plumpton.

Yet it was the Motormen who had the best chance to seal their passage into the next round, Gent firing over from Cornelius’ pass.