Ryan Lockett was the match winner as Daisy Hill pulled off a cup shock with a 1-0 win against Lower Breck in the FA Vase second qualifying round at the Plumb Factory Stadium on Saturday.

Lockett’s opportunist goal on 62 minutes was enough to see Daisy through to the first round of the competition for the first time in 10 years, against opponents from one division and 31 league places above them.

It was a fine all-round display from a Daisy side who were under pressure at various stages of the game, and assistant manager, Jack Iley, praised the performance afterwards.

“The game plan we had was to stay in the game as long as possible as we knew how good Lower Breck are,” said Iley.

“We knew we’d have limited chances, and it was going to be about taking the one or two chances that came our way. We did that, and that is what got us the result.

“Morgan (Newns, Daisy goalkeeper) made an unbelievable save near the end and several other good ones during the game, and although we rode our luck a bit a few times, that is what you need against teams like that to get into the next round.

“We went with a defensive back five today, with us having conceded four goals at Euxton in midweek. It was something we looked at in training on Thursday, and the lads adapted to it really well, and we know now it’s something we can use again during the season, and gives us another option.

“I thought that in the first half we were maybe a little bit off the pace, but in the second half. every single player to a man left everything on the pitch.

“We said to the lads afterwards that if we can play like that every week in the league, we will be right up there.

“It gives us great confidence for the next game away at Atherton LR (in the league this coming Friday evening).

“It’s a big game for the club, and the minimum expectation is that the effort level the lads gave today will be given again.”

Over the course of the 90 minutes, plus 10 minutes of added time, Lower Breck enjoyed the larger portion of possession and produced some neat build-up play, but were unable to break down the well-organised Daisy back line who defended stubbornly throughout.

The first opportunity of the game fell to Daisy in the second minute, with a strike from Krisel Prifti that went narrowly wide.

However, at the midway point of the half, Lower Breck spurned two good opportunities in the space of two minutes.

The first arrived at the end of a quick counter attack down the right, with Tom Douglas sending Morgan Falloh through on goal, and he squared to Lewis Buckley whose shot was blocked on the line by Ben Unsworth.

A minute later, Douglas had another effort but his attempted chip over the head of Newns crept just over the bar.

The game then fell into a dogged midfield battle where both sides enjoyed a share of possession, but neither keeper was ever seriously troubled.

After the break, the close-fought pattern of the game continued until Daisy broke the deadlock on 62 minutes.

It was a terrific piece of opportunism from Lockett who chased down a long ball that was played towards Lower Breck full-back Falloh, and when the defender headed weakly back towards his keeper Theo Roberts, Lockett nipped in to intercept and steer a shot just inside the far post.

The remainder of the game saw Daisy pinned back in defence for long periods as Lower Breck pressed forward for an equaliser, but resolute defending and some smart goalkeeping from Newns kept the visitors at bay, with the best of his saves coming a minute from time when he pushed away a fiercely struck shot from Buckley that was heading for the far corner.

Multiple substitutions and several stoppages for injuries led to 10 added minutes for Daisy to negotiate, but they held out to secure a place in the first round proper of the FA Vase for the first time since season 2014/15.

Daisy’s next game is a derby clash in the North West Counties League First Division North away to Atherton LR at Crilly Park on Friday (7.45pm).