RAMSBOTTOM earned themselves £7,500 after making it through the first qualifying round of the FA Cup with ease.

Rams boss Mike Kelly went for experience with a number of players who missed the opening games now becoming available.

The home side got the start they were looking for when Russell Brierley headed home Phil Porter's cross on eight minutes. Ashington looked second best and on 18 minutes the Rams went two up, Mark Thomas' towering header finding the net following David Yorke-Robinson's free kick.

United pressed forward with Steve Brennan causing Ashington all sorts of problems down the right and the North East side were constantly put on the back foot. A minute before the interval Yorke-Robinson made it 3-0 when he showed superb skills in flicking the ball over the advancing keeper.

Ramsbottom took a firm grip on the game at the start of the second half and when Porter crashed in a fourth on 53 minutes, Ashington looked a beaten side. Fifteen minutes from time the Northern Leaguers did pull a goal back with a well-struck shot from Ross Atkinson.

In the final 10 minutes Ramsbottom squandered one or two good chances but Russell Brierley completed his hat trick with goals on 87 and 90 minutes.

RESULT: RAMSBOTTOM UTD...6 ASHINGTON...1