Wanderers' U18s side are through to the second round of the FA Youth Cup after a 5-3 victory over Maidstone United.

Richard Dobson's men cruised into a 5-0 lead at The Homelands thanks to goals from Matt McClure (2), Leika Saku, Pietro Palladino and Robert Lofters-Desport, before the hosts reduced the arrears with three late strikes.

Defender Leika Saku put the Blues 1-0 up on 28 minutes when he finished from close range, before Pietro Palladino reacted quickest to a save from a Matt McClure header to poke Dobson's men 2-0 ahead.

By now the Blues were totally dominant and a third goal arrived two minutes later. Dean Wallace rolled in McClure and the Northern Ireland U19 international fired a fierce 30-yard drive past Maidstone's keeper on 38 minutes.

McClure doubled his tally two minutes after the break when he coolly finished a smart passing move from the Wanderers.

McClure scores his second goal of the evening

The young striker, Kadeem Harris and Josh Scowen were then all replaced within a five minute spell at the beginning of the second period and one of their replacements, Robert Lofters-Desport, made an immediate impact, side-footing past Maidstone's keeper to make it 5-0 just after the hour mark.

Fellow substitute Lee Weemes hit the crossbar moments later, before two Maidstone goals in three minutes reduced the score to 5-2. The first was a well placed finish from inside the 18-yard box, while the second was a close range header.

There was still time for the hosts to find the net on one further occasion, but the Wanderers had done the damage in the opening hour and Dobson's men can now look forward to a second round tie away at St. Albans. 

'Dobbo' told wwfc.com: "We played some good stuff in spells. What we are working on in training is starting to come to fruition on the pitch.

"But I let the players know I wasn't happy with the goals we conceded. They took their foot of the pedal, which meant an unprofessional end to the game.

"However, it is job done; we're through to the next round and now we must prepare for the clash with St.Albans, who had a good win in their tie. We mustn't underestimate them."

Wanderers: Ingram, Grayley, Saku, Styles, Stewart, O'Regan, Wallace, Scowen, Harris, Palladino, McClure.

Subs: Raphael, Belcher, Ware, Weemes, Lofters-Desport.