Maine Road 0 Squires Gate 5: Inspirational Ing scores FA Cup hat-trick in front of BBC cameras

Gate's goalscorers against Maine Road: Hat-trick hero Dean Ing (centre) with Elliot Pond (left) and Jake Higham Picture: IAN MOORE

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Their reward for a dominant display in the extra-preliminary round at Prestwich Heys, where Dean Ing scored a hat-trick, is a trip to Ashton United of the Northern Premier League a week on Saturday.

Winger James Boyd had the first chance of the contest after just four minutes, firing wide after a good through ball from Josh Pollard. Right-back Cameron Gourley then flicked a Ryan Riley free-kick just wide of the target.

Maine Road, who play a level below Gate in the North West Counties League, went close themselves on 20 minutes, when Matthew Wilson’s 25-yard free-kick found its way under the wall but narrowly wide.

Gourley went close again, heading Riley’s corner over the top from close range, and Elliot Pond was then denied in a one-on-one situation by keeper Conrad Betton.

Ing broke the deadlock on 39 minutes, when the ball fell to the striker outside of the area and he drilled a powerful shot through the goalkeeper.

Pond should have doubled Gate’s lead moments later but soon set up Ing to make it 2-0 at half-time.

He met Pond’s perfect floated cross from the left with a powerful header.

Luke Evans’ side started the second half as strongly as they ended the first and extended their lead with an excellent goal by left-back Jake Higham on 53 minutes.

He picked up the ball after a strong run from Boyd and weaved past numerous defenders before slotting calmly past the goalkeeper on his weaker right foot.

Ben Mooney had a couple of half-chances to reduce the deficit for Maine Road, heading wide from a corner and then seeing his deflected free-kick saved comfortably by Jordan Gidley, who was largely untested.

Gate went even further in front on 65 minutes, Ing completing an impressive hat-trick by bursting through the defence and finishing confidently.

Boyd had a shot from outside the box held by the keeper, but chances were few in the latter stages until the hard-working Pond added the fifth goal on 89 minutes.

The striker produced an exceptional first touch to control a powerful pass and found the bottom corner with an emphatic finish.

Gate: Gidley, Gourley, Higham, Staunton-Turner, Holden, Westwood, Riley, Pollard, Pond, Ing, Boyd; Subs: Dodd, Garrett, Baldwin, Johanson, Kusaloka, Rawell, Taylor