Lowestoft advanced go the first round proper of the FA Trophy this afternoon at a windswept Crown Meadow.

Goals from Jake Reed, Jack Ainsley, Danny Crow and Bradley Woods-Garness secured a deserved win and a place in Monday's draw.

Victory made it four games unbeaten for the Blues and will give them confidence ahead of their return to National League North duties at home to Alfreton Town next Saturday.

The Blues took their time to settle, their talks not helped by the blustery conditions.

Michael Spillane had some nervous early moments, troubled by the pacy Kevin Krans, who almost set up an opening goal for the visitors when his low cross forced Jack Ainsley into emergency action as the ball skidded across the front of goal – forcing keeper Ben Killip to get down quickly to clear.

The first effort of note came from Lowestoft, Jake Reed making ground down the left, cutting inside but then seeing his shot blocked by the keeper.

Lowestoft were getting into the game and on the stroke of half-time they took a deserved lead when Danny Crow's floated a free-kick from the left to the far post where Rossi Jarvis nodded it down for Reed to stab it home.

It was just what Town deserved, having absorbed the early pressure, adapted to the conditions and then taken control.

Their superiority was confirmed four minutes after the break when Ainsley converted from the penalty spot for his first goal of the season after Reed had been upended by James Comley, who saw red.

Crow made it 3-0 with a precision goal from 30 yards, drifting the ball over the keeper in the 73rd minute before Town added a fourth four minutes from time when Chris Henderson showed his unselfish side, rolling the ball across the area when he could have shot, finding Bradley Woods-Garness, who knocked it home from six yards.