This proved to be the classic game of two halves as slow starting Boro produced a goal bananza in the second period to send Atherstone crashing out of the F.A Cup at Manor Park last night.

It could not have been a more different picture in the first 45 minutes with United the more impressive side, forcing the pace and creating the better of the chances as they looked to secure a third qualifying round tie at Burton Albion.

Only resolute Boro defending and some weak finishing prevented Ron Bradbury's side from going into the break ahead, with chances falling to Paul White, Danny Martin, and ex-Boro man Craig Dean, the latter shooting weakly from a Scott Blair cross on 22 minutes.

Whatever Brendan Phillips said to his Boro players at half-time it certainly did the trick with Barry Williams' jinking run down the left flank forcing a corner, and the same player heading home the Prindiville set-piece just five minutes into the second period.

With the deadlock broken, shell-shocked Atherstone were left chasing the game and as they strove for an equaliser Boro began to find chances easier to come by. With 10 minutes remaining the home side doubled their lead when Kevin Wilkin capitalised on a Blair slip to drill a shot past Dale Belford from the edge of the box.

Belford then saved well from both Malcolm Christie and Barry Williams, with the former also crashing a shot against a post before eventually making his mark on the scoresheet in injury-time, with a cool lob over the head of the helpless Atherstone keeper completing Boro's second-half treble and securing a clash with Burton in 11 days time.

NUNEATON:
R Williams, Everitt, Prindiville, Statham, Crowley, Angus, Wray, Simpson, Wilkin, Christie, B Williams. SUBS: Muir, Anderson, Healy, Wood.

ATHERSTONE:
Belford, Blair, Barratt, Dean (Berks 68mins), Albrighton, Redgate (Olner 67mins), Green, Hart, (Wright 78mins), Middleton, Martin. SUBS: Higgs, Young.