Gordon Bartlett isn’t reading too much into Wealdstone’s ten-match unbeaten run because he still believes performances can be better.

The Stones advanced final qualifying round of the FA Cup on Saturday with a 5-1 win at Wessex League side Brockenhurst on Saturday before coming from 2-0 down to beat Edgware Town 3-2 in the Middlesex Charity Cup on Tuesday.

He said: “It’s easy to sit back and say ‘ten games unbeaten – that’s great’ but it isn’t.

“At half-time in the last few games things have been pointed out and we’ve had the desired response.

“I’m still saying it. The performances could have been better sometimes.

“A lot of players were playing for the first time this season on Tuesday night and you’d expect them to be looking to impress but they were very lacklustre. In the end we scraped through.”

Bartlett added: “My question is things are said prior to the game but don’t happen. On Tuesday night we showed character and desire but where was it in the first half?”

The Stones fell 2-0 behind to goals from Jack Smith and Jay Molloy. But two quickfire goals after the break from Josh Hutchinson and Michael Corcoran dragged the Stones level at The Vale.

Shaun Lucien then bagged the winner before Paul Marks was dismissed for a second bookable offence, a high challenge on Athanasios Lampernakis.

The Stones moved within one victory of the FA Cup first round proper on Saturday as they swept aside Brockenhurst to set up a fourth qualifying round tie against Bognor Regis Town.

Reflecting on the win, Bartlett said: “It was a long journey which wasn’t the greatest. But there was lots of enthusiasm from their side but our superiority told.”

Jefferson Louis, Tom Hamblin, Scott Davies, Johnny Wright and an own goal sent the Stones through but Davies’ caught the eye.

He picked the ball up in his own half, saw the keeper off his line and lashed in from 75 yards.

Stones go to Havant & Waterlooville on Saturday.