Sutton United have been drawn at home to Walton & Hersham in the third qualifying round of the FA Cup after a comfortable win over Uxbridge on Saturday.

The Middlesex side gave United a scare in the 18th minute when, after a break down the left from Daniel Rimel, Ryan O’Toole’s 25-yard shot left keeper Kevin Scriven helpless, but crashed against the bar.

Within two minutes, outstanding skipper Jason Goodliffe, who had an outstanding game, had defly headed Sutton in front from Anthony Joseph’s free kick, and from that moment the likelihood of an upset receded quickly.

Alan Bray, who had already put one header wide, just missed with another one soon afterwards from a Danny Phillips corner.

But Sutton were still sufficiently below their best for Uxbridge, who had come through both the previous two cup encounters between the sides, to harbour hopes of making life difficult for them.

Scriven had to adjust well to save a long range free kick from Kevin Warner, and Rimel turned past Karim El-Salahi only for Sutton’s centre back to get enough of a challenge in to force the power out of the shot and give Scriven an easy save.

Sutton should have scored a second five minutes before the break when Phillips’ cross from the left found Joseph unmarked, but with time to bring the ball down he went for a first time volley and sent the ball high towards Gander Green Lane.

Early in the second half, Joseph’s pace created another chance, but his shot across goal was blocked.

Stefan Payne then broke through on the right but, instead of going for goal himself, laid a pass back to Gargan that was scrambled away before the striker could get in a shot.

When Payne got free again moments later, though, and this time rounded the onrushing Michael Watkins, he again pulled the ball back for Gargan who this time skilfully converted the chance with a first time shot on the turn.

Manager Paul Doswell clearly thought the job was done, making a triple substitution three minutes later to give Bradley Woods-Garness and Billy Dunn a half hour’s action.

There were few moments when that confidence was misplaced as it became increasingly a question of whether Sutton could add to their tally.

Bray, coming increasingly close in recent games to his first goal since December 2005, arrived unnoticed to meet a long throw from Billy Hawes, but slid his shot wide. Woods-Garness had a header blocked from a cross by Joseph, who was increasingly enjoying himself against a tiring defence.

With ten minutes to go it was through that channel that the third goal did come, with Joseph outpacing Sargent and driving a shot under Watkins in to the net.

Woods-Garness and Cobbs should both have made the margin of victory even more convincing before the end, but their failure to convert was not crucial with United already safely through.

Sutton: K Scriven, B Hawes, A Bray , J Goodliffe, K El-Salahi, S Cobbs, A Joseph, D Phillips, S Payne(sub B Dunn 59), S Gargan(sub B Woods-Garness 59), J Hawes (sub S McKimm 59) Subs n/u B Thomas, P Smith. Goals: Goodliffe(20), Gargan(56), Joseph(80). Booked: Cobbs(39-foul).

Uxbridge: M Watkins, G Brown, D Sargent, M Howell, M Dennison, T Howe(sub W Carter 74), C Robinson(sub J Smillie 74), K Warner, R O’Toole(sub D Warner), D Rimel, D Thomas.

Referee: A Gillett (Aylesbury) Attendance: 365