Brentford secured a second round trip to either Eastbourne Borough or Barrow with a deserved FA Cup first round win over Blue Square South side Havant and Waterlooville at Westleigh Park on Sunday afternoon.

The ITV cameras were present and were no doubt looking to broadcast a prime-time upset, but the Bees were in no mood to oblige and showed strength throughout the side to emerge as victors.

Having built a two goal lead the Bees were looking comfortable with just over a quarter of an hour to play, but in the end it took three amazing saves from Ben Hamer, and a third goal from Nathan Elder to wrap things up for the Bees.

Brentford manager Andy Scott made four changes to the side that lost to Rochdale in League Two last weekend.

Full-backs Adam Newton and Sam Wood both failed late fitness tests, leaving them only fit enough to be named as substitutes. They were replaced in the starting line-up by John Halls and Ryan Dickson respectively.

Dean Bowditch, having made a scoring debut for the Bees against Rochdale, was not allowed to play by his parent club Ipswich and was replaced by Nathan Elder, returning from suspension.

Mark Phillips was also given the chance to cement himself a regular place at centre-back following James Wilson's return to Bristol City.

Despite an excellent Westleigh Park playing surface, conditions were at times awful with blustering winds and horizontal rain meaning that the early stages of the encounter were fractious, the game unable to flow and neither team able to settle.

Ben Hamer, making his FA Cup debut, had to be alert to rush out and deny Craig Watkins, who had cut inside John Halls to bear down on goal.

Phillips then headed clear from inside his own six yard box before at the other end Halls chipped a fine pass into the path of Charlie MacDonald, who had got behind the defence but couldn't control the ball with Elder looking for the cross.

On 13 minutes Marcus Bean won a free-kick, which Glenn Poole curled wide from around 30 yards.

Hamer then saved with ease from Elphick's half-shot before Dickson did well to block Wilkins' effort from the edge of the 18 yard box. From the resultant corner Phillips did well to clear under pressure from Elphick, with the home side appealing for a penalty, claiming shirt-tugging.

MacDonald saw his shot charged down after good work by Kevin O'Connor and Poole before Marvin Williams' dangerous cross was cleared by Collins. Bennett then lashed over from 20 yards as the resultant corner arrived at his feet.

On the half-hour mark Hamer was judged to have handled the ball outside of the penalty area. The subsequent free-kick was laid off by Gray to Collins who fired just wide of the far post with a swerving drive.

Brentford came close shortly afterwards when Marcus Bean fired across goal after a strong header from Williams in the box. Bean's shot deflected into the path of Nathan Elder who swung a boot but failed to connect from eight yards.

However that miss was soon forgotten as the Bees deservedly took the lead four minutes before the break. MacDonald dispossessed Holloway and quickly laid the ball off to Elder, whose left foot shot was parried by Scriven into the path of Williams who tapped the ball into the empty net from six yards.

Havant came out fighting in the second half and came close when Nightingale's cross just eluded Craig Watkins.

Poole then saw his fierce drive parried to safety by Scriven, having seen his initial free-kick come back to him via Williams.

From the resultant corner Elder looked to be fouled while trying to adjust to shoot, the ball fell to MacDonald who was unbalanced as he sliced his shot narrowly wide from five yards.

However the Bees striker atoned for the miss on 66 minutes by doubling his side's lead. Williams brilliant run forced a corner, which was taken by Poole and flicked on by Elder, MacDonald bundling home from close range.

Williams, apparently injured, was then replaced by Newton and the Bees were playing some great passing football and totally dominating when the home side pulled a goal back out of the blue.

Halls headed out for corner, when trying to divert the ball to Hamer. The kick was taken short and Pope sent in a looping cross for Ian Simpemba to convert from six yards.

The goal rejuvenated Havant who pushed forward sensing an equaliser, however Ben Hamer was having none of it and produced a trio of wonder saves to keep his side in front. Firstly Booth, on as a substitute, hooked the ball goalwards but although unsighted, Hamer manager to turn the ball to what appeared to be safety. However Dickson's attempted clearance was charged down and as the ball was crossed back into the box, the Brentford custodian performed heroics to firstly deny Watkins' powerful header, and then incredibly Booth's subsequent drive from three yards.

With the home side wondering how they had not equalised, Brentford went straight up the other end and put the game out of Havant's reach with a classic counter-attack goal, MacDonald latching onto Newton's pass and squaring for Elder who got in front of his marker to divert past the helpless Scriven, and send the Bees into round two.

Written by Matt Davis

Brentford  -

Hamer; Halls (Osborne), Phillips, Bennett, Dickson; Williams (Newton), Bean, O'Connor, Poole (Wood); Elder, MacDonald

Subs (not used): Seb Brown, Johnson, Ademola, Pead