Enfield Town boss Bradley Quinton admitted he had to give his players a kick up the backside at half-time against Felixstowe and Walton United on Saturday, despite being 2-0 up at the break.

Three second-half goals saw the Towners progress past their Thurlow Nunn League opposition in the FA Cup first qualifying round but the player-manager revealed he had not been pleased with his side’s first-half display.

Quinton said: "I wasn’t happy at half time, even though we were one or two goals up. The tempo wasn’t good enough. I said that to the boys at half-time and they agreed and then the goals came.

"I think we started very well and no disrespect to the other team but we quickly realised we were better than them and they went through the motions a bit. I know my players better than that and they got a bit of a kick up the backside at half-time.

"In the second half we went out and created quite a few chances," he added.

Goals from Nathan Livings and skipper Mark Kirkby had Enfield two goals ahead at the break before Liam Hope helped himself to a hat-trick - with two coming from the penalty spot - after the restart.

As a result, the forward is now one goal away from equalling Rudi Hall's all-time record of 105 goals for the club, set during three spells in the 2000s.

The Golden Boot winner for the Ryman Division One North in 2012, Hope had only scored once before Saturday’s treble and Quinton admitted he was delighted to see the former Didcot Town forward get among the goals once more.

He said: "I was pleased for Liam Hope to get out of his barren spell. He’s one goal away from breaking the club record for goals. I’ve been working very closely with him and doing extra work with him after training. I’ve told him now what he means to me and the boys off the ball too.

"His record says it all really. All goalscorers go through these spells but I’m glad he’s come out the other side."

Enfield’s reward for their comfortable victory over Felixstowe and Walton United is an away tie against Eastbourne Borough of the Conference South in the next round.

And, whilst the Towners are unlikely to go on and lift the famous trophy at Wembley next May, Quinton is keen for his players to take as much as possible from their involvement in the world’s oldest knock-out competition.

"We’re looking to go as far as we can and the experience of going as far as we can will be invaluable," enthused Quinton.

"You never know what can happen; it’s only one game, so who knows? We have got Eastbourne Borough away and they are seventh and only lost a couple but I will have someone watching them in the build-up. We will go there to win and stay over and enjoy the occasion."

Last Tuesday, the Towners were beaten 1-0 at Metropolitan Police, eventually succumbing to a second-half goal from Steve Sutherland at Imber Court in a disappointing showing.

Reflecting on the defeat, Quinton said: "It was a bad performance against Met Police. If it had have been fight, the referee would have stopped it.

"I wasn’t too happy with the performance but I let the guys know it was not good enough and they responded in a good way."

Quinton also revealed he was looking to add further new faces to his squad following the re-signing of forward Jamie Richards.

Initially signed from Ware in February 2014, Richards scored three and assisted five as the Towners avoided the drop last term and Quinton is pleased to have the former Cheshunt front-man on board.

He said: "I know Jamie Richards really well and he is a good lad to have in the dressing room; he is one I want to have around. He was not involved on Saturday because of a family wedding. His experience and his work ethic is second to none."