Ryan Brooks scored the winner as Ardley United reached the first qualifying round with a 1-0 win against Combined Counties League Premier Division visitors Hanworth Villa at Oxford Road.

After a largely forgettable first half in which Ardley’s Ollie Stanbridge had a shot blocked and home keeper Jack Harding saved from Andrew Juett were the only efforts of any note, the game opened up.

And ten minutes after the break, Ardley were unlucky not to break the deadlock.

Chris Jackson got his head to a Dean Smith cross, only for the ball to rebound off the bar. However, Ardley made no mistake when they took the lead.

A long clearance out of defence found Brooks, who shook off the attentions of two defenders before placing his shot wide of Terry Buss in the Hanworth goal.

The hosts were grateful to Harding for making a super stop from Juett.

The game now came to life with Hanworth pushing for an equaliser, but that left them exposed at the back.

And Brooks almost took advantage, but a high bounce on the hard surface made it difficult to control the ball and his effort was dealt with by Buss.

Hanworth pushed forward, but Ardley held firm to set up a home meeting on September 14 with the winners of Wednesday’s Binfield v Cheltenham Saracens replay.