Essex League side Hullbridge Sports took the lead in the 12th minute of the preliminary round tie - a poor goal to concede from Green's perspective.

The failure to clear a cross from the left wing resulted in Sports' Tony Lane picking up the ball unmarked to fire past Graeme Milner for the opener.

A tight offside decision denied Green an equaliser only three minutes later when David Parkinson took on and beat a defender on the edge of the box before hitting the ball across goal for Dale Sears to tuck away, only for the linesman to raise his flag.

Levy looked the better team for the rest of the game, with James Armstrong causing continuous havoc amongst the opposition defence.

Midway through the second period Green's reward came when the awesome Armstrong fed Parkinson, who embarked on a raging run across the box before firing the ball past the opposition keeper.

Micky Vipond's side had plenty of chances to win it in the remaining 25 minutes but failed to take them. Armstrong, Parkinson and Frankie Jowle all came close.

It looked as though the game would be heading for a replay, but only seconds from the end Graeme Milner, who had been a spectator for most of the 90 minutes, was picking the ball out of his net.

Green carelessly gave posession away in midfield, and Hullbridge worked the ball towards the corner flag where they won themselves a throw in.

John Miller's long throw caused havoc in the area - a first shot was blocked, a second was stopped by Milner's legs, but in a style mimicking the first goal Anthony Reeve was on hand to fire home the loose ball at the third time of asking.

Levy will be looking to get back to winning ways when they take on St Margaretsbury in a league game at Pancake Lane this Saturday.