Paul Booth bagged a second half hat-trick as classy City turned on the style to overpower a Hitchin side, who, at the interval, sensed an FA Cup shock was on the cards after they led the Milton Road side 1-0.

The hosts were deprived of the services of midfield anchorman Jamie Southon, injured during the 1-1 draw with Bishop’s Stortford in last weekend’s league derby. Carl Williams was recalled to play wide on the left with Josh Simpson moving inside in an otherwise unchanged line-up.

Matt Langston challenges Hitchin's Lee McCulloch

The Canaries are currently struggling in the Southern Premier League, losing their last game 2-1 at Cirencester despite taking the lead through a Josh Sozzo penalty. Their Cup form has been better however and they earned a place in the 3rd Qualifying Round thanks to a 3-1 win over Deal Town courtesy of a Thomas Hayes double and an own goal.

The Lilywhites were quickly out of the blocks, Carl Williams adding balance to the side on the left freed Paul Booth who used his strength to power past Glen Lamacraft before being blocked by a brave stop from Richard Wilmot who dived at the striker’s feet.

Hitchin weathered the early storm as City were unable to sustain their momentum and the dangerous Daniel French broke swiftly down the left and centred for Josh Sozzo who was denied by a timely headed interception from Matt Langston.

Nationwide Conference South ‘Player of the Month’ Mark Molesley then linked intelligently with Paul Booth and embarked on a mazy run into the box before shooting from an acute angle only for Lee McCulloch to clear off the line at the expense of a corner.

Ironically, the Canaries seized a shock lead as a result. Molesley’s flag kick was cleared quickly up to Aaran Cavill who won out in a tussle with Lee Chaffey in the centre circle before feeding French on the left. The former Peterborough wide man cut inside exposing City’s undermanned defence, drew Danny Naisbett and slotted into the far corner to the delight of the travelling fans massed behind the goal.

As the Lilywhites looked for an early response Lee Chaffey squared inside to Molesley who weaved across the face of the box before shooting powerfully at Wilmot who misjudged the effort but was well positioned and saw the ball cannon off his chest and away to safety.

The visitor’s attack was then disrupted by the forced withdrawal of Leeyon Phelan, injured earlier in a clash of heads with Glen Fuff, Thomas Hayes coming off the bench as a replacement.

Robbie Simpson sees his header go over the bar

Five minutes before the interval came a key moment in the game. Lee Chaffey was penalised for a foul on Cavill and the visitors were awarded a free kick on the right hand edge of the box. Ryan Jenner stepped up and nearly marked his return to Milton Road with what would have been a crucial second goal. A perfectly flighted effort looked destined for the top corner until Danny Naisbett, moving smartly across his line, and at full stretch, tipped the ball superbly over the bar. 2-0 to the Canaries at that stage and City would have had a massive task on their hands to stage a recovery.

The hosts had a great chance to level just before the break. Lee Chaffey cushioned a header inside to Paul Booth who angled a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Craig Dobson who sped into the box but fired straight at Wilmot to bring the curtain down on a disappointing opening period for the Milton Road faithful.

Gary Roberts’ reaction was to introduce Robbie Simpson, victim of a serious lung injury two weeks ago at Eastwood, at the expense of right back Craig Pope, sacrificed as the Lilywhites adopted a more attacking 3-4-3 formation.

Danny Naisbett, whose distribution was impressive throughout, picked out Dobson with an accurate clearance allowing the former Lewes player to cut inside ant test Wilmot in the opening moments of the half.

Hitchin sensed that a second goal at this stage might be enough. Daniel French’s left sided corner was only partially cleared to Cavill whose rising drive was headed clear by Carl Williams. Soon afterwards Chris McMenamin saw a well struck free kick gathered in by the assured Naisbett.

The Canaries were soon made to pay for failing to seize their opportunity as City clawed their way back into the game with a well crafted goal. Paul Booth lofted an intelligent pass wide to Dobson who delivered a telling cross which drew Wilmot off his line. The much travelled ‘keeper was unsettled by the challenge of Michael Gash and could only palm the ball out as far as Booth who powered clinically into the corner of the net.

Josh Simpson celebrates netting City's third goal

Within five minutes the former Welling striker had doubled his tally with a fine individual goal. Showing superb close control on the edge of the box Booth wrong footed McCulloch, transferred the ball onto his left foot and poked an astute drive into the top corner and beyond the despairing Wilmot.

The Hitchin central defenders who had coped comfortably with City’s one dimensional attack in the opening period now found themselves dragged out of their comfort zone by Robbie Simpson’s penetrating runs through the channels which created space for both his strike partners and a resurgent midfield alike.

Simpson launched the next attack from an unlikely source, rising to clear a corner he found Paul Booth whose first time lay off freed Josh Simpson who sprinted through the inside left position. The teenage midfielder knocked the ball a little too far in front of him but still recovered to fire across Wilmot who scrambled the effort behind for a corner.

In City’s next attack Josh Simpson went one better, collecting a deft flick from Michael Gash he skilfully rounded McCulloch accelerated clear and slid a perfectly placed shot wide of Wilmot from the edge of the box.

The twenty minute transformation was completed with a quarter of an hour remaining as Paul Booth completed a high quality hat-trick and sealed the fate of the shell-shocked Canaries. Carl Williams who had an inspired game wide on the left, centred for Gash who showed good strength to hold the ball up with his back to goal and lay-off to Booth whose first touch gave him the yard of space he needed to fire into the bottom corner of the net.

The hosts then played out the remainder of the game by using their superior passing skills to retain possession and leave the tiring visitors chasing a succession of lost causes. There was time for Adam Smith and Steve Parmenter to give both Michael Gash and Mark Molesley a breather as City put a lacklustre opening 45 minutes behind them to cruise into Monday’s draw for the next round.