A dominating first half performance, during which the Hoops scored three times without reply, ensured they enjoyed a smooth passage into the second round of the SCEL Challenge Cup at Lydd on Wednesday night.

Steve O’Brien put Deal in front with a 29th-minute penalty against a Lydd side who are currently lying in 16th place in the first division and then Sam Wilson and Connor Coyne both scored in the space of three minutes just before half-time. For Connor, whose brother Alex was playing for the home side, the goal took his personal tally to nine in the last nine matches.

Deal, who had Josh Maughan making his debut in defence and Owen Kallmeier his second appearance of the season in goal, brought on Troy Howard for Wilson at half-time and it was Troy who completed the scoring in injury-time with his first goal for the club.

Deal will now be at home to Premier Division newcomers Punjab United in the next round.

Deal: Kallmeier, Butcher, O’Brien, Bigginton, Maughan, Scott (Miller 65), Foster, Cardwell, Wilson (Howard H-T), Adams, Coyne (Alexander 75).