JOSH Howell bagged a brace as Binfield defeated Lymington Town 3-2 to reach the first qualifying round of the FA Cup.

And newly-appointed skipper Sean Moore – with Howell the vice-captain – was also on target in an entertaining preliminary round game at Hill Farm Lane on Saturday.

The Moles had to play their third goalkeeper in seven games with a debut for Joe Williams, a Reading-based 18-year-old who spent two seasons with Scottish club Ross County as an apprentice.

He took over from Sam Symanski, who was not available after playing in the three previous games as a stand-in for new father David Lyons.

Binfield were slow into their stride and given a couple of early scares by their Wessex League opponents.

They managed to weather the pressure and took the lead with a goal out of the blue in the 24th minute. From a throw-in, Jack Thompson-Wheeler delivered a high cross from the right which Moore turned home off his knee.

The lead only lasted three minutes as their defence were caught out by a long ball down the middle, giving Sam House time to lob the ball over the advancing Williams.

However, six minutes later Binfield went back in front when Moore was brought down in the area and Josh Howell made no mistake from the penalty spot.

Moles were forced to make a change shortly before half-time with Josh Helmore picking up an ankle injury and replaced by Jemel Johnson.

And then in the 65th minute, Carl Davies also left the field after tweaking his back, with Idris Kamara taking over at the heart of the defence alongside the outstanding Liam Gavin.

Moments later Kamara was joining in the celebrations as Howell made it 3-1 with a well-placed angled shot from out on the left.

Lymington did manage to get a second goal from Tim Stevenson, but it came in the last few seconds of stoppage time.

Binfield host Virginia Water in the FA Vase on Friday (7.45pm), having already defeated them 2-0 at home in the league earlier this month