Brave Wealdstone saw their FA Cup journey cruelly ended at the hands of League One Colchester United – despite leading at one stage – as four goals from Macauley Bonne saw the U’s into round two, 6-2.

The Stones, three levels below the Essex outfit in the National League South, fell behind after 26 minutes when Bonne scrambled home.

But Gordon Bartlett’s men wasted no time getting back on level terms as veteran striker Jefferson Louis dispatched a penalty just five minutes later in front of a partisan crowd of 2,440.

However, better was to come for the underdogs as Bradley Hudson-Odoi shocked Grosvenor Vale by deflecting home a second to put Wealdstone 2-1 up seven minutes before the break.

Colchester dragged themselves level just 60 seconds before the half-time whistle, though, and Bonne’s second ultimately proved decisive.

The 20-year-old forward completed his hat-trick with a header just two minutes after the break to put the visitors back in front.

And the tie looked over when Bonne nodded in a fourth in the 68th minute to move the U’s two goals clear for the first time.

George Moncur added a fifth in the 82nd minute before Stones old boy Marvin Sordell – who scored twice in six games on loan in 2008 – rounded off the scoring at the death.

For Bartlett and co. it is back to the bread-and-butter of the Middlesex Senior Cup on Tuesday when they travel to Harrow Borough in round two.

Wealdstone: North; Urquhart; Parker, Hamblin, Duffy; Lucien (Wright 56), Corcoran (McGleish 80), Davies, Lowe (Ball 66), Hudson-Odoi; Louis.

Subs: Dutton, Binns, Hutchinson.

Colchester United: Parish; Edwards, Kent, Eastman, Briggs; Lapslie, Gilbey; Bonne (Curtis 90), Harriott, Moncur (Massey 88); Sordell.

Subs: Wright, Olufemi, Sembie-Ferris, Barnes, James.

Referee: Brendan Malone.

Attendance: 2,440.