All the goals came in the first half as Chatham won their FA Cup third qualifying round match against Deal on Saturday.

Striker Rory Smith put the Isthmian South East Hoops into a surprise sixth-minute lead.

But two-goal Stanley Oldfield - his double being sandwiched by a bullet header from defender Alex Giles - ensured it finished 3-1 to Isthmian Premier Chats, who safely progressed.

Steve King’s visitors, who had already seen off Hilltop, Cobham and Egham to reach this stage of the competition, enjoyed the perfect start when they drew first blood with the first real opportunity at the Bauvill Stadium.

Chatham captain Reece Butler gave possession away cheaply and his counterpart Tom Chapman fed Smith, who fired past keeper Henry Molyneux to find the bottom corner.

Six minutes later, visiting goalkeeper James Tonkin made a comfortable save from forward Tope Fadahunsi’s long-range effort.

Tonkin saw his blushes spared when he dropped a Kian Garlinge right-wing cross against his own post.

Moments later, Chats did level, however, as a near-post header by top scorer Oldfield from Sam Sene-Richardson’s corner was deflected in with 19 minutes played.

And Kevin Hake’s side made it 2-1 when 20-year-old defender Giles thumped another corner by Sene-Richardson home in emphatic fashion.

Tonkin made a fine save on the half-hour mark to thwart Oldfield but, just a minute later, he got his second and the home team’s third.

There was a slight bit of fortune about it, his attempted pass being deflected back into his path, where a composed Oldfield slotted home to take his tally to eight goals for the season.

A first Chatham change saw Adam Leathers come on for Garlinge on 56 minutes.

On the hour mark, Deal captain Tom Chapman required treatment as he clashed with visiting keeper Molyneux for a ball in the air before Sene-Richardson scored from an offside position.

The plucky visitors came close to a second as defender Alfie Foster’s header from a corner from substitute Ashley Miller clipped the crossbar on its way over.

With 18 minutes of normal time to go, Chatham goalkeeper Molyneux produced a fine fingertip save to deny forward Wes Hennessey, whose shot had been heading towards the top right-hand corner.

Oldfield sent an 87th-minute shot curling over Tonkin’s crossbar.

But Chatham had done enough to progress, having already seen off Marlow and Ashford.

They pocket £5,625 in prize money for the win and will now look ahead to the fourth qualifying round draw on Monday.

Ahead of kick-off, a minute’s silence was observed in memory of striker Billy Vigar, who died at the age of 21 during Chichester’s match at Wingate & Finchley last weekend.

The hosts named an unchanged starting line-up from their one which claimed last weekend’s late 2-1 league victory against Carshalton.

For the away team, defenders Josh Vincent and Alex Green, who came off during the first half of their midweek 3-1 league win at Hassocks, were replaced by left-back Jack Penny and right-back Zak Hammond.

Both teams included goalkeepers on their substitutes’ bench as Nathan Harvey returned for the hosts and Deal manager King had Dan Smith in his squad.

Having seen their longest FA Cup run in 28 years end, The Hoops have a Velocity Cup second-round game at Erith Town on Tuesday.

With scheduled midweek opponents Billericay now facing a midweek FA Cup third qualifying round replay, Chatham will next be in action when they host Southern League Premier Division Central side Needham Market in the FA Trophy third qualifying round next weekend.

Chatham Town: Molyneux, Evans (Cooper 86mins), Aidoo, Robins (Chambers 77mins), Butler, Moynes, Sene-Richardson, Garlinge (Leathers 56mins), Oldfield (Anokye-Boadi 64mins), Giles, Fadahunsi (Allen 74mins). Subs not used: Nelson, Harvey.

Deal Town: Tonkin, Hammond, Penny, Foster, T.Chapman (Wilkinson 71mins), B.Chapman (Reeves 84mins), R.Smith (Miller 62mins), Niblett (Oni 80mins), Paxman, Page, Hennessey (Esumobi 74mins). Subs not used: Palmby, D.Smith.

Referee: Tom Breen.

Attendance: 511.