Goals from Jermain Hollis, Sacha Markelic and Marcus Marshall secured the victory, with Jake Wright putting in a man-of-the-match display at the back.

The Eastwood joint bosses were without Abdul Saad, Declan Dunn, Phil Watt, Will Robinson, Aaron O’Connor, Tyler Johal, Alfie Flynn and Thomas Hodgkinson, so were forced into making six changes from the side that lost 2-0 at the hands of Newark Town on Tuesday night. Morris-Wright, Ridgley, White and Hollis were all handed starts with Elliott and Abraha moving to the bench. Newest recruits Goddard and Saunders made their debut’s from the start.

The tie could have taken a very different turn early on. On 21 minutes, Melton broke with four attackers bearing down on goal, only to be denied by a perfectly timed last-ditch challenge from Wright, who prevented what looked like a certain opener.

Eastwood grew into the contest and broke the deadlock five minutes before the break. A teasing cross from Saunders was met by Hollis, whose glancing header flew into the top corner to give the hosts a deserved lead. Melton almost levelled in first-half stoppage time, but Wakely somehow headed over from close range.

After the restart, Eastwood took control. On 53 minutes, young forward Sacha Markelic marked his fourth appearance with his first goal for the club, turning sharply in the box before smashes into the corner to make it 2-0. Tyler Blake went close to adding a third shortly after but poked wide when through on goal.

The icing on the cake came in the 89th minute. Substitute Marcus Marshall, making only his second appearance in two years, produced a moment of magic by rifling a free kick into the top corner to put Eastwood three goals clear.

Melton grabbed a consolation with virtually the last kick of the match, as Luther Munakandafa struck deep into stoppage time, but it was too little, too late.

A strong Eastwood performance, capped off by Wright’s colossal display at the back, ensures progression in the cup and a boost of momentum heading into the league campaign.

Eastwood CFC Lineup
1. Sam Wilson
2. Lavell White (Abraha 64)
3. Harvey Ridgley
4. Jermain Hollis (40) (Marshall 81)
5. Elijah Morris-Wright
6. Jake Wright (c)
7. Terry Hawkridge (Tait 71)
8. Neo Saunders (Commons 64)
9. Tyler Blake
10. Sacha Markelic (53)
11. Harry Goddard (Elliott 71)

Subs
12. Noh Abraha
14. Marcus Marshall (84)
15. Ryan Tait
16. Finnley Commons
17. Daniel Elliott

Melton Town Lineup
1 Jake Alley
2 Kalis Gore
3 Kelly Fombad
4 Toby Fura
5 Max Jenson (Munkandafa 55)
6 Ferdinand Bartley (Sachet-Mensah 73)
7 Andre Williams
8 Ryan Calver (c)
9 Tom Wakley
10 Tristan Burke (Perkins 55)
11 Theo Baker

Subs
12 Bill Harrison
14 Luther Munkandafa (90+4)
15 Theo Sachet-Mensah
16 Dom Perkins
17 Mikkel Hirst

Attendance: 80